If you do not buy prefinished hardwood flooring one of the first things you'll need to do after laying the planks is to give the wood a finish. If you have experienced doing this before you will know that refinishing hardwood floor can be somewhat tedious, but it needs to be done in order to maintain the quality and durability of the wood.
In order to protect the flooring you should aim to finish the wood with several coats and not just one. Beforehand you should have made use of a hardwood floor sander to make the wood smooth and ready for refinishing.
Prefinished hardwood floors are often the better choice because they will have been coated to the volume needed. However, many people prefer to refinish hardwood floor themselves as they can create the style that they want from the flooring. Prefinished floors are usually sanded three times and then coated up to eight times in aluminum oxide. If you buy from a good store you can rely on the hardwood floor to be finished well and protected.
Hardwood floor is an investment that should only be made once in a room, as long as proper maintenance, cleaning, and finishing is done. However, for a number of reasons it is often an idea to refinish existing wooden floors to give it that new look without replacing the entire floor.
Refinishing hardwood floors can typically cost from $1.25 to $4.00 for every square foot of wood. In addition, if you are not doing the hardwood floor finishing yourself you could easily expect to pay up to $4 for every square foot on labor as well. The total cost of course depends on the size of the room that needs refinishing, the type of hardwood, and the present condition of the floor.
Knowing how to refinish hardwood floor can save you money but you should be prepared for a tiring and tedious job. However, this does mean that you can get the hardwood floor finish that you're looking for, and it gives you a great sense of achievement once it is complete.
Whilst you are planning to refinish the hardwood you should check to see whether any planks are overly worn or have decay. If they are damaged then now might be the best time to replace them. Many people choose to apply wax to a damaged area, but this is only temporary and eventually the wood will need repair or replacement.
Hardwood floor finishes can look great when done well and really help improve the look of a room. If you are refinishing hardwood floor yourself make sure you use the correct tools for the job, and don't cut corners. Taking the time to protect the wood now can save money in the future.
