Hardwood Flooring Archives | Page 2 of 3

Hardwood Scratch Repair: A Guide for Homeowners

November 28, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

What if you could renovate your home while saving thousands of dollars?

Over the years, your beautiful hardwood floors are going to get scratched and scuffed. And many homeowners think the best solution is to replace the floors entirely. However, replacement is a costly and frustrating process. Meanwhile, hardwood scratch repair is both easier and more affordable.

Keep reading to learn more about how to fix scratches on wood floor!

old piece of scratched hardwood that needs repair

Clean Beforehand

If you’re interested in how to fix scratches on wood floor, we know you’re eager to get started. First, though, you must thoroughly clean the floor area.

With a sturdy rug and specialized hardwood floor cleaner, you can easily scrub the affected areas. You’ll want to ensure the entire area looks clean, though your primary focus will be the cracks themselves.

After scrubbing, use a simple rag and water to rinse the area. Be sure to let it dry before you proceed to the next step.

Fill It In

The next step is to fill in any cracks in the wood. All you need to do this is a stick of wax.

Start by rubbing the stick of wax over the cracks until they are properly filled in. If the wax isn’t going into the cracks on its own, you may need to use a putty knife in order to shape the wax into place.

The wood wax you’ll need for this process is available in a variety of colors, including a clear coat. Be sure to select the color that is best for your wooden floor.

Get Buff and Stuff

The final step in the traditional hardwood scratch repair process is to buff the scratch. To begin, get a soft cloth and start rubbing it over the affected area.

This repetitive motion accomplishes two specific tasks. First, it helps to further clean the area and ensure that the repaired wood looks better than ever. Second, it helps to buff the wax you’ve put down, further helping your hardwood stand out in the eyes of anyone who visits.

Your ultimate goal with this process is to have a floor that looks shiny and new. Don’t stop buffing until you have a floor you can be proud of once more!

For Small Scratches

The process detailed above assumes that you have scratches large enough or deep enough to require this level of restoration. For smaller scratches, you may be able to use simpler solutions.

For instance, some small scratches can be filled in with a blending pencil. This is a one-step restoration process, and the only tricky part is finding the pencil shade that perfectly matches your floor.

If you have small scratches caused by a family pet, then you may want to use this homebrew solution: Mix olive oil and apple cider vinegar in a cup in equal measure and then place small amounts in the affected area. Leave it there for a day and then rub the area out. Your hardwood should look good as new!

Hardwood Scratch Repair: The Bottom Line

Now you know why hardwood scratch repair is so easy and affordable. But what if the floor damage is more severe?

At My Affordable Flooring, we are devoted to restoring your hardwood without robbing your wallet. To see how affordable we can be, contact us for a free quote!

5 Bedroom Flooring Ideas that Aren’t Carpet

November 21, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

The carpet boom of the 1950s and 60s still lingers in many bedrooms around America. Soft underfoot and warmer than wood or tile, stepping on a fluffy carpet first thing in the morning seems like the height of comfort.

But did you know that carpet can irritate allergies and trap pathogens like E. coli and staph? In fact, carpets are so good at harboring nasty things that they’re 4,000 times germier than a toilet seat!

Do you want a fresher start every day? Consider these great bedroom flooring ideas to get inspired.

modern bedroom with vinyl flooring

1. Hardwood

Hardwoods are the ultimate in high-end flooring. They’re so long-wearing that wood floors from the 1800s can be refinished and restored to their centuries-old glory.

They also provide a depth of natural beauty that you’d be hard-pressed to find with any other flooring. The variations in wood-tone and grain pattern add interest and class to your bedroom. There’s such variety with hardwoods that you’ll be able to customize yours to your exact tastes.

2. Luxury Vinyl Tile

Vinyl has come a long way from linoleum. Luxury vinyl tiles—LVT if you’re in the know—can mimic the look of about any style you’re going for. There are wood-look planks, marblelike square tiles, ceramic, slate, and even travertine.

Its three-layered composition makes it durable and water-resistant. If you’re looking for the best flooring for a bedroom in the basement, you can’t go wrong with LVT.

3. Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile, like vinyl tile, can be made to look like wood planks. Or you can go bold with a geometric or Moroccan tile. Your bedroom is your private haven, so make it what you want.

Even a simple tile laid in a chevron or herringbone pattern adds visual interest and elevates your bedroom style.

Tile is colder than wood or vinyl. If you’re down South, that’s a good thing. If you live up North—like in Milwaukee or northern Illinois—you’ll want to position a rug under your bed to lessen the morning chill. You’ll still get your fluffy, warm comfort that way.

4. Cork

Though cork floor tiles are nothing new, they are often overlooked. The Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, built in the 1920s, has a cork floor.

The natural substance is warm, springy, and soft. It offers insulation from noise and heat. Cork is anti-microbial and doesn’t stain if properly sealed. The nice thing about cork is that individual tiles are replaceable as they become damaged.

5. Painted Subfloor

If you’re looking for cheap flooring ideas for your bedroom, consider painting your subfloor. For real! After you remove the carpet and tack strips, give the subfloor a deep clean, sand the rough spots, and paint.

You can tape down a design or use stencils for more impact. The nice thing is, you can paint over it again or install a whole new floor when you’re ready to make that change.

Get Inspired by Bedroom Flooring Ideas

The alternative to carpet doesn’t have to be something cold and uninviting. There are bedroom flooring ideas that offer warmth and personality without sacrificing style and cleanliness. Are you ready to rip out your carpet yet?

If your bedroom needs a refresh, we can help! As flooring installation experts, we have a large selection of hardwoods, vinyl, and tile to offer, and the expertise to install them correctly. Call us for an in-home consultation.

The 5 Most Durable Flooring Options for High-Traffic Areas in Your Home

October 24, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Most Durable Flooring Options

There’s something special and exciting about customizing your home to the exact way you want it. But before you start fawning over every flooring sample you can find, you need to make a list of must-haves.

For low-traffic areas of your home, aesthetics can be the deciding factor. When it comes to high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms, though, you also need to look for the most durable flooring options. That is, unless you want to go through the whole process again in a few years.

In the long run, choosing one of the more durable types of flooring for your home can end up saving you considerable time and money.

Various decorative tiles samples

Most Durable Flooring Options for High-Traffic Areas

Whether your floors will face kids, pets, high heels, work boots, or a little of everything, your best bet is to go with one of these options:

Natural Stone Tile

Tile floors are known for their clean look and long-lasting quality. Keep in mind that some materials are harder than others, though, so your best bet is to look for natural stone tile floors like travertine.

Bamboo Hardwood

As beautiful as hardwood is, most types are best suited for low-traffic rooms. Bamboo, however, is a wonderful exception. The adhesives and coatings manufacturers use make bamboo a force to be reckoned with when it comes to scratches.

For the most durable bamboo hardwood flooring, look for options that are strand-woven. Stick to high-end, high-quality varieties as well.

Laminate Hardwood

If you love the look of hardwood floors, another durable option is laminate flooring. It’s more scratch-resistant than natural hardwood, so it will stand up against paws and claws. However, keep in mind that laminate is susceptible to moisture damage. So, it’s not often a good choice for bathrooms and other high-moisture areas.

High-Quality Vinyl

Before you dismiss it as an outdated choice, today’s vinyl flooring is nothing like your grandmother’s kitchen floors from the 1970s.

Modern vinyl comes in higher-quality options. It’s also available in a nearly endless array of styles. For instance, some of the most popular choices are made to mimic hardwood flooring and tile floors.

Berber Carpet

It should come as no surprise that carpet isn’t as durable as its harder counterparts. Still, we recognize that some homeowners love the comfort and warmth they get from a carpeted floor.

If you have your heart set on carpeting but you want durability, go for Berber carpet. This style uses short loops for a clean and flat look. It’s easier to clean and holds up better against high traffic than high-pile carpets too.

Choosing Your Flooring With the Future in Mind

In an ideal world, you’d be able to choose your favorite flooring options based on looks alone. The reality of homeownership, however, is that unless you have an unlimited budget, you need to find options that will hold up against the wear and tear of daily life.

The good news is that today there are plenty of great-looking options available in durable and low-maintenance materials. With the ideas above, you can get started finding the most durable flooring for your home.

For more guidance in your flooring design, contact our home flooring experts, who can recommend the ideal options for each room of your house. We have a long history of creating gorgeous, durable floors in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Solid vs Engineered Hardwood Flooring: What’s Best for Your Home?

September 12, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

New flooring offers you a way to reinvigorate a room or a new home. But even if you settle on hardwood, it’s not quite a done deal yet. That’s because when it comes to wood, solid hardwood flooring used to be your only choice. Now, you can choose between solid hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring.

It’s not an obvious choice either. Each offers some benefits but also brings some pitfalls. So, let’s jump in and take a look at some key considerations that will inform your choice.

Engineered hardwood flooring planks laid out to be installed

Cost

Cost is a major factor in most remodeling projects. In many cases, it means choosing between what you want and what you can afford.

That isn’t the situation with solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring. All other things being equal, they cost about the same amount per square foot.

You can, of course, get less expensive versions of either kind of flooring. The catch is that you’ll probably end up with floors you don’t like. The hardwood won’t look as nice as you hoped or the engineered flooring won’t hold up well.

Refinishing

Diamonds might be forever, but the finish on hardwood flooring isn’t. If you live in the same house for a long time, you’ll start to see the wear and tear on the finish. Here’s how the two compare:

Sanding is a key step in refinishing wood floors, which gives solid hardwood the advantage. You can sand and apply finish to solid hardwood over and over again without trouble.
By design, only the top layer of engineered hardwood flooring is actual hardwood. It typically runs around 1/8 of an inch thick, though high-end versions offer somewhat thicker top layers. That means you can only sand it down once or twice before you replace it.

Installation Limitations

For all its longevity, you can only install hardwood in low-moisture areas of your home. That means areas like bedrooms, hallways, and living rooms.

Put it in a high-moisture area—like a kitchen or bathroom—and the wood soaks up the moisture and expands. In the best case scenario, the floor buckles. In the worse case scenario, the wood rots and damages the underlayment and joists.

This is where engineered hardwood wins: Engineered hardwood flooring stands up better to moisture because most of the layers in the flooring consist of plywood. Plywood doesn’t absorb water as readily, so it doesn’t expand or rot the same way.

While not ideal, you can install engineered flooring in kitchens and basements.

Solid or Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Deciding between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring depends on several factors. Ironically, for once, cost isn’t one of them.

A factor that does matter is how long you expect to live in the home, however. For instance:

If you plan on living there for the foreseeable future, solid hardwood flooring is the right move. This is because you can refinish it again and again without concern.
If you expect to sell the house within 5-10 years, engineered hardwood flooring offers more benefits. This is because you get the look and feel you want for now. And engineered flooring generally proves easier to remove. That can serve as a selling point for future buyers.

My Affordable Flooring specializes in flooring solutions in the Milwaukee area. For more information about a flooring type or a free estimate, contact us today.

The Different Types of Wood Flooring Explained

September 5, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

If you’re thinking of installing hardwood floors in your home, you’ve made a great choice. Hardwood flooring not only looks great in just about any room, but it also adds value to your home. There’s a reason it’s one of the most coveted flooring materials out there!

There are, however, many types of wood flooring, so if you’re interested in installing it, you’ll want to do some research. Follow along to learn all about the different types of wood flooring, so you can find the one best for you and your home!

mixed species wood flooring pattern sample

Types Of Wood Flooring

Unfinished Hardwood

If you’ve ever watched a home improvement episode on HGTV, you’ve probably heard this term being thrown around. Unfinished hardwood flooring is exactly what it sounds like: it’s beautiful hardwood floors that are not yet finished. This means you can apply custom stains to create the perfect color for any room or to match any existing hardwood floors.

Unfinished hardwood floors are a great option for kitchens, since the protective finish that’s applied after staining seals the seams between the boards, preventing any water from seeping in.

Finished Hardwood

On the other hand, prefinished hardwood is more convenient in terms of timing and ease of installation.

It comes pre-stained, pre-cut, and ready to go from a factory, so it only needs to be installed. With finished hardwood, there are no harsh odors from stains or sealants, and you can begin using your new floor right away!

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood refers to pure, natural wooden floors. They have beautiful kinks, knots, flecking, and grain variations that are indicative of their natural state. This type of hardwood floor can change over time, making it a top-grade material.

This type of flooring comes in 5/8 to 3/4 inches thick. And, since it’s a solid block of wood, it can be sanded and re-stained many times. (Seven times for the 3/4 inch slabs, to be exact.)

Keep in mind, however, that solid wood is affected by humidity, so it’s not recommended for basements or extremely humid environments.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is a veneer of organic wood glued to several layers of other types of wood, like plywood.

This type of flooring is becoming more and more popular due to its lower price point. It’s very stable over time and is appropriate for any area of your home, including your basement!

Parquet Flooring

Originating in 17th-century France, parquet flooring consists of handmade geometric pieces of hardwood combined into beautiful designs.

They are cut, glued, sanded, and finished to create sophisticated mosaics of durable flooring. They are easy to care for, like any other type of hardwood floor. You may not believe it, but parquet flooring is also pretty easy to install!

Finding the Right Wood Flooring for Your Home

It’s no wonder people covet hardwood floors! If you’re interested in installing beautiful wood flooring in your home but have questions, don’t hesitate to check us out. We are here to help you choose the best type of flooring for your home.

And don’t forget: We offer flooring services as well! So, if you’re ready for new floors, give us a call. Our hardwood flooring services are available in Milwaukee, Racine, and northern Illinois!

Laminate vs. Hardwood Flooring: Which Is Better?

August 22, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Slippery, cool, dark, and handsome. What is it? Hardwood floors! But did you know the wood floors you might be standing on could actually be laminated floors?

What’s the difference and which is one is better? Read on for some pro tips on how to choose between laminate vs hardwood floors.

New laminate oak parquet slats in different colors

Pros and Cons of Laminate vs Hardwood Floor

Both laminate and hardwood floors have pros and cons. And which one is better for you depends entirely on your lifestyle and budget. Here are some factors to consider:

Appearance

In the earlier days, laminated floors ran the risk of developing creases and weird bumps when they were not made or installed properly. Thus, it was easier to tell them apart from hardwood floors.

However, due to better technology today, manufacturers have gotten better at designing prints that look more realistic, making it harder for most to tell the difference. Still, some would argue that there is nothing like the real thing.

Construction

Hardwood floors, as many of us already know, are made from real wood cut from harvested trees. Laminate floors, however, are made from composite wood that is then covered with a manufactured print that emulates real wood.

Price Point

Due to the difference in material and the manufacturing process, the price point between hardwood and laminate floors is quite different.

The price of hardwood floors can be a bit more or a lot more depending on how rare the type of wood you choose is. Laminate floors, on the hand, can be up to 50 percent less than hardwood floors. This is because not only is the material cheaper to make, but it also is easier to install.

Durability

Natural wood is more susceptible to wear and tear, such as scratches and fading from the sun. But in the long run, it is stronger and can take more damage. If well taken care of, a hardwood floor can last up to twenty-five years or a whole lifetime.

Laminated floors, on the other hand, do not hold damages as well. So, if you live in a household with heavy traffic, a laminated floor will most likely need to be replaced before you sell it if you want to maintain or increase your house value.

Repairs

Generally, hardwood floor is easier to fix than laminated floor because it can be sanded down or refinished easily.

If one part of your laminate floor is damaged, you have to replace that particular area with a whole new board. In the beginning, the new board might also stand out more from the rest because it’s newer and shinier.

The Bottom Line

The best way to go about picking laminate vs hardwood floor is to think about how much traffic your house gets. And, don’t forget: It’s not just feet. If you have kids, elderly parents, or pets at home, then think about chairs dragging, wheelchairs, and tiny paws as well.

And lastly, think about the amount of time you’ll be in the home. If it’s only for a few years, then perhaps laminate floor might be enough. But, if you plan on staying for a long time, then hardwood floors might be worth the investment.

For more advice on hardwood floors and flooring services, please visit our blog!

And, don’t forget: If you are interested in new laminate flooring or hardwood floors, call us. We offer a full menu of high-quality flooring services throughout Milwaukee, Racine, and northern Illinois! Contact us today by calling 262-653-1120 or filling out our online contact form.

4 Bathroom Flooring Ideas Popular in Milwaukee

July 18, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Are you looking to give your bathroom a new look? What better place to start than from the bottom up?

Remodeling your bathroom flooring doesn’t only give the space a new look and feel. It can also increase the value of your home and reduce maintenance costs down the road.

Keep reading to check out four trendy bathroom flooring ideas you’re sure to love.

colorful floor tiles with complex pattern

1. Warm Wood

Warm wood bathroom flooring gives the bathroom a cozy and, well, warm feeling.

Wood used to be a no-no in the bathroom industry due to the risks of water and humidity. However, today’s market is full of wood flooring that can stand up to moisture, last for decades, and remain naturally beautiful.

Look for engineered wood, wood laminate designed for bathrooms, or flooring made of teak or bamboo. All of these options stand up to moisture and look amazing in a bathroom. They’re also perfect for rustic and traditional homes.

2. Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are among the most durable of bathroom flooring options. They provide a beautiful, natural look that fits well in rustic and Spanish-inspired homes.

Terracotta ceramic tiles specifically are trending right now. They pair well with Bohemian and Jungalow looks, and they are low maintenance. Plus, they stand up to well to moisture.

Terracotta tiles are a great clay color naturally. However, if you go with ceramic or porcelain tiles, you can choose virtually any color, texture, and finish you desire.

3. Polished Concrete

This one is for you modernists and minimalists out there. Polished concrete is shiny and sleek and can give the impression of marble.

The natural color of concrete is a nice, neutral gray that can pair well with any other tones. However, the great thing about concrete is it can be stained to any color you’d like. You can also order it to have various textures and designs, too.

Since it can be slippery when wet, we recommend using polished concrete only for the adult bathrooms of the home.

4. Granite

Granite stone bathroom flooring is so elegant. Like concrete, it is a natural option, so it is considered eco-friendly. Plus, it comes in a variety of color options, and it provides texture and pattern to the room.

Certain types of granite finish can give a marble or onyx look. Naturally, granite is porous, but today’s bathroom flooring options are sealed. This means your floors will last decades without much maintenance.

Which of These Great Bathroom Flooring Ideas Inspires You?

When it comes to finding bathroom flooring inspiration, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Check out all of our bathroom flooring products, and contact us today to schedule a free in-home estimate and consultation. We can help you find the right bathroom floor for your style.

At My Affordable Flooring LLC., we provide flooring removal and installation services throughout Milwaukee, Racine, and everywhere in between.

Carpet vs. Hardwood: What Should I Go For?

July 11, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Are you remodeling your home and having trouble deciding which is the best flooring to install?

Carpet vs. hardwood is an age-old debate and both have their ups and downs. The type of look you want to achieve in your home and how much you want to spend are just two factors to consider when making this big choice. Flooring is a big part of how your home will end up looking, so it’s important to weigh the options carefully.

Here are the pros and cons of both materials so you can make the right choice.

side-by-side image showing hardwood flooring vs. carpeting

Aesthetics

Installing hardwood floors will instantly up the sophistication of your home. The look is more modern and luxurious since most people know hardwood floor is more expensive than carpet. In general:

Hardwood floors appear to look cleaner since they won’t collect stains or have areas of discoloration like many carpets will over time.
If you’re selecting purely based on a look, you really can’t go wrong with a hardwood floor. Hardwood also goes well with so many colors, textures and other materials, you won’t have to worry about matching any decor to your floor.

Comfort

There is something very cozy about living in a space with plush, soft carpet. It’s great if you have young children who are crawling around or kids who need a comfortable playspace.

Carpet also feels nicer to walk on and provides warmth throughout the house, whereas a hardwood floor can be especially cool, especially during the winter. If you don’t want to carpet the entire home, you might want to consider carpeting the living areas, like the bedrooms.

Longevity

When it comes to how long carpet or hardwood will last, hardwood won’t let you down. If the wood is installed properly and cared for, it can last decades without a problem.

You won’t have this kind of luck with carpet. Stains will pile up and it will likely need to be replaced within the first ten years of use.

If you’re planning to stay in the same home for a long time, you may want to determine the cost of a one-time hardwood floor install vs. several carpet installations. If they even out over a span of time and you prefer hardwood, it might make sense to invest in it now.

Maintenance

When it comes to maintaining a clean floor, hardwood is going to be the more convenient choice. Hardwood can be polished or restained if damage occurs.

With carpet, even with regular professional cleanings, stains set in and keep reappearing over time. You also run the risk of bacteria and other materials becoming stuck in the carpet and causing allergies.

If you or your family are sensitive to dust or highly allergic, the carpet will likely begin to cause a reaction, especially in heavily trafficked areas of the house.

Carpet vs. Hardwood: Which Is Right for You?

Now that you have more information when it comes to deciding between carpet vs. hardwood, you can make the choice that best suits your lifestyle and aesthetic. Remember to keep in mind factors like how long the material will last and how it will wear over time before you make your investment.

Contact us today to let us help you renovate your home and find the flooring that’s right for you. We offer affordable, professional flooring throughout Milwaukee, Racine, and northern Illinois.

5 Hardwood Floor Patterns You’ll Love

June 13, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Hardwood floors give the home a refined and polished look. But, while many people like the idea of hardwood floors, some are a little apprehensive about the price or upkeep. To relieve this uncertainty, manufacturers have created engineered hardwood floors.

Engineered flooring is a plank with a layer of hardwood on top and layers of other materials on the bottom. These planks don’t shift and move like natural wood, nor do they need to be acclimated to room temperature. Better yet, engineered flooring is so versatile that it can be tailored to a wide variety of hardwood floor patterns.

Whether you decide to invest in solid wood planks or engineered flooring, these wood floor pattern ideas will add personality and character to your home.

mixed species wood flooring pattern sample

1. Herringbone

The herringbone pattern is a unique design that creates a broken zigzag floor pattern. Interesting facts about this design include:

It gets its name from its resemblance to a herring fish’s skeleton.
The wood pattern is laid out in rectangular tiles.
Contractors stagger the tiles so they don’t create a perfect V-shaped pattern.

2. Chevron

There are some slight similarities between herringbone and chevron patterns, the main one being the zigzag design. However, unlike the herringbone pattern, chevron flooring creates a sharp V-shape that is much more pronounced.

When it comes to creating a chevron floor:

Contractors cut the wood planks into V-shaped pieces and lay them on the floor.
Installation requires expert precision and attention to detail.
The floor has to be measured and the planks must be laid vertically.

3. Parquet

Parquet flooring is another type of hardwood floor pattern with a geometric design. Interestingly, parquet flooring has origins in France, with the Palace of Versailles having one of the most famous parquet flooring designs.

Like some French wines, the most most famous French parquet designs are named after places. They are Fontainbleu, Gaujacq, Aremberg, Chalosse, Chantilly, and Soubise.

Other interesting facts about parquet flooring include:

Some people classify herringbone and chevron patterns as members of the parquet family, but those floor patterns have a distinct design.
Parquet can be laid in any pattern, including hexagons, bricks, diagonal basket weave, and square basket weave.
Parquet hardwood floor patterns often have a basket weave design that can be seen in the famous French parquet designs.

4. Exotic Hardwood Floor Patterns

This is an umbrella term that describes solid wood planks that come from foreign countries like Brazil and Australia.

The exotic wood for these floor patterns comes from rare trees that have their own special patterns and designs. It’s important to be aware that the timber is sourced overseas, so these types of wood floor patterns can be quite expensive.

Common exotic wood species are:

Cherry
Mahogany
Oak
Walnut

These wood planks often have rich undertones of red, burgundy, and brown.

When it comes to using exotic wood for your floors, it’s important to remember that installation requires a hardwood finish to preserve the wood.

5. Straight Pattern

This is one of the more simplistic floor patterns and the most common. Wood planks are installed horizontally along the width of the room.

When it comes to straight patterns:

Straight planks create a brick-like wood floor pattern.
Any type of wood can be fashioned into straight wood planks. Contractors create straight planks from oak, mahogany, and other wood species.
Unlike other patterns, planks don’t have to be cut into wood tiles, squares, rectangles, or V-shapes. The planks keep their natural shape and form.

Find the Right Pattern for Your Floors

Contact us today to learn more about your home flooring options. And, if you’re looking for something really unique for your floors, don’t forget to see our gallery of custom floor inlays and medallions.

5 Things to Know About Refinishing Old Hardwood Floors

May 30, 2018 by My Affordable Flooring

Few things make a house feel like a home as much as rich hardwood floors. The solid structure and warm coloring has universal appeal. Fortunately, hardwood flooring also provides a lot of value to a home from an economic sense. This means that investing in a hardwood floor may well be the best benefit to a home long-term.

Getting existing hardwood fixed can seem a daunting task. Fortunately, refinishing old hardwood floors can be an enriching experience, not a headache. And, with the lifecycle of hardwood flooring exceeding 25 years, you may only need to go through the process once or twice in a lifetime.

Worker polishing parquet floor with grinding machine

Refinishing Old Hardwood Floors

At the outset, it can seem daunting to get started refinishing stained wood. Fortunately, we have had a lot of practice in the field and have a knowledge base with some of the more common information.

Consider these five points when you embark to refinish a wood floor.

1. It’s a Process

Unlike a fresh flooring install, refinishing stained wood takes more steps. The efforts put in have to preserve as much of the original material as possible. Treatments then preserve those materials, so they last.

Generally, steps include removing any previous finish or stain, mixing and matching new stain, and sealing the wood. Repairs to damaged areas or closing up gaps that may have formed from settling will also need to be done.

Then the drying time comes into play. Many people ask, “How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?” All in all, areas being refinished may be unusable for at least six days.

2. Price out Everything

Knowing the timeframe and efforts involved are a good first step. Knowing how much it will cost is the next step.

Going through the cost of labor, equipment, and materials will help you to see the full scope of what is occurring. This is because the reality of the task doesn’t sink in until the prices are tabulated. No amount of considering the time and effort involved seems to impact like looking at that bottom line.

3. Buffing and Sanding

Understand that several processes may be engaged to remove the old finish. Buffing discs called screens are used to remove non-waxed finishes. Coarser sanding is used to remove damage or wax finishes.

All of this puts particles in the air and into vents. Vents can quickly move particles to other areas of the house. Check the current recommended information on air safety for an idea of what prophylactic tactics to employ.

4. Stains

Good indicators of when to refinish wood floors include a dull luster and visible abrasions.

New installs of contemporary wood may also require an update to other areas. Updating colors ensures that the tone of the home matches better. Also, always be prepared for some stain testing to ensure a good match.

5. Poly Seals

Finally, know how many coats of polyurethane will be applied to complete a floor. Each coat has to dry before the next can be added, and this will change up your timetable.

You will also want to know the general health impact of different poly seals. If you have animals or small children, you will want something that can handle some damage. If you expect the floors to heat near vents or a fireplace, you will also want to know the heat rating and smoke points.

Scope It Out

Refinishing old hardwood floors may be an involved process, but it is rather straightforward when you get down to it. It does, however, take considerable skill and time. Thankfully, the results more than make up for the time and effort put in.

Remember that it’s always best to leave any hardwood refinishing project to a professional, especially if you don’t have any experience or the right tools. If it’s time to have your floors redone, contact us today for a free estimate.