Character-filled original hardwood floors are one of the most valuable features of your home. Our guide to floor refinishing explains how restoration offers an affordable way to maintain this one-of-a-kind asset.
The Benefits of Refinishing Hardwood Floors
As hardwood floor specialists, we offer a wide range of hardwood floor options, from customized reclaimed wood to engineered hardwood, and wide plank boards to on-site staining. Despite having many products available, we always recommend refinishing hardwood floors over replacement for the following reasons:
- Budget: Refinishing saves you thousands of dollars compared to tearing out and replacing floors.
- Extended lifespan: Our refinishing experts add decades to the life of your hardwood using special floor sanding techniques, wood-enhancing stains, and improved finishing options.
- Maintain home value: Today’s home buyers cherish original character features and the eco-friendly approach to home renovations, such as original hardwood floors.
- Instant upgrade: The refinishing process includes the application of new stains and finishes, allowing you to upgrade the look to match any design style.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Inspection
The first step is a thorough inspection of your hardwood floors to ensure they are suitable for the refinishing process. This includes inspecting damage, floorboard soundness, and the overall appearance of the floors to develop an effective strategy tailored to your floors’ specific condition.
If we find that your floors are beyond saving, we can discuss your replacement options to find a suitable solution for your space. In some cases, we might find that certain floorboards or areas of the flooring can be replaced.
Since we apply a stain on-site as part of the refinishing process, we can match the stain with the refinished floorboards for a seamless look. We can also answer any questions you might have about the process to ensure you are 100% comfortable with your decision, from fumes and mess to expected results and cost.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Staining Options
Our flooring experts will provide staining floors’ samples to help you choose the best tone for your home. It helps to see the stains in the actual environment they’ll be applied. You can get a feel for the appearance based on the light in your home.
We can adjust the stain using various techniques, including the number of layers applied, to help achieve the exact look you desire. This is an exciting step, as it allows you to see the possibilities that refinishing offers. You can make a drastic or subtle change and transform your old floors into something completely new.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Finishing Options
Stain is not the only change we make during the refinishing process. We can also discuss different finishing options based on a super matte, matte, or satin sheen. This coat also provides important protection for your floors. You can choose between low-odour, quicker-drying water-based finishes and the richer look and added durability of slower-drying, oil-based finishes.
We use low-VOC finishes to keep fumes to a minimum, even for our oil-based products. Our experts will discuss the pros and cons of each option to help you make the right decision. In some cases, we can also alter the appearance using different techniques to add more texture.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Scheduling and Quote
Based on your decisions, we will provide an accurate quote and schedule an appointment to begin the work. Our transparent pricing ensures there are no hidden fees. Our experience helps ensure we catch any potential challenges that might affect the price before we begin, to avoid unwelcome surprises.
We will provide a timeline to complete the job, which usually ranges from 2 to 5 days, depending on the scope and scale of the product. With everything agreed upon, we will arrive at the scheduled time.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Preparation
Before we arrive, we ask that you clear the room of furniture, art, and window treatments to reduce the risks of damage. Please let us know if you are unable to move furniture on your own, and we can help make arrangements to manage this step for you.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Floor Sanding
On the first day, our refinishers will inspect the floors to determine if repairs are required. This can range from removing exposed nails to filling minor cracks. We will also cover vents and close off the room before we begin. A thorough cleaning is the final step before we begin our advanced sanding process.
Our specialized equipment removes old finishes and imperfections with features designed to help contain most of the dust. We also use a dust containment system that significantly reduces airborne particles to help maintain the highest possible level of indoor air quality as we work. We then complete a final thorough vacuuming to remove all debris.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Stain Application
Once the floors are sanded to perfection, we begin the stain application. We ensure the stain tone you selected is perfect before we cover the entire floor. We will allow the stain to dry before inspecting it for imperfections. If there are any variances in colour, we will take steps to achieve a perfectly uniform look.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Sealing and Curing
Once the stain is completely dry, we apply multiple coats of durable, low-VOC finishes. This stage is extremely important, as it ensures your floors are protected with enhanced durability. We allow enough time for each coat to cure completely to create a smooth, flawless finish. Our team reveals your newly finished floors for your inspection and won’t consider the job complete without your seal of approval.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Care
We want your newly refinished hardwood floors to last for decades. Our experts will share tips to help you care for your floors to help them maintain their finish.
Contact the Flooring Professionals
If you’re considering a hardwood floor replacement, speak to our team at Revival Flooring first. We can show you how our refinishing hardwood floors services can save you money and achieve a truly bespoke look with customized stains and finishes. Click here to learn more or request a quote, or give us a call at 705-990-0548. You can also contact us online here.