Hardwood Floor Refinishing Bergen County NJ is an affordable way to revitalize old hardwood flooring. It can make your home look more attractive, and it’s also environmentally friendly.
To refinish your floors, you’ll need to remove all furniture from the room and tape off doors and outlets. Vacuum the room thoroughly before you start sanding. Start with a medium-grade sanding disk and move up to a finer grit.
Refinishing hardwood floors can be a costly project. The total cost varies depending on the size of the working area, the type of wood, and the level of damage. Generally, up to 80% of the final cost is spent on labor. In addition, the flooring contractor must pay for the equipment used, stain, topcoat and other materials. The costs of removing carpeting, repairing damaged floor boards and cleaning can also add up.
The first step is to remove the shoe molding, which covers the trim around the edges of the hardwood floor. To avoid damaging the molding, use a small hammer and a pry bar instead of a crowbar. After removing the shoe molding, it is important to clean the area and prepare for refinishing.
Next, the hardwood flooring is sanded down with large drum and belt sanders. This is a time-consuming process and must be done carefully to avoid thinning out the floorboards or producing an uneven finish. If the flooring has deep scratches, gouges or dents, they must be filled and sanded again. The sanding process is usually followed by a stain application and then a polyurethane topcoat.
Stain colors can add up to an additional $0.50 to $0.75 per square foot to the refinishing cost. The sanding process will also require the flooring to be “waterpopped.” This is a process that opens up the pores of the wood for more consistent stain penetration, and can help achieve darker finishes with less streaking.
If your hardwood flooring is in good condition and doesn’t have deep scratches or dents, it may be possible to skip the sanding step and just recoat the floors. This option will save you money and still give the floors a fresh new look. However, you should know that this will only prolong the life of your hardwood floors and won’t fix major problems.
Time
Hardwood floor refinishing is a labor-intensive process, and it can take up to seven days to finish the job. This timeframe is dependent on the size of the room, the type of stain used, and the wood species. It is also influenced by humidity and the amount of work that needs to be done.
Before starting a hardwood refinishing project, it is important to plan ahead. This includes making a list of the furniture to be moved, creating a plan for dust control and management, and removing any nails that are sticking out of the trim. It is also important to have the right tools for the job and to choose a sander that is suitable for the task.
The first step in refinishing hardwood floors is sanding the surfaces. A flooring professional can sand about 1000 square feet per day, using a rough pass, edge pass, and a trim pass. However, it is important to keep in mind that the sanding process can take two or more days for large areas.
After the sanding process is complete, it’s time to add the stain. It’s best to use a water-based polyurethane, which dries much faster than oil-based products. Water-based products are also eco-friendly and easier to clean up than oil-based ones.
Once the stain is applied, it’s important to wait at least 24 hours before walking on your newly finished floors. You should also wait four days before moving your furniture back into the room. This will allow the new finish to cure properly and maintain its appearance over time.
It’s also a good idea to test out different stain colors on sample boards before your refinishing project begins. This will ensure that you get exactly the look and color that you want.
Experience
Hardwood floor refinishing involves sanding the hardwood floor down to its raw wood surface to erase scratches, dents and stains. Refinishing is more expensive than resurfacing but it can last longer and requires less maintenance than replacing the floor. The cost of refinishing varies according to the type and thickness of the flooring and the amount of damage.
A solid hardwood, such as oak or maple, is relatively easy to refinish. Softer or exotic woods can be more difficult to work with, and the refinishing process may take more time. It’s important to choose a flooring contractor who has experience with your particular species of wood. It’s also recommended that you get multiple quotes from contractors before making a decision.
Having your hardwood floors refinished by professionals can make them look like new again and help you avoid the expense of replacing your wood flooring. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that refinishing can cause additional wear and tear on the floors in the future, so it is necessary to plan for ongoing maintenance.
Refinishing can also be used to change the color of your hardwood floors. You can choose from a wide range of Bona stain colors and waterborne finishes to create the look you want. You can also opt for dustless refinishing, which uses commercial vacuums to minimize the mess and disruption to your home or office. Whether you’re looking for a quick touch-up or an entirely new look, Bona floor refinishing is the best way to revitalize your hardwood floors. For more information, contact a Bona Certified Contractor (BCC). They’ll be well-versed in the latest trends and deep-rooted in the newest refinishing technologies to give you a quality result.
Wood type
Whether your hardwood floors are oak, cherry or some other species, the type of wood can have an impact on the cost and time to refinish them. Some hardy woods such as hickory can hold up well to high levels of wear and tear, while soft woods such as southern yellow pine may dent or scratch easily. The quality of the finish on your floors is also a factor that impacts refinishing costs. For example, oil-based finishes require more effort to work with than water based ones.
The type of wood used for your floors also affects their durability and ability to withstand moisture. For instance, a solid hardwood floor made from maple is very durable and has a natural resistance to damage from moisture. Likewise, hickory is another popular choice for its durability and beautiful grain pattern. It has the highest Janka rating on the hardness scale and is one of the more water-resistant types of wood available.
Other good options include birch, beech, and padauk. While birch is not as hard as oak, it is very strong and can stand up to moderate amounts of foot traffic without scratching or denting. Beech is also a good choice because it can take stains well and is very durable. Padauk, which is sometimes referred to as vermillion, has a similar appearance to mahogany but at a more reasonable price point.
While engineered wood is an excellent choice for homes with limited space, it is important to check the thickness of the veneer before refinishing. If the layer of veneer is too thin, it can be difficult to sand it down without accidentally exposing plywood underneath. Typically, you want at least 1/8″ of veneer left in order to safely refinish your floors.
DIY
Depending on your skill level, you can save money by refinishing hardwood floors yourself instead of hiring a professional. However, it is important to understand that it is a messy job that requires special equipment. Before you start, make sure that the room is well-ventilated and free of furniture, curtains and pictures. It is also a good idea to wear a dust mask. The process of refinishing hardwood floors is also time-consuming. You may need to wait at least 24 hours for each coat of polyurethane to dry.
You can start by vacuuming and sweeping the floors to remove any dirt or debris. Then, thoroughly clean the floor using a damp cloth or mineral spirits. This will help prevent the new finish from adhering to old stains or the wood itself. It is best to do this before you begin the refinishing process.
A few days after you have sanded the floor, apply a coat of water-based polyurethane and let it dry completely. Once the first coat has dried, lightly sand with 220-grit sandpaper. This will smooth the surface and allow the next coat to bond properly.
After sanding, you can add more coats of polyurethane to the floor. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label for each product. Also, keep in mind that water-based polyurethanes often require more coats than oil-based products.
As with any DIY project, it’s important to consult with people who are familiar with refinishing floors. This could be a person at your local hardware store, a contractor, or someone who has refinished their own hardwood floors. It’s also a good idea to discuss your plans with a friend who has experience working with power tools and other home improvement projects.
