For people who are looking to save money, refinishing your own hardwood floors is an appealing prospect. However, before you get started, it is a good idea to know what you are getting in to. This project can take up to five days and has an average cost of around 600 dollars.

Understanding Hardwood Floors

There are two big reasons to preserve hardwood floors, and these reasons all relate to a hardwood floor’s natural charm.

In the first place, they are timeless. This means that as long as a hardwood floor is in good condition, it can be matched with just about any home design.

In the second place, hardwood floors wear very well. If they look scuffed and dull, they do not need to be replaced. Instead, they can simply be refinished, leaving them looking as good as new.

Remember, however, that when you look into refinishing your floors, there are a lot of steps that need to be finished with painstaking care. This is why so many people simply use a professional service!

If you are someone with a lot of experience in your home renovations, refinishing floors is straightforward enough, but if you are new, you can make mistakes that will actually last forever on your floor. In a worst case scenario, you will lower the value of your home.

What Does a Pro Offer?

In the first place, a pro will take less time than you will. A pro can finish the job in just a few days if it is simple, and they can finish in a matter of weeks if there are custom stains and finishes that in place. More than that, a pro will tell you when things are going to be finished; for example, a humid few days can add a lot of drying time.

In general, there are two approaches for your floor finisher.
He will rebuff your floor, where the wood is given a new protective finish. A buffing tool and a series of grits are used to give your floor a beautiful luster, and a clear finish is laid over top.

The second approach involves sanding and finishing your floor, where the floor is sanded straight down to the bare wood and then a stain and several coats of finish are applied. This is more pricey, but it is the longer-lasting option, and in many cases, it is like getting a brand new floor for a fraction of the cost.

Steps a Pro Will Take

In addition to inspecting your home to give you a good estimate with regards to the labor and the cost, he will also seal off the home to help you keep the dust and grime confined to one area as he works.

A professional will also apply filler to the hollows and holes, resulting in a smoother finish. The floor needs to be stained, which can require several applications and a lot of knowledge regarding the rates at which the stain is absorbed.

Of course you want to make sure that your professional is familiar with his materials. He will know what the safest polishes and varnishes are, something that is very comforting if you have pets or small children in the home.

At the end of the day, you should always consider whether a DIY job is really DIY. In many cases, a pro might be the better choice, so decide carefully!