3 Signs That A Floor Sanding And Refinishing Is Needed
Though wood floors are elegant, keeping them that way will require effort on your part as the homeowner. This includes ensuring spills are got to in time, that the cleaning is done on a regular basis, and the floor refinished after it shows signs of wear. Here are ways you can tell that a refinishing is due for your floor:
- Excess scratches and marks
The floor is bound to get scratches over time. Abrasive debris getting grinded against the floor surface, marks when furniture is being rearranged, pets running around the house digging their claws into the surface, those toys that the kids are playing with – it will be inevitable that the floor will get scratched. Certainly, there are measures that you can take to prevent this, like carrying furniture instead of dragging across the floor when you want to move it. When the scratches become too many to ignore, it’s time for the floor to be restored. There are also scenarios where the scratches will be large enough such that they get to the bare wood, in which case this will show you that the finish coat itself has been excessively worn, and new coats need to be applied. You don’t want water seeping in through the deep scratch and damaging the affected plank. Let’s cover that next.
- Water damage
Water is a threat to your wood floor. Issues like cupping, warping, and buckling can ruin the installation. Some of the issues can be reversed without having to resort to a whole refinishing. In fact, if you notice cupping or crowning, the first step is to determine the cause of the excess moisture – be it a high indoor air humidity, or leakage from damaged pipes. When the issue is resolved (running the dehumidifier, fixing the pipe, etc.) and the floor mopped, allow it to dry, then assess whether the planks revert to their original state. Over time, the water damage causes the structure of the floorboards to change permanently, like those small bumps that make it uncomfortable to walk on. Here, the floor sanding comes in to smoothen out the surface, and new treatments can be applied to increase the resistance of the installation to water damage.
- Discolouration
The wood changes colour for different reasons.it can be due to prolonged exposure to the sun, where the radiation causes the floor to fade, water stains that cause there to be oxidisation as the water is absorbed into the wood tissue, all through to the fading that gradually takes place due to routine cleaning, especially when tough measures were used to get rid of stubborn stains. The discolouration takes away the appeal of the floor. Fortunately sanding allows you to give the installation a fresh start, and new wood stains of the preferred colour can be applied, followed by topcoats that accentuate the finish.
Got High Traffic? Here’s How You Can Keep Your Floor Safe
Given that the floors can only be sanded and refinished for a set number of times through their life, you want to reduce as much damage as you can, while keeping the installation elegant all through. Traffic – both human and pets, is responsible for most of the wear and tear. This is due to the abrasive action of the debris which is grinded against the floor, all through to the scratches and chips that are formed with the kids and pets running around and playing with their toys. Here are some extra tips for protecting the wood floors in your home, especially for the high-traffic areas:
- Door mats
The goal here is to capture most of the dirt before it actually gets into the house. Having an outdoor mat at the front of the entryway will be the first line of defence, scraping off the debris that is at the bottom of peoples’ shoes before they walk into the house. This includes soiling, small pellets, and even larger objects that could be stuck in the treads of the individual’s shoes. Having a mat at the entryway will actually encourage those coming into the building to wipe their feet.
- Rugs
Inside the house, strategically positioning rugs will reduce the amount of beating that the wood floor receives. This is more than just having a rug at the entryway. Long runners for the hallways, area rugs right at the sofa sets and under the dining tables – these will all help in protecting the installation from excessive wear.
- Felt pads
When having wood floors, getting felt pads for the furniture is a top priority. A slight movement of those heavy sofa sets can leave behind a huge scratch or gouge on the wood floor. Remember that the furniture doesn’t just move when you want to shift its position as you rearrange the house. Even that simple jostling that kids do as they play in the household can cause the sofa to move slightly, and in the process scratch the surface. These are inexpensive items that will protect you from spending loads of cash on repairing your floor. Remember to inspect the felt pads regularly and replace those that are worn out – perhaps every six months.
- No shoes in the house!
A No-Shoe policy will go a long way in protecting the floor. For starters, shoes are some of the main sources of the dirt that is brought into the house, and leaving them at the door will automatically cut down the amount of debris that gets to the rest of the rooms. Secondly, some shoes are by nature a threat to the floor. Take stilettos for instance, where the persons wearing them will exert loads of pressure on a small section of the surface. It’s also common to find pebbles getting stuck to the soles of casual shoes and even tennis shoes, which will end up scratching the floor when one walks in with them. Getting your guests and family members to take off their shoes immediately they walk into the home will reduce the beating that the floor receives.
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