Giving Your Wood Floor A Facelift
When the wood floor looks all dull and dilapidated, it takes away the appeal of the space. A surface covered in scratches, stains that have set into the material, chips and cracks that even make it uncomfortable to walk on, cases of water damage that have deformed the surface and made it uneven, all through to discolouration from solar radiation, and the loss of the surface sheen after intense scrubbing sessions over time. There are two paths to freshening up your floor, and the choice taken will depend on the condition of the installation.
- Recoating
This is a light-duty touch-up, and is done when the damage to the surface is minimal – like when you’re dealing with scuffs marks on the floor. It is not an invasive process, and typically just takes a few hours to get it done. The floor is buffed to remove the blemishes, and a top coat applied over the existing finish.
While it is a fast process, it does not deal with imperfections like deep scratches that have got through to the bare wood, and these will still be highlighted even after the new coats are applied. Note that there is also little wiggle room for the products that can be used, since these need to be compatible with the old finish that is still on the floor. Speaking of which, blemishes that are already existent on the current finish will remain.
- Refinishing
This is a complete overhaul of the existing finish. A floor sanding is carried out, getting to the bare wood. It gives your installation a new start. With those old and deteriorated layers being removed, you get to have new ones applied that will enhance the protection of your wood floor and prolong its life. The floor can only be refinished a set number of times. This will depend on the thickness of the wear layer. As such, it is imperative that only the required amount of wood tissue is removed, and not sanding too deep into the floor.
Get The Experts To Restore Your Floor
When times comes to give your installation facelift, do you go the DIY route, or hire a professional for the task? This is one of those products where there is plenty at stake, and one wrong step can wreak havoc on your installation. It’s common to find DIYers giving up midway and calling in the professionals to deal with the situation and rectify the damages made. A simple oversight like turning on the sander when the drum is in contact with the floor causes the machine to spin on one spot, creating a divot on the spot. In a bid to avoid sanding too deep into the floor, the DIYer may move the sander too fast over the surface, that the process leaves behind patches of the old finish still on the floor. On the other hand, moving too slowly causes the machine to sand out more wood tissue than desired, which weakens the structural integrity of the installation. Scratches that are left on the surface for not following the proper grit sequence, uneven result that ruins the finish – you don’t want to find yourself in these situations. In other cases, it is an issue with the sanders being used, such as for those sections where one rents beat out or poorly maintained units from the local dealerships, which end up leaving chatter marks or over the floor.
On the other hand, professionals have the training and experience needed to carry out a quality job, and get it done right the first time around. The industrial-grade machinery they use is expensive, and not readily available for rent from dealerships, which would put the DIYer at a considerable disadvantage from the word go. What’s more, the professionals are well equipped with safety gear for the process, and the dustless floor sanding systems that they use makes it a cleaner and quicker process. This cuts down the amount of clean-up required after the process, and the rest of the finishing can be carried out much sooner. Here are more benefits you get from professional floor sanding and restoration:
- Easy maintenance
A smooth surface is easy to keep clean. When there are ridges caused by water damage, scratches that trap grime, dents where greasy residue collects – this adds to your workload during the routine cleaning tasks. What’s more the surface blemishes will increase the rate of allergen build up, which will put the health of the household members at risk. However, with a smooth surface that results after the floor sanding and refinishing, there won’t be spots for dirt to build up, reducing your workload when it comes to the cleaning.
- For the beauty of your floor
With the wide range of wood stains available, and gloss levels with the finish coats, you can keep your flooring up to date with the trends, or set a traditional theme of your space. The stain is not permanent, and you can change it whenever you want, as long as there is sufficient wear layer remaining for the floor sanding to be carried out. Whether you’re looking to revitalise the original look, or switch to a new style, getting the pros to work on the project will ensure that you end up with the results you desire.
Sure, aesthetics are great, but how long can you keep them that way? Due to the wear that the floor receives over time, the current coats will eventually deteriorate. The occasional floor sanding and refinishing will keep your installation in good condition – which is also particularly handy for those looking to put their house on the market later on. Speaking of which, the popularity of word floors enables them to increase the real estate value of the premises, from residential to commercial establishments. A worn out and distressed floor will paint a picture of a building that is not well taken care of, which will scare off potential tenants and buyers. It pays to keep the floor in good condition – and the professional floor restoration company will ensure that you get the results you desire.
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