Hardwood floors are an excellent feature to have in your home. While hardwood can last a long time, foot traffic and other wear and tear can take their toll. Unlike other flooring materials, when hardwood starts to look a little beat up, you don't have to replace it. Instead, hardwood refinishing can bring old and tired wood flooring back to life in a few days. Here's what to know if you want to refinish the hardwood flooring in your home.
Hire A Professional
If you are handy, it can be very tempting to refinish your hardwood flooring. However, it's important to remember that any mistakes you make can come back to haunt you. Sanding off too much wood can ruin your home's beautiful wood floors. Since hardwood refinishing can be challenging, going with a professional hardwood refinishing service is best. The pros know how much wood to remove, will fix any problem areas, and can help you select a suitable stain for your flooring. Professional hardwood refinishing will look better and usually take far less time than it would if you did it on your own.
Prepare For The Expense
The good news is that refinishing hardwood is nowhere near as expensive as replacing your flooring. However, that doesn't mean you won't want to take the time to work refinishing your floors into your budget. How much refinishing is necessary and the square footage of your home will impact your bottom line. If you go with professional hardwood refinishing, most of the cost will be from labor. On average, hardwood refinishing costs $3 to $8 per square foot if you hire professionals.
Keep Dry Time In Mind
Another thing to consider is how much time hardwood refinishing takes. A full professional hardwood refinishing takes three to seven days. During this work, you will need to stay off your flooring. Many homeowners temporarily move out while their floors are being refinished. Dry time is another thing to keep in mind. Once your refinishers are done, it may be a few days before your floors are ready for use. Ask about dry times before the work begins.
If you are looking to redo your hardwood floors, there are a few things to know. First, professional hardwood refinishing is a good bet for most homeowners. Second, the cost of hardwood refinishing varies but is cheaper than replacement. Finally, make sure you stay off your floors while they are drying.
Contact a professional for more information about hardwood refinishing.