Hardwood Floor Refinishing Bergen County NJ is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that can transform the look of any room. A few factors can affect the cost, including size and species of hardwood floors.
After the floors are sanded, they’ll be stained or coated with polyurethane. It can take anywhere from 24 hours to a week for the finish to dry and cure.
The cost of refinishing hardwood floors can vary significantly depending on the condition of your current floor, stain color, and coating materials. You should consult with several flooring professionals to find the best price for your home. It’s also a good idea to add extra money to your budget to cover clean-up and disposal costs. Most flooring companies include this in their pricing estimates, but you should check with them first.
Hardwood refinishing is a major investment and requires the services of skilled professionals to ensure your results look perfect. This process can be very dusty, so you should move all the furniture out of the room to minimize dirt and debris. You should also cover your countertops and appliances with tarps to prevent stains or scratches. In addition to the labor cost, there are many additional fees that can add up quickly. These include wood sanding, repair work, and stain. The sanding fee alone can run anywhere from $3 to $5 per square foot.
Once the sanding is complete, it’s time for the staining. It’s important to choose a stain that matches the style of your house and suits your taste. It’s a good idea to talk to the refinishing company about what you’re looking for and ask if they can show you samples of different stains. Choosing the right stain can make or break the look of your floor.
If your floor is in good shape and you’re not interested in a dramatic change, you can opt to skip the sanding process and just recoat the hardwood. This is usually cheaper than refinishing and will still give the floors a new look. However, it’s a good idea to have the floors buffed and recoated every few years to keep them in pristine condition.
Another option for refinishing your hardwood is to apply a polyurethane coat. This is a more economical option but it’s not as long-lasting as a full refinish. The coat can be either water-based or oil-based, and it’s a good idea to test the finish on a small area of your floor before applying it to the entire surface.
Time
Hardwood floors are a highly-desired home feature that can last for decades. However, over time they can become dull and scratched. Refinishing can restore their beauty and increase your home’s value. However, it is important to understand that refinishing can be a messy process and requires patience. Moreover, it is best to let a professional take care of the task instead of trying to do it yourself. This process involves sanding the wood and applying a new coat of finish. It may require a few days or a week to complete, depending on the extent of the work.
To begin, you will need to remove all furniture from the room in which you plan to refinish the hardwood floors. This will protect your belongings from the dust created during the refinishing process. You should also apply plastic sheeting to doorways to prevent the dust from drifting into other areas of the house. It is also a good idea to remove any drapes hanging in the room. Finally, tape over floor registers to avoid any dust seeping into them.
Before refinishing your floors, you should first sand them down to bare wood. This will help the new finish to adhere to the surface of the wood. During this stage, it is best to use 80-grit sandpaper, and be sure to wear a dust mask.
The next step is to stain your hardwood floors. The type of stain you choose will determine the color of your floors. It is important to select a low-VOC stain, as these are easier to clean up and won’t emit as many toxins into the air. You will also need to choose a clear polyurethane to add protection and shine to your floors.
Refinishing your hardwood floors is a worthwhile investment that will enhance the beauty of your home. However, it is important to keep in mind that this is a labor-intensive project and requires the proper tools and materials. For this reason, it is a good idea to hire a professional flooring expert. A qualified expert will ensure that the job is completed quickly and efficiently.
Species
Refinishing hardwood floors is a worthwhile investment for many reasons, but the most important one may be that it adds value to your home. According to the National Association of Realtors, homeowners can recuperate 147% of the cost of refinishing hardwood floors when they sell their homes. This is a significant advantage that can help them sell their homes faster and for higher prices.
When choosing a wood flooring company to refinish your hardwood floors, be sure to choose a contractor that has experience in the job. A company with years of experience will have a better understanding of the various species of hardwood and the best ways to refinish them. Also, look for a company that offers a warranty on its work.
The type of wood used for your floors will affect the quality and durability of the finish, so it is important to know what you’re getting into before hiring a refinisher. Harder woods, like teak and mahogany, are more durable, but they are harder to refinish because of their density. They are also more difficult to stain. On the other hand, soft woods, like pine and oak, are easier to refinish, but they can be damaged by water.
Engineered wood floors are an alternative to solid hardwood, made of a thin layer of real wood bonded to a cheaper material like plywood. While they can be refinished, it’s important to make sure the veneer is thick enough to avoid accidentally sanding through to the plywood underneath.
If you have children, pets, or heavy household traffic, a darker color will hide scratches and marks better than a lighter shade. Also, darker colors will warm up the room and make it more inviting. However, you should note that the dark stains used for these types of floors require more maintenance to keep them looking good.
Whether or not your hardwood floors are stained, they should be regularly buffed and recoated to maintain their durability. You should also avoid using rugs on them until the refinishing is complete and the finish has had a chance to cure completely.
Preparation
To get the best results from refinishing hardwood floors, they must first be cleaned thoroughly. This process can be done with a broom or vacuum cleaner, but may also include using a putty knife to dislodge any particularly tenacious food stains or other sticky materials. This step is also a good time to address any scratches or other imperfections in the wood. A sanding block can help smooth the boards, and a cotton swab can be used to apply wood stain to the board to minimize the appearance of any scratches that have blemished the surface of the flooring.
Sanding is a necessary part of the process, as it removes the old finish and exposes the bare wood. This allows the new stain to bond with the flooring, creating a stronger and more durable result. It is important to make sure that the sanding is completed in a proper sequence, from course to fine grits. Skipping grits can cause the flooring to become uneven and may leave scratch marks in the surface of the floor.
After the sanding is complete, the flooring should be cleaned once again, and a sealer coat applied to prevent the new stain from becoming dull or scratched. It is important to test the sealer on a small area of the floor, as it can take a while for the material to fully acclimate to the temperature and humidity in your home. It is also a good idea to use an air purifier, as the polyurethane used in this process can give off a strong odor.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing can give your home a fresh, updated look, and it is relatively affordable. However, it can be difficult to do on your own. To avoid expensive mistakes, you should consult a professional. These professionals are trained in the entire process of refinishing hardwood floors, from dust-free sanding to applying a final coat. They can also assist you with choosing the right color and stain for your floors.
Staining is a popular choice for hardwood floors, as it adds warmth and beauty to a room and can be customized to match any décor. The biggest disadvantage of this method is that it can be extremely difficult to choose a color, and you cannot change the color later without paying for another refinishing job. In addition, stained hardwood can only be refinished four to six times in its lifespan, so it is important to choose a color that you will enjoy for the long term.
