Walking All Over It

Hardwood flooring resurfacing is a process that can give any wooden floor a new lease on life. You might wonder what the process entails and some of the signs it's time to resurface wood floors, and this article will explore both topics.

Not Refinishing

People often confuse resurfacing with refinishing. Generally, a contractor can use a lighter touch to refinish a floor. They can strip away the stain and lacquer with sanding. Subsequently, they'll apply fresh stains and protective coatings.

To resurface wood floors, a contractor has to get more aggressive. Usually, resurfacing is the choice once some of the boards in the floor begin to fail due to rot, deep gouges, cracks, and other kinds of damage. The contractor will remove those boards entirely and replace them with ones that fit in with the rest of the floor.

Matching Materials

Notably, this process works best whenever you have access to the same species of wood as the original boards. While resurfacing contractors have some tricks for matching extinct, rare, or exotic woods, the task of matching them can get more involved. This is especially true if the wood has distinctive patterns that are hard to match with anything a supplier might have.

Sanding

One of the big goals of hardwood flooring resurfacing is to sand the wood to the point that the new and old boards look close to the same age. This entails a fairly aggressive level of sanding because the old boards can suffer oxidation from the air and discoloration from previous staining work. The contractor has to get below those layers on the older board to reveal something that looks fresh.

Staining and Protection

A contractor will apply stains to bring out the patterns and warm colors of the wood. In addition to aesthetic reasons, customers may also ask the contractor to use stains to mask inconsistencies. If you had to use a close match for replacement boards, for example, a dark stain may be necessary to limit the appearance of differences with the older boards. The staining process may require several applications.

Once the stain dries and looks good, the contractor will apply a protective coat. Polyurethane is a popular choice for its durability and cost-effectiveness.

Is Resurfacing Necessary?

You may be able to do a new finish on a floor. However, the damage level will dictate how much repair you'll have to do. Once you get to the point you need to aggressively fill or sand the boards, it's probably time to resurface wood floors. Similarly, if you find any rotten or cracked boards, it's time to resurface.

For more information on hardwood flooring resurfacing, contact a professional near you.