Do-it-Yourself hardwood floor refinishing is an option you may want to consider if your current floor is worn or damaged. Refinishing wood floors is a fairly easy DIY project that does not require the use of dangerous chemicals or tools. It is also an easy way to give your wood floor a nice sheen and new life. Hardwood Flooring Buffing Does it yourself hardwood floor refinishing is a process that many homeowners are choosing to take on themselves. If you decide to attempt to do it yourself, there are some things you should keep in mind.
The first thing you need to do is decide what kind of hardwood floors you own. There are basically three different kinds of hardwood floors that are used most often for flooring; Pine, Oak and Cherry. There is detailed information about each kind of wood at your nearest large box store or online at the US Department of the Interior’s website. Do-it-yourself hardwood floors information can also be obtained from your local library or home improvement store.
Once you know the kind of wood you have, you can begin to decide what tools and supplies you will need. A dustpan for polishing and dusting, clean damp cloth and a dry one, some floor finishers, and a small shop vac. If you don’t have a shop vac, a small one with a wider head will work. Do-it-yourself hardwood floor buffing machines vary in price, but a good portable one will easily do the job of a two-stage professional.
Some people opt to do the refinishing of their hardwood floors themselves, using their own refinishing supplies and techniques. In this case, it is a good idea to get advice from a professional, as many ways to look great in a showroom, but only a few do the work well. Also, some products are harmful to wooden floors, such as latex based products and polyurethane finishes. If you are not sure about which product(s) to use, you may want to get the advice of a friend or flooring installer.
You will probably want to buy the least expensive product that you can find for the type of floor you are refinishing. When selecting a sander, it is a good idea to take into account the wood grain in the planks as well as the finish that will be applied. The grain should be properly sanded, both in length and width, and the finish applied in the same manner. Although you may think you are doing a good job when sanding, if you let the wood chip away from the surface of the buffing pads, the end result may not be a solid wood floor.
Polishing your hardwood floors once a year, if at all possible, is far preferable to trying to refinish your floors when they need a makeover. If you do refinish, you may want to take your time and work in small areas. Once a hardwood floor has been refinished, it is very difficult to make any changes. You have to have access to tools and equipment that can achieve even light or medium refinishing work. If you plan to do the majority of your refinishing work yourself, you may want to spend the money to buy a good dust extractor and polisher.
For most homeowners, hardwood flooring is the best option, as it looks great and is easy to maintain. If your flooring gets damaged, it is relatively easy to replace the whole plank or part of the plank, and replace the damaged plank with a new one. Hardwood floors are durable and hard wearing. You don’t have to worry about them growing old before your time!
Hardwood floor care is relatively simple, as long as you know how to clean and buff it. It is best to use power buffing machines for even more thorough cleaning. If you buff your hardwood flooring on your own, you will save a lot of money. But remember that it is still best to pay the hardwood flooring company to clean and buff your floor.