Refinishing is a cost-effective solution if your hardwood floors are scratched or faded. It will make your home look new and add value to your property. When choosing a stain color for your hardwood floors, consider how it will look under natural and artificial lighting. It’s also important to weigh your options against durability.
Hardwood floors are beautiful, but they can get dull over time. Hardwood Floor Refinishing Bergen County NJ can give them a new shine and make it look almost new. The best part is that refinishing costs less than replacing your floor, which can cost up to $8 per square foot. You can save money by doing the job yourself if you’re comfortable with it or hiring a professional.
When you’re refinishing your wood floors, it’s important to remove all the furniture and carpeting in the room. This will help keep sanding dust from spreading to other rooms in the house. You should also seal off doorways with plastic sheeting and tape. A dust mask is a must, as the sanding process can be very messy. It can take two to four days for the sanding to be completed, depending on the size of the room.
Once the sanding is complete, you can add a stain color to your floors. Choose your stain carefully and have your contractor test it on a small area of the floors to be sure you love it. Glossy finishes are popular, but satin stains are gaining in popularity because they’re easier to maintain and are harder to slip on than glossy floors.
Refinishing your hardwood flooring is a great way to freshen the overall look of your home, but you can also add a pop of color by adding a new area rug. This will add contrast to the hardwood and draw attention to a certain part of the room.
Another way to refresh your hardwood is by buffing it with a buffer machine. This will help remove minor scratches and scuffs, but it won’t change the appearance of dents or gouges. This is a great option for homeowners who want to save money and still have beautiful floors.
When you’re choosing a top coat for your refinished hardwood, you have the choice of water or oil-based polyurethanes. Water based polyurethanes will remain clear, whereas oil-based ones can yellow with age. Water-based polyurethanes are also more environmentally friendly than their oil-based counterparts.
Adds Value to Your Home
Hardwood flooring is a popular choice for homes, and it can add value to your property. In fact, a study conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association found that home buyers are willing to pay more for a house with hardwood floors than one with other types of flooring. When your hardwood flooring starts to show signs of wear and tear, it’s important to refinish them before you decide to sell your home. This process will refresh the look of your floors and help them last longer, allowing you to sell your home for top dollar.
In addition to the aesthetic appeal, refinishing your hardwood floors can help to make them easier to clean and maintain. This is especially important for those with families or pets, as it can reduce the amount of dust and dirt that is trapped in your hardwood floors. In turn, this can reduce the risk of allergies and asthmatic symptoms.
Aside from reducing allergens in your home, refinishing your hardwood floors can also add value by making them more attractive to potential buyers. If your hardwood floors are scuffed and scratched, refinishing them can give them a brand-new appearance that will attract attention from people who are interested in buying your home.
When you hire a professional for the refinishing process, they will use high-quality equipment and products to ensure that your floors are sanded and stained correctly. They will remove any existing stain and apply a new coat of finish, giving them the look of brand-new hardwood floors. This will attract more interest from buyers and increase the chance of selling your home at a higher price.
Another way that refinishing your hardwood floors can add value to your property is by helping you choose the right type of finish. A variety of finishes are available to choose from, including natural, satin, and gloss. The best option will depend on your style and the overall design of your home. If you choose a color that matches the rest of your home, it will help to create a cohesive look.
Increases Durability
With a bit of care, even high quality hardwood floors can last a lifetime. But with foot traffic and daily wear and tear, they’ll eventually show signs of aging. While regular cleaning and polishing are great for restoring the look, there comes a point where it’s time to refinish your floors. Thankfully, refinishing your hardwood floors is far more cost-effective than replacing them entirely.
When to refinish wood flooring depends on several factors, such as the frequency of floor care and maintenance, the Janka score of your hardwood floors, and the amount of foot traffic they receive. Refinishing your hardwood floors will help keep them durable and protect them from moisture, which can lead to buckling or warping of the boards.
Refinishing your hardwood floors will also address surface damage and stains, which are often caused by pets, children, or furniture. Refinishing your wood floors will restore the color and remove any scratches, gouges or stains, which will make them look new again. Deep scratches and gouges can be sanded and filled, but major dents will likely need to be replaced.
Depending on the severity of the damage and how old your flooring is, you may be able to simply recoat your hardwood floors instead of sanding them. Recoating your floors involves applying a polyurethane coating to the existing floor without the extra work of sanding it down. It costs between $1 and $2 per square foot, which is much less expensive than sanding the floor down and completely redoing it.
When you’re ready to refinish your floors, get multiple estimates from qualified contractors. A well-reviewed contractor will have the experience and expertise to ensure your floors are properly sanded and refinished without damaging the integrity of the flooring materials. Then, they’ll apply a stain to your floors and buff it to remove any remaining dust. It’s important to test stains before the refinishing process begins to ensure you love the results and don’t experience any discoloration or fading. Talk to your hardwood floor experts about what types of stains you’re considering and ask them for some samples to test out in your home.
Helps Sell Your Home
If you plan on selling your home, refinishing hardwood floors can increase the value of your property. According to the National Association of Realtors, hardwood floors are one of the most desirable features for potential buyers. This makes refinishing wood floors a great investment.
Hardwood floors are an attractive addition to any home, no matter the age or style. They are a timeless mix of beauty and durability that pair with many styles and colors. In fact, according to House Logic, flooring is the most important factor when it comes to selling your home. Unsightly, worn or stained flooring is a major turnoff for many potential buyers. While replacing your old tiling or carpet with new fake wood panels is expensive and may not return the full cost, refinishing your existing hardwoods is an affordable way to improve your home’s appearance and potentially attract more buyers.
When it’s time to sell, a shiny, buffed, well-cared for floor is an instant positive first impression that can make the difference between getting a good offer and turning away multiple offers. As the CDC explains, “A good first impression is crucial when you’re trying to sell your home, and your floors are a big part of that.”
Another added bonus of refinishing your hardwoods is a potential tax benefit. When you sell your home, you may be able to claim some of the costs of the refinishing on your taxes because wood flooring is considered a capital improvement.
Refinishing your hardwood floors can be a labor-intensive project, especially if they haven’t been refinished in a while. It’s best to let a professional handle the job so that you can be sure it will be done correctly and with minimal damage to your hardwoods. Using a high-quality product is also important. If you choose to refinish your own floors, follow the proper precautions for sanding and staining. This includes removing shoe molding (also known as quarter-round) from the perimeter of each room, and testing various stains to be sure you like the outcome.
While the reasons for refinishing hardwood floors are numerous, they all lead to one thing: higher resale value for your home. In fact, refinishing your hardwoods is the single most affordable project that will add value to your home.