San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
New life for that old wood floor
There’s nothing quite as eye-catching in a home is a handsome hardwood floor that showcases intrinsic tones and unique grain patterns as well as a smooth finish that boasts built-in natural beauty. But over time, that luster and charm can fade as scratches, scuf f marks, dents and overall wear take their toll.
The solution? Professional sanding and refinishing, which can make that older floor look like new again.
Steve Stocki, manager of sales and ser vice, marketing and merchandising for LL Flooring in Richmond, Virginia, said there are several telltale signs that your hardwood floor is due for a facelift.
“When the floor finish has been worn through the raw wood itself, is badly scratched, gouged or chipped, shows water damage, or is discolored so that the uniform hue and sheen of the finish is noticeable, sanding and refinishing is recommended,” he said.
Harold Hardesty, a flooring expert at Thehousewire.com in Atlanta, said this project is wor th the time, ef for t and expense.
“A refinished hardwood floor is stylish, easy to maintain, and highly prized. It’s a project that’s likely to increase your home’s resale value,” Hardesty noted.
Refinishing at the suggested inter vals is recommended before your floor is further worn or damaged beyond repair. The pros suggest doing so ever y 10 to 20 years.
“Three-quarter-inch solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished, on average, six to nine times over the life of the floor, depending on how much wood is removed during the sanding process,” Stocki explained. “Engineered hardwood with a plywood or lumber core and a thicker veneer can also be sanded and refinished several times. But any wood floor with a veneer thinner than one millimeter should only get a screening refinish, in which only the top wear layer is removed and refinished.”
Laminate, cork, tile, vinyl and other types of wood or woodlooking floors should not be sanded and refinished.
But be forewarned: renewing your hardwood floor can be costly and intrusive. Labor and materials can var y from around $1.50 per square foot up to $8 per square foot, although it’s often still cheaper than ripping out your old floor and installing new hardwood planks.
“The kind of hardwood you have usually doesn’t af fect the cost of the refinishing project,” said Chris Rojas, president of Galler y Company, Inc. in Indianapolis, which installs and refinishes floors. “Refinishers often charge according to square footage, labor intensity, type of coating used and shape of the area. The severity of the damage can also af fect pricing.”
This can be a messy, malodorous, noisy and taxing job, too. You’ll need to clear ever ything out of the room or area. And sanding will likely generate lots of dust that needs to be contained by laying tarps and putting up barriers between rooms.
“Refinishing can also cause inhalation hazards and create pollution problems, which is why it’s often not advisable to remain in your home, or at least near the refinishing location, during the work or while the finish cures,” Rojas cautioned. “The fumes from the chemicals used may linger for several days.”
You’ll also probably have to avoid walking on a freshly refinished floor for at least 48 hours.
“The curing period is at least 24 hours, and you need to give it at least four days before you can put furniture back in place,” Hardesty said.
As with any major home improvement project, it’s best to carefully shop around and vet several prospects.
“Get at least two to three estimates from different companies so you can compare costs before beginning the project,” recommended Ninos Oshana with Stages Construction in Chicago. “Do the necessar y research to find companies that produce high-quality work.”
Stocki echoed those tips. “Request and call references, and ask the vendor plenty of questions — including where they get their products and supplies, how they maintain their equipment and how they can minimize odor and mess,” Stocki said.