Refinishing hardwood floors is no small undertaking – it requires time, money and patience. But sometimes reviving their beauty doesn’t necessitate an all-out sand and finish job.
Screen and recoat your floors instead. This process involves using a buffer machine to scrub away old finish and reveal bare wood floors beneath.
Deep Clean
Revivers offer an easy, quick and cost-effective solution for revitalizing hardwood floors without resorting to sanding. Look for products containing wood stain designed specifically for use on wooden flooring, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application. Allow it to dry for between several hours and a full day based on conditions in your home.
For a more natural looking hardwood, select a stain color that complements its surroundings. Or use wood putty made to fill cracks and gaps, applying with either a brush or spatula according to manufacturer directions.
If you’re having difficulty with identifying whether or not your floors are oil or waxed, select an inconspicuous spot and scrape away a small section with a knife. If this appears clear after scraping away some wood surface material, that indicates your floors have penetrating finishes; otherwise if it becomes dark or orange in appearance it likely has varnish-based finishes.
Seal
Hardwood floors are designed to withstand significant wear and tear, but how you care for your floor has a direct bearing on its longevity and overall appearance. Regular wear-and-tear can cause your hardwood floor to require periodic attention from an experienced craftsman; but rejuvenating the look without resorting to costly sanding processes is still achievable!
With a buffer and chemical abrasion kit, you can use to quickly smooth out scratches and other superficial problems without fully sanding hardwood floors. If they feature penetrating finishes instead, wax coating may also work more efficiently to give a high gloss shine finish to the floor surface.
Before beginning this project, clear out all furniture and rugs from the room and carefully clean your floors – this will ensure the hardwood revitalizer bonds to existing surfaces without particles interfering with drying time. When wet, revitalizer may appear milky white; once dry it turns clear.
Fill in Deep Scratches
First and foremost when it comes to restoring hardwood floors is making sure the surface is free from wax, dirt, grease or any other buildup which might inhibit stain adhesion. A chemical abrasion kit may help remove these coatings if used with caution.
If you have light surface scratches on your hardwood floors, natural remedies like olive oil and baking soda may help to camouflage them and make them appear new again. As an effective, cost-efficient solution you could also try rubbing raw walnuts across them to smooth away damage.
For deeper stains, wood floor stain markers may provide the solution; but always test one in an inconspicuous area first before committing it to your floors. If the color appears too light for you, add another coat for darker results or seek professional assistance for full refinishing services.
Refinish
Many homeowners and property managers don’t realize that wood floors don’t necessarily need refinishing for them to look beautiful; however, this remains an effective method for getting rid of extensive scratches and dings as well as providing an updated base color or paint job in their rooms. Refinishing should always be considered first when dealing with extensive wear-and-tear damages like scratches and dings on a floor surface that has seen better days; otherwise you run the risk of making the room appear outdated.
To refinish without sanding, first remove all furniture and spray your hardwood floors with hardwood floor cleaner or your own mix of water and vinegar. Vacuum the area thoroughly while sealing vents and closing doors to contain dust.
After your floor is dry, use a floor buffer with 180-grit sandpaper to lightly scuff it before hand-sanding any corners or areas missed by your buffing machine. Repeat this process two more times by hand sanding between coats. Finally, clean it again using hardwood floor cleaner or your own mixture of water and vinegar and vacuum daily (more frequently in high traffic areas) in order to prevent debris from scratching the finish and leaving behind scratches in its wake.