Your hardwood floors can stay looking gorgeous for many years with the proper care and upkeep. Regular vacuuming and using rugs or mats to protect surfaces against dirt and dust accumulation will help ensure their beauty lasts for decades to come.
Sanding hardwood floors is both time and cost intensive. But there are other methods available to you to bring life back into them without resorting to this option.
1. Chemical abrasion
Hardwood floors in rental properties take an incredible beating. Between tenant turnover, moving furniture around and general wear and tear, hardwood flooring requires constant care in order to look its best. A simple coat of stain may cover minor scratches and blemishes while sanding can be an expensive, time-consuming and messy project.
One way to give your wood floors a fresh new shine without having to resort to sanding is with the aid of a chemical abrasion kit. These kits contain an abrasive pad which you use to gently rub over the floor surface in order to strip away old finish, thus prepping for new coats of stain or wax application. Because liquid abrasive is low-odor, this work can even be completed indoors!
Before applying abrasive liquid, clear out the room of any furniture, and thoroughly clean the floor. This will ensure that dust particles don’t settle on your new finish and prevent bonding; once your abrasive liquid has set up, you can start buffing.
2. Buffing
Buffing is an ideal option for floors in need of some TLC without going through the extensive sanding process. Buffing involves using a buffer to refinish hardwood floor surfaces without heavy scratches or wear and tear. Since buffing can be time consuming, renting one early should be planned in order to limit dust dispersion. When buffing in one room at once is recommended. Also be sure to clear away all furniture before starting this task to minimize its dust-inducing effects.
Before buffing, it is crucial to test for wax residue or chemicals that may prevent a new finish from adhering – mineral spirit tests can quickly and efficiently do this. Cleaning surfaces beforehand is also recommended, since buffing produces lots of dust that spreads all over. After your floors have been thoroughly wiped down, revitalizers are an effective way to add an almost brand new appearance; revitalizers cover scratches and dullness for an attractive surface finish that almost appears brand new!
3. Wood stain or paint
Staining and painting hardwood floors can create beautiful looks, but this process can be time consuming and requires professional wood floor experts for its execution to guarantee an impeccable end product.
Stains can help to accentuate the natural grain of hardwood floors and add color. Different species of wood absorb stain differently, leading to different shades and tones when stained. Staining can also serve to hide any stains, scratches or dents present on hardwood flooring surfaces.
Use only wood stain that has been specially formulated for wood, as otherwise you risk it separating from the existing finish and leaving an unsightly line on your floors.
Revitalizers offer the easiest, most do-it-yourself friendly option for refinishing hardwood floors without the need for sanding. Before applying revitalizers, however, it is necessary to clear out all furniture from the room and thoroughly clean your floors in order to remove any particles which might prevent bonding of revitalizer with existing finish.
4. Revitalizer
Revitalizers are one of the best solutions for refinishing hardwood floors without having to resort to sanding, as they leave your results visible and are easy to apply quickly – making this method one of the most DIY-friendly methods on this list.
Before applying revitalizer, it is necessary to thoroughly clean your floors using the product-specific cleaner recommended on its package and remove any soap residue. This step ensures your new coating adheres properly with existing finishes.
Note that revitalizers should only be used on wood floors sealed with polyurethane; wax finishes and oil-based products do not bond well with revitalizers, making this method ineffective for them. To determine what kind of finish your floors have, mineral spirits can help.