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The information on
this page involves refinishing of hardwood
floors. Considering there are several
forms of enhancing older floors, this
procedure entails complete removal of
existing finish to bare wood. Other forms
of improving your floors appearance can be
found at the page links near the bottom of
this article.
When Should I
Have My Floor Refinished?
Most consumers seek
a total refinish when worn or bare spots
begin to appear, or scratching has become
too much to handle. In some cases a color
change is desired, or many just may want
to change the sheen level of the finish,
or convert from a waxed finish to a less
troublesome maintenance type finish.
When to have the
work done depends on your expectations.
While most people can live with the
everyday abuse wood floors get as
scratches, dings, and dents lead to adding
character, others prefer that new sleek
contemporary look. In that case,
refinishing every five years may suit your
needs.
What Happens When
They Refinish My Floors? Is It Messy?
This depends largely
on who is doing the work. Some of the
better professionals that care more about
your indoor air quality have invested in
dust extraction systems. Others may just
have a bag attached to their sanding
equipment which is not considered a good
way to keep airborne dust out of your
house.
Dust extractions
systems take care an enormous amount of
dust and older finish materials that would
otherwise linger in your home for months
after the floor finisher leaves. Without
it, you're likely to incur extra costs by
calling in someone to clean the home top
to bottom. Labor costs from guys that have
this equipment will be higher, but what is
more important?
For those that may
not like the higher cost, chances are
great you'll be living in a dust storm until the finishers leave.
Dust can find it's way anywhere; into
kitchen cabinets, heating and cooling
system vents...everywhere unless
you protect everything during the
work. If costs are an issue, insist to the
refinisher that he tape off rooms, cover
drapes, and call in that cleaning crew
once the work is done. Poor dust
control may also have an effect on the
final appearance, not to mention everyday
health.
Maybe the finisher
did a great job of insuring the final coat
was free of dust particles, but floor
finishes need time to cure. He may leave a
flawless job, but let's say the kids come
home from school and other fine dust
particles are stirred up. You now have a
not so perfect finish job.
When Is It Safe
To Move Furniture Back In?
Some finishes will
take longer to cure, but friendlier water
based finishes will take the least amount
of time. Conditions can vary and depends
on relative humidity within the home or
conditions outside if you want to speed up
the odor removal with an open house. Any
experience floor finisher can better
evaluate when it is safe to do so. You may
also want to ask them about area rugs and
when it is safe to use them.
How Long Does It
Take?
We've based the
following on how long the work should
take. Included is one 400 square foot,
square room with furniture moved and ready
to go for the finisher. Water based
finishes should take two days, while oil
based finished three. |
