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Last Updated on June 8, 2024 by Kravelv

Wooden floors go through a lot of wear and tear. After a few years, these floors lose the shine and the sparkle that you loved about them. Genuine oak floorboards can make the dullest of rooms light up, but the constant wear and tear that floors go through make them lose their shine.

A hardwood floor loses its charm and aesthetic appeal with time, which is why it only makes sense to refinish the floor. Most property owners believe that sanding is the only way to restore the floor’s good-as-new sheen. However, this is not the case as the process of refinishing is much more complicated than you imagined.

The process of refinishing also depends on the type of flooring you use. If, for example, you are using parquet flooring, then you can refinish the flooring with the help of the right components and ingredients.

If the wear and tear that the floor goes through are surface-level, then it is easy to refresh and regain the original look of the floor in a day. Normal scratches that gouge the wood itself are easy to restore and require less labor and sanding.

Given the significance of the kind of method you adopt for cleaning, it is imperative to understand the nature of the floor. The nature of the floor and the levels of wear and tear will help you find the best method for refinishing the surface.

Firstly, you need to understand the look of the floor, is your wooden floor as dull as dirt? If this is the case, then restoring them will not be a problem. Unfortunately, this is not the case always, as some floors are beyond the stage of quick fixes. These wooden floors need refinishing to fill in the wide gaps and the scratches that are visible on the floor.

Repairing and reshaping floors such as these can be a labor-intensive job that requires a lot of human effort and capital too. You can find local contractors that are experienced in dealing with cases such as these, avoid inexperienced contractors as they will further complicate the issue.

To top it off, can you refinish the floor without sanding? Yes, you can, but the approach you choose depends on the extent of wear and tear the floor is subject to. Dry gloomy floors, which have deep scratches and wide gaps, often require refinishing, with the sanding method.

Different floor materials and treatments type will have an effect on how you can refinish your floor. However, you need to ensure that you follow the most efficient and the most effective approach for refinishing. Here are some approaches that you can follow for refinishing th4e surface of the wooden floor.

Chemical Abrasion Kit

The first method that you can use involves a store-bought chemical abrasion kit. It is easy to find the abrasion kit at a hardware store close to you. Although different brands have named their products differently, they utilize the same techniques for cleaning the wooden floor.

Prepare the flooring by using the chemical solution and etch together the new solution so that the new and old finish bond together. Once you are done carving the two, apply a fresh coat of finish to restore the original shine and sparkle of the floor.

For effective use, it is a good idea to follow the instructions mentioned on the product. Before you apply the product, read the instructions carefully to get a better idea of the results you can get from the solution.

Like all other approaches, using the method of a chemical abrasion kit has its own advantages and disadvantages, which go as follows.

Pros

All the major materials are available in a single kit. This makes it a convenient option for users.
Using the method will not result in extra dust in the environment
There are minimal fumes

Cons

The process is a strenuous one as it requires more than one person
The finish starts to dry immediately; this gives you a short time to finish the whole room before it starts drying.

Using Polyurethane for Buffing and Recoating

The process is similar to using a chemical abrasion kit to clean the floor. However, the process involves the use of a buffer instead of a liquid to rough up the floor. Since the process involves the use of buffers, it is a little messier than chemical abrasion.

The process also looks similar to sanding as you rough up the existing surface and the current finish to bond with the new finish. In the process, you are not fully sanding to remove all the finish and scratches. You are merely roughing it through screening.

Here are the benefits and limitations of using this approach.

Pros

This is one of the most effective ways to prepare your floor for refinishing. It is also the most professional DIY approach to refinishing a wooden floor
The results of the refinishing process are long-lasting and effective

Cons

Using the approach will result in the creation of more dust particles and will require an extensive cleanup
The process requires a more immediate effort, as slight carelessness will make the whole endeavor futile.

There are other DIY methods too that can help in refinishing the surface of the wooden floor. All the methods have their own benefits and limitations that you need to be aware of before you start the cleaning process.

However, you are left with no other alternative other than sanding if you have a wax finished floor. In such cases, you will have to sand all the wax off the floor and start afresh.

While the need for refinishing is imminent on most occasions, you can avoid frequent wear and tear by following proper maintenance standards. Cleaning the wooden floors and getting rid of all the dust and dirt regularly will prevent the need for frequent refinishing. You can also use steam cleaners to clean hardwood floors to avoid excessive moisture from damaging the floor.

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Author Bio:

Simon is an entrepreneur and self-proclaimed jack of all trades. Simon has experience in the building and home renovation industry and he knows what it takes to knock out a successful project whether it be commercial or residential. Currently, he works as a marketing consultant with Smarter Timber Flooring – a leading supplier of different types of floorboards, like recycled timber flooring in Melbourne. Another niche for Simon is to travel and outdoor leisure, including sporting equipment and bikes. A big kid at heart if it goes fast, bounces, slides or you can climb it Simon has put it to the test