Between scratches and dull spots, daily life can take a toll on hardwood flooring, but usually it’s just the finish that’s lost its glow. Hardwood flooring eventually shows its age. However, refinishing can bring your flooring back to life. Not everyone has done it before. That’s why we’re here to break it down step by step.
At Artistic Flooring, we’ve been sanding and refinishing hardwood flooring throughout Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Norfolk for over 30 years. Many customers come from referrals. That’s why we pride ourselves on our process and want you to know what to expect from the start.
What Happens First?
Every refinishing project begins with an assessment. We look at the condition of the floor, the type of wood and the amount of wear present. It’s how we determine if refinishing makes the most sense. Depending on the full thickness of the wood, solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished several times over, while engineered hardwood can only be refinished a few times based on the thickness of the wear layer.
Prep work is next. This includes:
- Moving furniture
- Prepping the room
- Repairing the floor (e.g. filling gaps or addressing damage before sanding)
How Does Sanding Remove Scratches and Wear?
Sanding is the core of the process. Using professional equipment, the old finish and surface layer of wood with the scratches and wear are stripped away. This is done in multiple passes, using finer abrasives each time, smoothing the surface and leaving behind an even base for the new finish.
Craftsmanship matters. Sanding too aggressively or unevenly will leave marks or remove more wood than necessary so hiring an experienced contractor can go a long way.
Can You Change the Color of Your Floors?
Following sanding, you have to make a choice. You can keep the natural color of the wood and simply apply a fresh finish or add a new stain to change the color entirely.Refinishing can breathe new life into an otherwise dated floor that’s darkened with age. That’s why you should discuss your options before coming to a decision.
Are your floors a good candidate for refinishing? Schedule an in-home consultation with Artistic Flooring to look at your floors and dive into your options.
What Does the Finish Do?
The finish is a protective layer that keeps your flooring safe against daily wear, spills and traffic. It’s applied in coats and the floor needs time to dry and cure properly between steps and after the final coat. Rushing will only compromise the result. That’s why we carefully plan the timeline so you know when it’s safe to walk on your floors and bring furniture back into the room.
How Do You Know If Refinishing Makes Sense for Your Floors?
Refinishing is a solid solution for most floors. It’s a great remedy for scratches, dullness, surface wear or when a finish simply wears thin. In most cases, it’s better to keep the wood you already have instead of replacing it. Replacement is usually only worth considering for water damage or more severe wear.
Ready to Breathe New Life Into Your Hardwood Flooring?
Refinishing is a process with multiple steps. The only way to get a quality result is taking care at each step. At Artistic Flooring, we see refinishing as a craft that’s been refined over the years. Our team is here to help throughout Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk and surrounding areas.
Ready to see what your floors could become? Contact us to book an in-home consultation.
