Gone are the days when we used to carpet the whole house and just forget about it. Though cozy, carpeted rooms don’t provide the elegance th
Gone are the days when we used to carpet the whole house and just forget about it. Though cozy, carpeted rooms don’t provide the elegance that some other flooring options do. And by others, we mean hardwood flooring.
Ceramic tiles are durable and water resistant, that’s why many people prefer tile over hardwood. But unlike hardwood, they can be quite cold and if you have to invest in a tile heating system, it’s better to opt for hardwood.Meanwhile, laminate is like a forgery of tile or hardwood. They look great but unlike hardwood, if laminate gets ruined, you can’t get it refinished.That’s the best part of hardwood flooring. You can use it for years and with proper maintenance, they’ll still look as good as new.Now that we have ventured towards the benefits of hardwood flooring, let’s take a look at them.Why Is Hardwood The Best Flooring Option?The Look: First one is the look, of course. The elegance and warmth they provide is definitely unmatched by any other flooring option. Even after years and years, hardwood flooring has still not gone out of style.Unlike other flooring options, you don’t have to replace them to get a new look. Just get the wood refinished and presto! Your new and classy hardwood flooring is ready to be flaunted.Durability: If you invest in high-quality, kiln-dried and expertly installed hardwood flooring, it can last for decades. The key is regular maintenance. They are also extremely durable and can stand heavy foot fall.Assortment: There is so much variety in hardwood that you would have difficulty in deciding which one you like the best. You can always take advice from a sales person, but since everyone has unique renovation needs, it’s best if you decide the one to use. Look around the room to get an idea of which hardwood style or color will suit it perfectly.Indoor Air: Unlike carpets, hardwood is free of all fibers and so they aren’t infested by pollen, allergens and dust. In other words, they contribute to keeping the indoor air healthy and pollution free. People, who suffer from such allergies, should definitely go for hardwood flooring.Easy to Clean: The best thing about hardwood flooring is how easy it is to clean. You don’t have to spend hours vacuuming it each day, like you’d have to do for carpeted flooring. Just vacuum it or mop it but make sure you don’t use too much water.From the list of benefits, you might think hardwood flooring just can’t go wrong, but that’s not the case. Even though it is quite easy to clean, people still neglect the maintenance hardwood requires and end up having dirty, rotten flooring.There are ways you can get rid of the damaged floor. Replacing the whole thing is an option but will be expensive. Why not try sanding the hardwood instead? It will peel away the old layers of varnish and you can reapply it. This is called refinishing and will give hardwood the shine and texture it had before.Do I Replace the Hardwood or Refinish itHere, a big question arises. How can you be sure that the hardwood flooring needs refinishing? There’s a simple trick you can use. Pour a small amount of water on the boards and observe it. If the boards absorb all the water quickly, you’ll have to replace them. And if the hardwood boards take some time in absorbing the water, they are good to go. You’ll just have to refinish them.
How to Sand a Hardwood FloorNow that you’ve identified the need to refinish your hardwood floor, here’s how to do it.Things Needed:HammerNail punchDust masksSand paperDrum sanderPlastic sheetsEdging SanderVacuum cleanerStep 1: Prepare the RoomEmpty the room and cover all the vents, doors and light fixtures with plastic sheets. This is to keep them safe from the dust storm that’ll be swirling in the room once you get started.Step 2: Hit the nailsPunch in all the nails protruding from the floorboards. They can rip the sandpaper and even damage the machinery. Many people don’t bother with this step but you should definitely do it. Hammer all nails till they’re about 2mm in the floorboard’s surface. There should be no loose boards at all.Step 3: Sand the Edges & CornersThe edging sander, as specified by the name, is used to sand all the edges of the room. You can easily hire all types of sanders. Google them up to look for shops in your area that can provide you with the things you need. Before starting, install a new disc of sandpaper in the retaining bolt. Firmly hold the sander or else you won’t be able to control it properly. To sand corners or any inaccessible area, use a corner sander.Step 4: Sand the RoomThe general rule is that you sand along the direction of the boards. So follow the rule and just keep going until you have covered the whole room. The first time you sand the floor, it’s better to start off with low grit sandpaper. For example, start with 40-50 grit sandpaper. After the first run, use 60-70 grit sandpaper and for the third run, use 80-90 grit sandpaper. The three-layered sanding process will make the boards smoother and easier to maintain. Use a brush attachment and vacuum the whole floor after completing each run.Step 5: Floor FinishingAfter a successful sanding session, all that’s left to do is to apply varnish, stain or oil. It entirely depends on you, whichever you prefer. Use a brush or roller to apply varnish in the direction of the floorboards. Apply at least 3 coats for long lasting shine. Wait for the varnish to dry and move in the furniture.Easy, wasn’t it? You can maintain this new look by properly vacuuming and cleaning the floor weekly. Do this and it’ll be a long time before you have to refinish the floor boards again