Sanding hardwood floors is a challenging project that requires experience and performance tools.
Going the DIY route when it comes to hardwood floor projects is a good way to save hefty sums of money. However, unless homeowners have some experience in the field, choosing to do it without professional help can end up with damaged floors and higher costs. Royal Wood Floors, a New Port Ritchey hardwood flooring company that often works with DIY-ers, explains that sanding is a restoration project safer left to professionals.
“When planning a hardwood floor refinishing project, the main concern is cost,” says Keith Allman, Royal Wood Floors owner. “That is why we often join forces with homeowners and come in only for that part of the project that requires both experience and high-quality tools. We have seen sanding projects gone wrong too many times, so we recommend hiring professional wood floor refinishers for this stage of the restoration process. Once the floor is correctly sanded and ready to receive the stain or finish, homeowners have more chances of success when completing the last stages of refinishing. This way, the project ends up with excellent results and a smaller price tag.”
Sanding consists of removing the sealer and the uppermost layer of the wood boards in order to get rid of damages or imperfections and prepare the wood for the stain. The tool for the job is the sander – a large, heavy and noisy machine that uses a sanding drum to abrade the floor and is not exactly easy to maneuver correctly. In fact, with sanding, the problem is often the improper use of the machine, which has to be moved around the floor in a steady fashion, yet is difficult to control. Rushing through the job, applying too much pressure on the handles or losing control over the machine create drum marks, waves or other imperfections that will become even more conspicuous when the stain and finish is applied. Pausing in one spot can lead to dips or holes in the boards and uneven floors. But even if the hardwood floor owner takes the time to do everything right, the quality of the machine may not be up to standards. Rental sanders are often abused, lower-quality pieces of machinery that may not yield the best results even in the hands of an experienced wood floor refinisher. In addition, choosing the wrong sand paper may pose other problems. In trying to be gentle to the floor, the homeowner may use a finer grit or not sand the floor enough, which later causes the stain to absorb poorly.
Of course, if homeowners are not necessarily newbies in matters of refinishing and are willing to put in a lot of time and elbow grease, a DIY project is the way to go. In order to help DIY enthusiasts, the hardwood floor restoration specialists from Royal Wood Floors are available with information, advice and written materials to guide them through the process.
For more information about this experienced and professional hardwood floor restoration company, or to schedule repairs by these wood floor refinishing contractors, or learn about custom wood styles or the company’s inlay and medallion installation services, phone Keith Allman at 727-267-2617. Easy estimates and appointments are currently available through the company’s website, https://royalwoodfloor.com/. The company provides top craftsmanship and cares for many types of custom and domestic wood. Visit the company’s website for examples of previous work.