The best thing about hardwood flooring is it can last a lifetime with proper maintenance. Countless homeowners can attest to this fact, especially those who were lucky enough to buy century-old homes and find hardwood floors underneath layers of other materials. In many cases, their floors are still in great shape, although there’s just a bit dull and grimy here and there.
With wood being some of the most durable and beautiful flooring options out there, most folks will really try to salvage the floors instead of replacing them. This is especially true if the wood is still intact and doesn’t show signs of swelling or brittleness.
If you ever find yourself in this predicament, here are a few techniques that can help you save your nice hardwood floor:
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Sand and Seal
Experienced home improvement DIY-ers will suggest you sand down the top layer of your hardwood floors then seal it with polyurethane. This process requires a bit of hard work but if it’s done properly, it’s all worth it.
However, this technique doesn’t really work for everyone. The results can vary depending on how you executed the method, and the current state of your floors. In some cases, they can already be moldy and heavily stained, so no amount of sanding can help them look fresh and new.
Sealing your newly resurfaced hardwood floors is crucial to ensure the protection of the newly exposed layers. This can prevent any serious damage that can incur from daily use.
Use Paint
If the previous option sounds like too much work for you, another technique you can try is to paint the floor. This may sound sacrilegious to some homeowners, but it works so it’s definitely worth looking into. In most cases, they even look good, so you should certainly give it a chance.
However, it’s important to clean your floor with the proper materials, so make sure to do some research. The best thing about this technique is that some paints and primers also work as sealants. You can also opt for oil-based primers or even latex-based ones. These will effectively help seal the surface of the wood, so they can work as great sealants as well.
Prepping your floor is necessary, however, if you want to paint your floors. This means that for best results, you might still need to sand the surface. This can guarantee the paint will stick better to your floor.
You can also benefit from learning a few tricks from other homeowners to get the job done. If you intend to paint your floors on your own, make sure to do some research on the proper execution of the process. This way, you can be sure that your effort will protect your floors and won’t damage it further.
Hire an Expert
For a foolproof way to revive your hardwood floors, hiring an expert is also a great option. The right professionals will know how to resolve your flooring woes. This is particularly true if the damage is caused by years of disuse, pest infestation, or water damage.
Consider Replacement
If you have doubts about the condition of your hardwood flooring, you might also want to consider replacing them altogether. While repairing your hardwood floors are still more economical than installing new floorboards, this can always be a better and more suitable option for some homes.
You might also want to look into the possibility of replacing just a few panels instead. If some areas of your flooring are still in good shape, it can still be a good option to keep them and replace the others. It can be trickier, however, especially for first time DIY-ers.