Having hardwood floors can mean some maintenance to keep them looking as fresh and beautiful as they did the day they were installed. But a quick research dive on the internet will give you many, many different opinions about the best way to care for your hardwood floors.
So how do you know what’s going to be right for you and your wood floors?
Well, we’ve got a quick guide on how to tackle the best maintenance practices for hardwood floors. Keep reading to find some useful tips and answers to some questions you might have.
The need for maintenance
Obviously if you’ve got damage or stains to your hardwood floors, that’s a case of some serious work that potentially needs to get done, likely by a professional hardwood flooring service. But more often than not, the type of damage you’re going to find on your hardwood floors is the usual wear and tear of use.
This shows up as hardwood floors becoming dull over time, perhaps being scratched, or simply looking worn down. This means it’s time for some rejuvenation work for your floors, especially if you want them to last for years to come.
Two methods to consider are buffing and sanding. Both of these are used in maintaining, restoring and revamping all species of hardwood floors. When do you opt for each?
The case for sanding
Sanding works because sand, tiny as it is, is an incredibly coarse and abrasive material. Working sand against a surface causes the surface layer to be stripped down and it also smooths down the surfaces below that are exposed as part of the sanding process. The entire floor or area is sanded at once to keep it uniform and even.
This is a great technique for lots of scratches and micro abrasions in hardwood that have built up over time as the sanding will remove the damaged layer of wood. After the sanding process is complete, the floor will get refinished and sealed. If you are looking for a change, this is the time to switch up your stain.
The case for buffing
One of the downsides to sanding is that the process requires you to sand the entire floor, even the parts that are not damaged, in order to get a uniform look. Buffing can be the answer to problem areas where you don’t want to do maintenance on the entire floor as a fix. This means shallow nicks or imperfections at the top levels of the floor. Buffing also involves an abrasive material, often metallic wool, which smooths out small, damaged areas. It doesn’t go deep enough that you require a resealing when finished.
Additional Questions
Do I need special equipment to buff or sand my floor?
Since sanding your floor requires taking care of the entire area, it’s recommended you rent equipment that can cover large surface areas and will ensure you have an even sanding job. Since buffing is a smaller area, you can do it by hand quite easily but equipment does exist if you require it.
Can I buff my entire floor?
While the nice thing about buffing is it doesn’t require you tackle the whole floor, however you certainly can. Even parts that aren’t damaged could benefit from a buffing and re-waxing to bring back some shine.
When in doubt about your hardwood floors, it is always best to speak with a hardwood floor professional. A hardwood flooring service has the expertise and proper equipment to address any wood flooring issues you have.
Cameron the Sandman in Michigan has been providing the highest quality hardwood flooring services for more than 80 years, including wood floor restoration, wood floor installation, refinishing services and so much more. Call and speak to a wood floor specialist today!