Unquestionably, we all understand what hardwood is — its characteristics, advantages, and popularity. Nowadays, this material is widely used for flooring purposes; no matter which type you choose, incorporating wooden floors provides a rich look, and beyond that, they are made to last for years. Plus, its long-lasting charm drives value. So Hardwood Floor Installation in Orland Park is worth investing in!
Some Special Considerations Related to Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors arrive in a wide range of styles and types: when it comes to buying such floors, consider the area where you are going to install them. Each type has certain limitations, like solid planks are not perfect for below-grade installation (basement) or rooms subject to excessive moisture.
Moreover, you also have to consider your daily lifestyle; like, if there are so many people residing in your house or if your floors are bearing too much, then choosing the robust floor type is crucial. Also, you have to take adequate precautions if there are pets and kids at your home. Kids are mischievous; they keep playing on the floors all day long, their toys can scratch the floors and make them appear dull. So you must take adequate measures to maintain its beauty for a long time. You can read here how to take care of your hardwood floors.
Undeniably, scratches are inevitable; and with time, your wood floor (like all other flooring types) starts to look bland and demands refinishing services. Yes, you heard it right! You can refinish your floors to mend the deep scratches and restore their original shine. Let’s discuss everything related to hardwood floor refinishing in detail.
What do you need to know about hardwood floor refinishing?
Does your hardwood floor look hideous? Can you spot untidy scuff marks, stains, and scratches on it? Are you in a confused state about which option to choose; Refinishing or Replacement? Well, we understand, when it comes to renovating a home or preserving its beauty, several decisions need to be made; and choosing refinishing services is one of them. If you are in a perplexing situation – whether refinishing or replacement – it would be best to approach the right installation company for assistance.
Refinishing floors is a superficial procedure that involves sanding the topmost layer of the floors and applying a fresh stain and 2-3 coats of polyurethanes to make them look new again. This procedure also involves removing old or worn-out floorboards, fixing buckling boards, and making the entire space even again.
Refinishing Process
It’s a multi-step procedure to keep the floors gorgeous-looking. Let’s discuss the entire procedure in brief-
- Preparing the floor for the refinishing job
Once you’ve decided to refinish your floors, start preparing your floor to kick-start the refinishing. Although the task is carried out by the professionals, before they arrive, you can move the furniture out and pull up the rugs or carpets, so that they can begin their work immediately.
First, refinishers hammer down the protruding nails and check for loose boards and fix them (if any). Then, a thorough cleaning will be done to remove every speck of dust. Also, they seal the open spaces (like doors and windows) and air vents to prevent dust and sand from getting into your ductwork and the rest of the house.
- Sanding the floors
Sanding the hardwood floor is the crucial stage to eliminate stains and scratches. At Big Bro Hardwood, we use cyclonic vacuum systems that provide your floor with a dust-free finishing process. During the procedure, we take every precaution, like wearing masks, safety goggles, full sleeves suits, and ear protection devices to ensure complete safety while working on the site.
- Screening the floors
During this stage, we use a buffer with a fine-grit screening pad to level up even the little unevenness. It ensures table-top smoothness so that the polyurethane can adhere better to the surface.
- Remove dust and take preventive measures to restrict dust
Finally, rigorous sweeping and vacuuming are done to make the floors immaculately clean for further process. Here, several measures are taken, like cleaning walls to prevent bumped scuffs from falling on the floor, shutting off doors and windows to avert the dust from flowing in, and more.
- Applying wood stain
With refinishing services, you’ve the opportunity to change the color of your floors. You can choose the fresh stain color to complement your new interior and dramatically transform your home’s look. Experts apply the stain with perfection to make sure it creates a wow impression. We stock a wide variety of Bona’s DriFast Stain colors or custom mix different shades to provide you with a tone that goes fine with your decor.
- Applying finishes
Lastly, a protective coat of wood finish is applied to provide protection to your wooden floors. There are different types of finishes available in the market — water-based and oil-based — to make your floors look new again. How you should choose the right finish is discussed later in the blog.
Once the finishing gets dried, then put your furniture in place, but avoid dragging it on the newly refinished floors.
Benefits of Refinishing
- Restore the Floor’s Beauty
Having professionals for refinishing your floors means all those dents, water stains, scratches, and all other imperfections can be corrected, giving your floors a brand new life. This fresh look leaves an impression of your lavish status on every visitor.
- Enhance Home’s Market Value
A scratch-free, elegant floor can significantly improve your home’s market value. According to several reports, buyers willingly pay more for houses with flawless-looking hardwood floors instead of carpets. Such homes look appealing to potential buyers.
- Increased Safety
Damaged floors not just look bad but worn or splintering floors also cause serious injury to your family members. Therefore, opting for Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Bolingbrook mitigates the chances of such potential hazards and ensures your family’s safety.
- Save Money & Efforts on Maintenance
A worn-out, dull wooden flooring requires a lot of maintenance and effort to keep it clean. If you refinish your floors, they look brand-new again, and you won’t need time-intensive cleaning and maintenance services.
Signs you need to refinish your floor now
We have been working as a prominent installer and refinisher for years now; using our extensive knowledge, here we have shortlisted a few signs that tell you it’s time for refinishing the floors. Let’s begin-
- Lots of visible scratches
It’s the most obvious sign; having a lot of scratches on your hardwood floor tells you that you must hire a professional refinisher now. As mentioned earlier, scratches are inevitable; you can ignore a few tiny scratches, but when they begin to ruin the look of your home, you must opt for refinishing services. The only solution to fix the deep scratches and dents is sanding and applying polyurethane.
- Discoloration
When you observe your hardwood floors have begun fading from UV rays exposure too much, it’s time for re-staining to bring them back to their pristine condition. The difference in color is noticeable and looks extremely ugly at the same time. A new stain keeps your floor looking marvelous again while renewing its protection against sunlight.
- Splintering and cupping of floorboards
Unresolved cupping and wrapping is the sign of water damage. Standing water and leaks not only create marks on the floor but also cause the boards to swell or wrap. Therefore, it’s always suggested to clean any liquid spill immediately with a soft, slightly wet cloth.
- Missing boards
If there are missing boards, it can be hard to find the exact same boards. That’s why it’s suggested to keep the fall-off wood planks securely or don’t dispose of the scrab at the time of installation. Such pieces can be useful at the time of refinishing.
Keep your eye on these warning signs to determine it’s time for refinishing!
How To Pick The Right Polyurethane For Hardwood Floors?
Two popular types of polyurethane available out there are oil-based and water-based. Both finishes have different properties! You’ve to consider different factors when it comes to choosing the finish for your floor. If you want a yellow tint and a tough surface, oil-based polyurethane is the right choice. But, if you want a natural appearance and good protection to the wood floor, consider a water-based finish. It easily accentuates the character of the wooden floor without giving it an amber tone.
Why not DIY and Choose a Professional?
If you’re thinking of saving money using DIY approaches, you can have better luck with minor repairing work or wall painting, but not wood floor refinishing. Being an amateur, you have no idea how to proceed systematically. Also, no knowledge to resolve any random issue that arises. So it’s always the best decision to hire a company instead of DIYs. Let’s discuss a few points to prove this point-
- Cost savings
Professionals follow a dedicated approach to refinishing the floors. They know how to tackle a particular problem so well that it doesn’t arise again. On the other hand, you, being a non-professional, may end up doing things wrong, leading to unnecessary expenses. Also, you have to purchase different tools to complete the job, which can be costly. So it is better to leave the job for professionals.
- Skills and Expertise
Do you know how to fix the cupping boards? Do you have any experience of removing old or worn-out floorboards? Do you know how to fix the potential problems? Well, the answer is ‘No’. To carry out the refinishing job smoothly, it’s important to have good skills and knowledge, and at the same time, enough experience to anticipate potential problems. Thus, the best option is to hire a pre-eminent refinishing company.
- Mind-blowing results
Flooring has the potential to significantly transform the appearance of the home. Plus, it’s a costly investment. So why not give the responsibility to professionals to maintain its original beauty? Refinishing specialists, using the right products and techniques, deliver outstanding results, which are impossible to achieve using DIYs.
- Timely completion of the job
Being a homeowner, you’ve several other tasks to take care of. Sometimes the guests may come whom you have to attend, or sometimes you have to go out for parties or other gatherings; it can be tough to manage everything on your own. And if you can, then it takes time. Having a mess all around in your home for a long time makes you feel sick. So it’s better to contact a specialist instead of doing things yourselves.
How To Find The Right Expert For Refinishing?
Well, several hardwood floor installation and refinishing companies have been springing up in the market; but, not all of them provide superior services. So it is best to invest plenty of time to pick out the right service provider among all.
To gather the list of potential refinishing service providers, you can use the Internet. When you google the phrase ‘Hardwood Floor Refinishing Orland Park’, so many search results come before you. It is advisable not to pick the first firm you come across; instead, do research based on these factors-
- Experience & Number of Projects Completed
Check out the experience held by the company’s staff. It’s the personnel who will proceed with your refinishing project. With good expertise and skills, they will be able to deliver superior results. You should ask the firm owner; how many projects they have completed to date?
- Online Gallery
Look at the online gallery on the official website of the firm. Here, you’ll find the before and after images of the sites they have completed. These pictures are enough to tell you the service quality of the firm.
- Customer Testimonials
Lastly, read out the testimonials and reviews received by the company. It helps you make a confident decision and save you from regretting your decision later on.
At Big Bro Hardwood, we have the required skills needed for successful Hardwood Floor Installation in Bolingbrook and the surrounding areas. Besides, we are also well-versed with staining, refinishing, and repairing the floors; which means you’ll get complete assistance at one source. Our staff uses the best methods to deliver the best possible outcomes and keep you updated every step of the way.
Feel free to contact us at (630) 418 4139 or email [email protected]. We are always ready to provide genuine support to you!