How to Bring Your Old Wooden Floors Back to Life

by Nina Sable and Claudia Shepherd Sable Homes Metro-West Team Natick to Cape Cod 12/29/2019

Image by Twin Design from Shutterstock

Starting an extensive renovation or replacement of hardwood flooring can be costly. Thankfully, there are other ways to bring your floors back to life if they are not deeply damaged. If you want to give your floors a facelift, try out these tips. 

Give It A Good Clean

Sometimes, all a dull hardwood floor needs to help it sparkle again is a thorough cleaning. To begin, remove furniture and rugs from the space. Lift your furniture to avoid additional scratches or damage. Once the room is empty, vacuum and wipe down the floor with a damp cloth. If your wooden floor is very dirty, use a gentle cleaning product, but in most cases, warm water alone works well. Take care to use cleaning products formulated specifically for wood surfaces. Consider steam cleaning but only if the seal on the floor is in good shape before you begin. Otherwise, the added moisture may worsen the condition of the floor.

Screening and Recoating

Screening and recoating your floor is an effective way to bring the sparkle to your old wooden floor without completely refinishing it. This process works well on floors that are not deeply damaged. The first step is to lightly sand the surface with a buffing machine to prepare the floor for a sealant like polyurethane. Hiring a buffer from a hardware store is reasonable if you have a large area of wood flooring in your home. Once the floor has been buffed, apply a new coat of finish. Be sure to allow for plenty of drying time before bringing your furniture back in. If you have a few smaller areas that are dull or distressed, you may be able to sand by hand then apply a sealant product with a rag.

Consider A Full Sanding and Refinish 

If there are deep scratches or other similar damage on your floor, you may consider working with a flooring contractor for full sanding and refinishing. This project can be daunting, but the result is a consistent finish and color. For those that have engineered wood flooring, ensure the veneer or solid wood top layer of your flooring is thick enough to withstand a sanding.

Visit your local hardware store for supplies and advice if you choose to DIY. Otherwise, ask your real estate agent for recommended contractors in your area.

About the Author
Author

Nina Sable and Claudia Shepherd Sable Homes Metro-West Team Natick to Cape Cod

Working in the 50+ plus marketplace; from Natick MA to Cape Cod; to bring you a myriad of options in the state, and out of state, when you are ready to sell. Do you need help navigating the senior care industry? We have community partners to make it easier. When you SELL WITH SABLE; you can turn over the keys, and let us help you do the rest.
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