Refinishing Your Wood Floors: What to Know About Finishes Before You Start

If you have hardwood floors in your house that are in need of a little TLC, refinishing them is a great choice. Before you start, though, you should know some basic information so that you can make the right decision regarding refinishing options.

Most of us have heard how great refinishing our hardwood
floors is as a way to restore their luster. However, not all of us know exactly what that entails, or what we need to know before we embark on the refinishing work. Not all hardwood flooring is created equal, and there are a number of factors that you need to take into consideration before you jump into this process. Two of the most important elements to consider are:

1. What kind of finish is already on the floors?


2. Do you want to restore your floors to the same look, color, and shine factors that they originally displayed, or do you want a new look?

Once you know the answer to these questions, you'll have the basic information necessary to start in on your refinishing adventure.

Just as there are a number of different woods that wood flooring is made out of, there are also a number of different finishes out in the world. Older wood floors were finished with a number of different substances including natural varnishes, lacquers, and shellacs, or with waxes that were blended with oil. Some were finished with drying oils, which are still a popular finish in modern times as well. Polyurethane, a synthetic resin substance prized for its durability, is perhaps the most popular contemporary finish.

While all of these finishes have their benefits, none of them will last forever; at some point you'll want to look into floor refinishing. To do that, though, you need to know what type of finish you're dealing with. If you have an older floor that was finished with antique lacquers, shellacs, or oil, you will likely need to sand the finish off along with the top layer of wood, reapply a stain (if desired), and refinish the floor. If you have a floor with a modern (and un-oiled) polyurethane finish, on the other hand, you can do a process called "screening." A screen, in this context, is a clog-resistant sanding disk that lets you remove the polyurethane layer without touching the wood. If you are unsure as to what type of finish you're dealing with, or if you're simply daunted by the prospect of handling all of the wood floors in your house by yourself, a local flooring company should be able to assist you.

When it comes to refinishing our floors, the first thought is usually to restore the floor so that it looks like a newer, brighter version of its original self. However, you're not tied in to that option. Wood is an extremely versatile medium. If you're embarking on the hardwood refinishing process and you want to change the stain, the "age," or the finish of your floor, you can! Your local flooring contractor can work with you to determine what products will best work with your particular floor to achieve the look that you want. If you live in a newer house but want to get a warm, lived-in look from your floors, they can help you with that. If you have older floors and you want to protect them with a state-of-the-art polyurethane finish, they can do that too. There are multiple options and combination's of stains, varnishes, and finishes that a flooring expert can help you match together to realize exactly the look that you want for your home. Refinishing hardwood floors does not just have to be an act of preservation--it can also be an act of reinvigoration!

In order to make the most of the hardwood floor refinishing process, and to get the look that you want for your floors, it's important to know some basic information about the different finishes and refinishing options that are on the market. Go in with a little knowledge and you'll leave with beautiful floors that suit your taste and your home.

Maria Allen is a DIY enthusiast and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, a leader in online marketing.