Is It Time to Refinish Your Hardwood Floor?

Is your hardwood floor starting to show signs of dullness? Is it no longer as glossy as when you last put a coat of finish on it? Are there any visible dents, scratches or discolorations? While these issues affect the appearance of your hardwood floor, they might not be reason enough to warrant a refinishing. Handyman Connection® of Carmel gives you a simple guide so you can tell whether it’s time to refinish or not.

Materials

Before you check your floor, make sure you have the following items handy:

• A tablespoon

• Water

• Paper towels or rags

• A business card

• A ruler

• A pencil

Track Foot Traffic

Locate the area that gets the highest amount of traffic on a daily basis as this section is the likeliest to be in need of refinishing. Drop some water on this particular area using the spoon. If the water merely sits on the surface in the form of droplets, your floor does not need to be refinished. In this case, simply wipe the water dry, and carry on with other tasks.

If, however, the water seeps into the wooden floor and leaves a dark mark, it indicates that your floor needs to be refinished. Repeat this test on other areas where you think refinishing might be necessary. Take note that the old finish needs to be sanded off before you can proceed to refinish your hardwood floor.

Measure the Groove

Try to find two floorboards that aren’t level, preferably with a groove between them. Insert the business card into the groove, and push it as far as it can go. Take note of the depth, and mark it using the pencil before you remove the business card from the groove. If the mark is less than three-fourths of an inch from the edge of the card, it means your floor needs to be sanded off and refinished by a professional as it might prove to be a complex task.

Make sure to repair your floors first before refinishing them. Note that sanding can cause permanent damage to your floor if not done properly. Our home remodeling experts at Handyman Connection of Carmel will gladly do the job for you. You may reach us at (317) 342-2040 or use this form to request a quote.