Common Problems With DIY Projects for Refinishing Floors

Hardwood floors are beautiful, but they require care from time to time to keep looking that way. The process generally involves sanding away the old finish, repairing any minor blemishes and applying new finish. Some homeowners decide to take on the job as a do-it-yourself project, but that’s a bad idea for several reasons. Calling a professional for refinishing floors can help you avoid many problems.

Sanding Issues

The first thing that can go wrong if you attempt DIY hardwood refinishing is making mistakes when sanding. Countless things can happen during this stage that can permanently damage your floor:

• Using the sander incorrectly: It’s not easy to handle a drum sander like a professional. You need to keep the equipment perfectly level the entire time, while also moving at the right speed and covering the floor evenly.
• Ruining the floor: Leaving the sander in the same area too long can lead to visible holes that are impossible to remove. The only option, in this case, is to install a new floor.
• Leaving behind gouges: Inexperienced DIYers often leave behind wavy makes, gouges, swirls, scratches and other visible marks on the floor. These marks show up even more after you apply stain or finish to the floor.
• Not removing all of the finish: Going too fast is a problem as well. If you don’t remove the finish evenly, some parts of the floor will look shiny and other spots will be dull.

Problems Refinishing Floors

It also takes a lot of finesse to apply finish correctly to hardwood floors after sanding is completed. Here’s what can go wrong when refinishing flooring:

• Raised areas
• Splotches
• Uneven shine
• Darker and lighter areas
• Insufficient coverage
• Rough look and feel

If you want your hardwood floor to look like a million dollars, you need to invest in professional work. Flooring experts do great work because they have years of experience.