Are you a homeowner in Philadelphia with older wood floors in need of restoration or refinishing? Look no further!

In this blog post, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about restoring old, original hardwood floors in your home.

Our experts at Hudson Hardwood are master hardwood floor craftsmen and restoration specialists. For over 20+ years we’ve refinished hardwood in the greater Philadelphia area for many happy customers.

Joe Hudson will guide us through the process of restoring hardwood flooring and offer tips for keeping your floors looking beautiful. From pine floors to exotic hardwoods, we’ll break down what can be restored and what can’t.

So, if you are thinking, “My hardwood floors look terrible!”, don’t worry. Whether you are restoring or refinishing 100 year old wood floors made of oak, maple, or even bamboo floors, keep reading to learn more about how we handle hardwood floor restoration.

What kinds of hardwood can be restored?

Most hardwood floors can be restored, including oak, maple, cherry, walnut, and hickory. The specific type and condition of the hardwood will determine the restoration process and its outcome.

Some factors that affect restoring old hardwood floors may include:

• the age of the floor
• the finish on the floor
• the condition of the floor

Still, wondering how to repair old hardwood floors? Let Hudson Hardware do the job for you. We know the best way to restore hardwood floors.

What is the best way to restore oak or maple hardwood floors?

How to restore old hardwood floors made of oak or maple:

Here are the steps we take to restore white oak hardwood floors and maple floors.

1. Clean the floor: Before starting the restoration process, clean the floor thoroughly. Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any dirt, dust, or debris. You can also use a mild cleaner to clean the floor if it’s necessary.
2. Sand the floor: Sanding helps to remove any scratches, stains, or uneven surfaces on the floor. Use a floor sander to sand the floor. Start with coarse-grit sandpaper and move to finer grit progressively.
3. Fill the gaps: Do any old wood floor repairs that are needed. If there are any gaps or holes in the oak or maple, fill them with wood filler. Allow the filler to dry, and then sand it smooth.
4. Stain the floor: Staining enhances the natural beauty of the maple or oak wood floors. Pick a stain color for the flooring restoration that matches the rest of the house or the desired aesthetic. Stain the floor using a brush or roller, following the instructions on the stain.
5. Apply the finish: Apply a finish to protect the stained floor. The finish could either be polyurethane or wax, choose the one that suits your needs. Apply the finish in a thin and even coat, following the instructions on the finish.
6. Allow to dry: Lastly, allow the floor to dry, and avoid walking on the floor for the recommended drying period.

What is the best way to restore pine floors?

Refinishing pine floors is another story. Pine floors are milled differently than other kinds of wood. Most likely, pine floors can not be restored or refinished with the same results, as say oak floors.

The reason why is that pine floors were originally meant to be sub-flooring.

In many Philadelphia homes, people still do choose to revive wood floors of pine – much like more traditional hardwood floors. They often have gaps and expansion, which makes it a more difficult process. While some shy away from restoring pine, it can be done.

For example: if your pine floors have already been refinished by a wood floor restorer, then there is a way to give your floors some new life. We can add a finish with a buff and coat. This will add durability and shine. While it won’t make the pine floors look new, it can give your floor a fun “rustic” look. Many customers love the look!

Can you restore bamboo or Brazilian cherry hardwood floors?

Yes, bamboo and Brazilian cherry floors can all be restored. They are all gorgeous woods that can be stunning when restored. The extent of the restoration needed will depend on the condition of the floors.

For minor scratches and dullness, professional cleaning and buffing may be all that is needed. For more significant damage like deep scratches or stains, sanding and refinishing may be necessary.

Brazilian cherry wood floors

Sometimes, clients would prefer a different tone for their Brazilian cherry floors. We understand this and can reduce some of the “redness”. We specialize in altering the color of Brazilian Cherry floors.

Altering coloring on a floor needs to be left to the pros, for sure. It can be quite challenging to get the exact tone. We can do this for you.

Bamboo Floors

Refinishing old wood floors made of bamboo can usually have beautiful results! They usually have a formaldehyde finish on them, which can be harmful and hazardous to your health, though. Hudson Hardware can remove this layer and refinish the floors while using containment methods to protect the air in your home. Definitely do not try redoing floors made of bamboo on your own.

Other Exotic Hardwood Floors

We refinish all exotic hardwood floors, such as Brazilian Walnut, Purple Heart, and Australian Cypress. They give a truly unique look to a home.

Exotic floors are often darker in color. They have natural resins in the wood that can make it more challenging to have the stain and finish adhere for restoration. However, we have specific products and equipment to get this done.

Why it is better to restore hardwood floors, rather than replace

Besides restoring historic charm and beauty, there are several reasons why it may be better to restore your hardwood floor rather than replace it.

1. Cost-effective: Restoring or floor refinishing cost is often cheaper than replacing it. This is because the cost of materials and labor required to replace the floor can add up quickly. On the other hand, restoration usually only requires sanding, refinishing, and minor repairs.
2. Preservation of character: Hardwood floors can add character and charm to a home. If your home has an older hardwood floor, wood floor refinishers preserve this unique feature rather than replacing it with a new, generic floor.
3. Environmental benefits: When you replace a floor, the old materials often end up in a landfill. Restoration, on the other hand, can be done using eco-friendly methods and materials. This reduces waste and the environmental impact of the project.
4. Convenience: Restore and repair old hardwood floors can often be done in a fraction of the time it takes to replace them. When you refinish old hardwood floors you have less disruption to your daily routine and a faster completion time.

Overall, restoring old hardwood flooring can be a great option for those looking to give their Philadelphia home a nice update. It’s cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and can preserve the character of your home.

Hudson Hardware is here to come by and give you a free assessment of the best way to restore your hardwood flooring. We can show you incredible images of refinishing hardwood floors before and after.

We specialize in:

• refinishing old hardwood floors
• installing new hardwood floors
• cleaning dull floors
• re-coating tired floors
• floor restoring of difficult exotic woods
• Original hardwood floor repair

We do wood floor repair and refinishing for both your hardwood floors & also your stairs. We take pride in bringing warmth to your home, and appeal to residential, and commercial spaces, with the classic beauty of wood flooring.

We truly love what we do, and our employees are expert craftsmen that follow the National Wood Flooring Association guidelines.

Q&A

Q: Should I refinish my hardwood floors?

A: Hudson Hardware will happily help you decide if you should restore or refinish your hardwood flooring.

Q: Does restoring old wood floors take a long time?

A: The duration of restoring old wood floors depends on various factors such as the size of the area, the type of wood, the extent of damage, and the techniques used for restoration. It can take a few days to a few weeks to restore old wood floors.

Q: Does old wood floor restoration last a long time?

A: Old wood floor restoration can last a long time with proper maintenance and care. A well-done restoration can last for up to 20 or 30 years, while some antique hardwood floors that were restored decades ago are still in excellent condition today.