Are you a Philadelphia homeowner who is considering professional hardwood floor refinishing?

If so, Hudson Hardwood has created this guide to walk you through the entire process to refinish hardwood floors, from start to finish.

We will cover:

• a step by step guide to the hardwood floor finishing process
• the expected timeline and potential disruptions
• tips for preparing your home for the project
• how to care for your newly refinished floors.

Philadelphia hardwood floor refinishing requires professionalism and expertise to achieve high quality results. At Hudson Hardwood, we understand hardwood floor refinishing and we are a trusted name in the industry.

The hardwood floor refinishing process: a walk-through

Let’s walk through each stage of the hardwood floor refinishing process, and look at the care and expertise required to ensure a flawless finish.

Here is a general step-by-step guide to the hardwood refinishing process that we do:

1. Preparation: First, we start by removing all furniture, rugs, and any other items from your room. We then ensure that the floor is completely clean by vacuuming or sweeping up any dirt or debris before hard floor refinishing.
2. Inspection: Next we inspect the flooring. We carefully inspect the floor for any nails, staples, or other protrusions that could damage the sandpaper, and then hammer down or remove any such obstacles to avoid problems during sanding. We also look for any damaged wood and address any repairs.
3. Sanding: Then we begin the process of sanding wood floors. First, we tape off areas and vents in your home to give you a “dust-free” experience. Then we are ready for our dustless sanding system. We usually begin the process of refinishing hardwood floors by sanding your floor with a drum sander. We start with coarser grit sandpaper to remove the existing finish, stains, and imperfections. We move the sander in a smooth and even motion, going with the grain of the wood, being sure to overlap each row to ensure consistent sanding.
4. Edges and corners: After sanding the main area with the drum sander, we switch to an edger machine or a hand-held sander to reach the edges and corners that the drum sander could not reach.
5. Fine sanding: Once the main area and edges are sanded, we switch to finer grit sandpaper and repeat the sanding process. This step will help smooth out any remaining rough patches or scratches left from the initial sanding – it’ll be so smooth!
6. Filling gaps: As part of the hardwood floor refinishing services, we inspect your floor for any gaps, cracks, or holes, and then use wood putty or filler to fill these imperfections.
7. Cleaning: Next, we vacuum or sweep your floor to remove any dust or debris left from the sanding process.
8. Staining: If you want to change the color of your wood floors when we finish a hardwood floor for you, let us know – this is one of our specialties. We apply the chosen customized stain on your flooring, allowing the stain to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
9. Applying finish: Once you’ve selected your desired finish, such as polyurethane or varnish, we apply it with a brush or roller. We generally start from the farthest corner of the room and work our way toward the doors. We apply thin, even coats, allowing each coat to dry completely before adding the next one. how long does it take to refinish hardwood floors and dry them? Refinishing and drying time will depend upon the number of coats recommended.
10. Final touches: Once your final coat of finish is completely dry, we will inspect the floor for any uneven areas or imperfections. Lightly sand any rough spots with fine-grit sandpaper, clean the floor again to remove any dust, and apply the final coat of finish if needed.

Remember, we need to allow sufficient drying time between each step for the best results. We will tape things off, provide dustless floor sanding, and give a detailed contract so that you understand every step of the way and more.

Understanding the timeline and possible disruptions

Hardwood floor refinishing does create minor disruptions to your home life. Understanding the timeline and potential disruptions is crucial so that you can plan around them.

Whether you live in a bustling area like University City or the Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia, we know how to minimize disruptions to your daily life to make the refinishing process as smooth as possible.

We can provide strategies such as:

• scheduling work in stages when convenient
• planning a temporary move-out if necessary
• proper ventilation and airing out to eliminate any residual odors
• allowing proper dry-time

We can provide specific recommendations based on your unique situation.

Preparing your home for hardwood floor refinishing

There are many things you can do to prepare your home (and yourself!) for the hardwood floor refinishing process.

Here are some practical tips on how homeowners can prepare their homes before we start the steps to refinish wood floors:

• move your furniture out of harm’s way
• securing your fragile items, such as clocks, lamps, special items, etc.
• plan ahead for potential dust or noise
• alert neighbors of your project and refinishing steps
• share any special concerns and considerations for your home, such as unique features you’d like preserved, antique hardwood floor patterns, etc.

Our goal is to see that you navigate the process to refurbish floors with ease and that your experience is as stress-free as possible.

Minimizing disruptions to daily life during the process

We provided strategies earlier for mitigating disruptions to your daily life during the refinishing hardwood floors process. These included scheduling the wood floor transition work in stages.

Remember, taking your time is OK!

It’s essential to create a comfortable living plan during work. Discuss this with your loved ones and decide what will work best for you. We are happy to work around your schedules.

Perhaps arrange refinishing stairs and flooring during a family trip or vacation. Your floors will be in good hands and seeing your new flooring will be exciting upon your return.

Post-refinishing: caring for your newly refinished floors

After your hardwood floors have been refinished, proper care is essential to maintain their longevity and aesthetic appeal.

Here are our 10 tips to care for your newly refinished floors, ensuring that they remain beautiful for years to come:

1. Avoid walking on the floors for at least 24 hours after they have been refinished to allow the finish to properly cure.
2. Place protective pads under the legs of furniture to prevent scratches and dents. Felt pads are a good option.
3. Avoid dragging heavy furniture or appliances across the floor. Lift them instead to prevent damage.
4. Regularly sweep or vacuum the floor to remove dirt and debris. Use a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum cleaner with bare floor attachments to avoid scratching the surface.
5. Use a dry or slightly damp microfiber mop to remove dust and light dirt. Avoid using excessive water, as it can damage the finish.
6. Clean spills immediately to prevent staining or damaging the finish. Use a soft cloth or paper towel to absorb the liquid gently, and then clean the area with a recommended hardwood floor cleaner. *Avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaning products, as they can strip away the finish and damage the wood. Stick to pH-neutral or specially formulated hardwood floor cleaners.
7. Place entryway mats or rugs near doorways to trap dirt, dust, and moisture from shoes, and use rugs in high-traffic areas. This will help protect the floor and prevent scratches.
8. Avoid walking on the floors with high heels or shoes with sharp edges, as they can leave marks or indentations.
9. Maintain a consistent indoor humidity level to prevent the wood from expanding or contracting, and avoid direct sunlight exposure on the floors. Use drapes, blinds, or UV-protective window film to minimize the risk of fading or discoloration.
10. Schedule regular maintenance and resealing as recommended by the flooring manufacturer or refinishing professional.

By following these care tips, you can help preserve the beauty and longevity of your newly refinished hardwood floors.

The process and preparation involved in hardwood floor refinishing and why you need the pros

In conclusion, refinishing hardwood floors requires professional expertise and thorough preparation. The cost to refinish wood floors is quite reasonable and greatly improves the overall value of our home.

By approaching the process with confidence and choosing a trusted contractor like Hudson Hardwood Floors, you can achieve superior results while minimizing disruptions.

So, if you’re considering hardwood floor refinishing in Philadelphia, look no further. Reach out today: Hudson Hardwood is here to help make your flooring project a success.