Hardwood Floor Refinishing: Are The Floor Boards Ready For Refinishing?

Wooden flooring deteriorates with time, as would any other.

A quality-reduced floor needs professional wood floor refinishing service from experts in Sherman Oaks.

While expert service is necessary, homeowners can identify whether their floor needs refinishing or replacing.

Is the Floor Pure Hardwood or a Different Material?

Determining the floor type is critical to determining if refinishing is necessary.

Many homes have flooring replicating hardwood, although entirely or partially a different material. Laminate is one such lookalike of hardwood.

Laminate imitates the appearance and texture of natural wood by using synthetic items layered and embossed with a grain pattern.

Distinguishing laminate from hardwood is simple because it feels like hardened plastic.

Refinishing laminate is nearly impossible. However, it enables recoating using chemical abrasives, which can be taxing.

Engineered wood is another hardwood alternative. It comprises a hardwood or veneer layer pressed onto plywood or similar low-cost material.

Refinishing it once or twice is possible if the hardwood layer is thick. Otherwise, sanding it could reach the plywood below, damaging it.

However, the veneer must be ⅛” thick to facilitate using wood floor refinishing service in Sherman Oaks.

Anything less opens up the risk of sanding through the veneer and exposing the ply. Exposed plywood will make the flooring look ugly, requiring a replacement in no time.

Unlike the rest, solid hardwood planks comprise pure wood, becoming the perfect material for refinishing. But a safe sanding requires a minimum of ¾”.

Additionally, its finish is another essential factor in determining if it can withstand refinishing. If a solid hardwood floor has a hand-scraped or machine-scraped finish, it can be tricky to refinish because more of its wear layer will be removed.

Hardwood with a smooth finish enables five or six refinishes, which is more than enough for homes because they do not have to endure too heavy foot traffic.

Recoating or Refinishing: Which is Necessary?

Upon identifying the floor type, it is important to understand if the flooring requires a refinish or if recoating will serve the purpose.

Recoating usually involves a simple sanding screen before applying a protective coating. It costs less, but the only problems it fixes are on the surface.

Refinishing, on the other hand, can handle discoloration and slight marring. However, it costs more and takes more time.

Figuring out if a hardwood floor needs refinishing or recoating is a simple process.

Homeowners can choose two spots on their floor and tape off one square of approximately 6x6 inches.

The first of the two spots should be the space with the most problems, and if a recoating can fix it. The second spot should be a space frequently exposed to cleaning solutions.

Since a polyurethane finishing coat does not stick to flooring for prolonged periods, testing a spot exposed to cleaning solutions frequently is essential.

It helps understand whether to get wood floor refinishing service in Sherman Oaks or seek recoating services.

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