When you need hardwood floor refinishing done, avoid going the DIY route. You will benefit greatly from letting professional hardwood flooring Chicago specialists take care of this for you. Not only will this save you a considerable amount of time, but the end result of a DIY refinished floor seldom delivers the wow factor.

We have compiled a list of three reasons why you should rather spend your budget on hiring professional hardwood flooring contractors for the refinishing work needed on your floors.

1. Avoid Sanding Scars
When going the DIY route most folks hire a drum sander from the neighborhood hardware store. This type of sander is purpose built for consumers with emphasis on being user friendly. This does not closely match the results of the sanding machines used by trained professionals. You could make use of the drum sander but take care to proceed at a slow and steady pace to prevent unnecessary damage to your floor. Take note that a drum sander can cause a number of problems, such as:

  • Dips
  • Pits
  • Scratches
  • Swirl Marks

Don’t forget to actively deal with the dust and make sure that this does not negatively influence the final result.
Needless to say, professional hardwood floor refinishing teams are fully trained, make use of professional machinery, and rely on their experience and knowledge to handle the entire site efficiently.

2. Avoid a Flakey Finish
DIY refinished floors often experience flaking or peeling, which is generally due to incorrect application processes. One of the most common mistakes is to apply or leave excess stain residue on the floor. The stain hardens and becomes more difficult to remove the drier it gets. Often too many layers are applied which causes a buildup. This buildup will interfere with the final finish. This mistake is most often found when someone inexperienced applies a darker stain.

This is not the only common mistake made with a DIY hardwood floor repair or refinishing project. Another error that is frequently made is to apply the finishing coat before the floor has had ample time to dry. This can easily result in peeling. Floors need a drying time of around 1 to 4 days, which will greatly depend on the stain used.
When it comes to a peeling or flakey finish, there is unfortunately no hack to resolve it quickly and easily. You can only sand it down again and have another go at it. Of course, this will be a waste of time and money, but even worse is that this will reduce the lifespan of your hardwood flooring with years.

3. Short Lifespan of the Refinishing
Even if you avoid all the previously mentioned mistakes when undertaking a DIY hardwood floor refinishing project and you have finally completed the work on your floor after at least a week of hard labor, how long will it last? You can step back and enjoy the fruits of your hard labor, but most often a DIY refinishing job doesn’t last as long as it should. You may find yourself having to repeat the process within a year or so when it has the potential to last several years when done professionally.

A hardwood floor refinishing project is more work than a hardwood floor installation. Homeowners tend to underestimate the work involved with a refinishing project. This can lead to them taking shortcuts or rushing the job.
The sanding down process involves several steps. After the imperfections have been sanded down, the next step is to sand down the floor with a finer grit sandpaper to achieve an even and smooth surface. This step might not look like it’s achieving anything, but it will make all the difference when it comes to the stain and finish application.
If you were to apply the stain without this crucial fine sanding step, the stain will seep into grooves and will reduce the amount that remains on the surface in certain areas. After a short time of wear and tear on your floor, it will start to look patchy and rough. The only solution to this is once again sanding your floors down completely and re-doing the job.

Having your floors refinished professionally from the start is the wise choice. Contact PETER Hardwood Flooring for excellence in hardwood floor refinishing.