The hardwood flooring restoration niche sees a lot of action nowadays because accidents will happen and this material – however durable – can be very problematic. Sanding is the typical method utilized in repairing hardwood floors, but even the smallest mistakes in this process can escalate and become major flaws in the appearance of the surface.
One of the frequently encountered errors consists in choosing the wrong time to perform the sanding of the floor’s surface, particularly when it was not allowed to dry fully prior to the operation. To understand this better, let’s first analyze how various types of hardwood flooring react to water and moisture.
The effects of water on common hardwood flooring
Knowing exactly how your type of floor will react to water is important, because not all of them can be effectively refurbished following an accident. For example, if your floorboards consist of 100 percent solid wood, then you have a high chance to restore them to their former glory because the absence of resins and/or veneer components greatly simplifies the task. In this business, the accepted principle is that harder wood absorbs water and moisture at a slower rate, so it easier to repair.
Furthermore, wooden flooring that has been finished on site has a lower absorption rate compared to their pre-finished counterparts. Parquet and flooring crafted from engineered wood can be nearly impossible to restore, unlike the laminate which does have a limited tolerance to water, but localized repairs are usually attainable. The absence of the veneer and adhesives enables restoration for laminate, but it can only be performed a few times.
Sanding hardwood flooring that is still wet and/or cupped is a rookie mistake
This is one of the first things flooring restorers learn on their training, but many seem to ignore the fact that you cannot sand a wet floor and expect positive results. When you are hiring a team of contractors to refurbish your wooden floor following a flood for instance, make sure that you inquire about their drying technique and how much time they allow between the drying and the sanding. It is true that over the last few years the technology utilized in hardwood floor drying has advance significantly and in certain cases your floor will not necessitate refinishing, but the process is always challenging as well as labor intensive.
Never apply the finish prior to the sanding
It is entirely true that the finish is utilized for its ability to enhance the beauty of your flooring. However, a less known fact is that applying finishes also greatly emphasize the visibility of flaws such as scratches or cracks. The problem is that some imperfections only become evident to the naked eye once the finish is on. Local sanding is not an option after the floors have been refinished, because you will only make that spot draw more attention. What you need to do is perform the three step sanding (coarse grit, medium grit, fine grit) in this exact order before you even consider refinishing the surface of the hardwood flooring.
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