Hardwood is perhaps the most practical of all flooring materials. But over time, the protective finish may wear off, most noticeably in heavy traffic areas. This is the perfect time to refinish your wood flooring. Applying a modern new finish can even make hardwood floors much easier to maintain than when they were originally installed.

Another good reason to refinish your hardwood floor is to freshen up the finish of a wood floor that’s dulled from being hidden under carpet for years.

Anyone who’s tackled a hardwood refinishing job can tell you it’s a mess, starting with the removal of the previous finish. Hardwood flooring professionals have the knowledge and experience to give your wood floors a quality new finish. They also have the proper equipment to handle the job efficiently, including power sanders to remove the existing finish and to prepare the wood to accept new stain. Unless you have experience in this area, it is not advisable to take on a project of this magnitude by yourself.

Hardwood Flooring Refinish Test

To determine whether your hardwood flooring’s finish is shot or simply dirty, try this simple test.

Go to a high-traffic area where the finish takes the most abuse. Pour a tablespoon of water onto the floor. If the water forms beads, the floor is properly sealed. At most, cleaning and stain removal is needed.

If the water takes a few minutes to seep in and only darkens the floor slightly, the finish is partially worn. Don’t wait too long to refinish the floor.

If the water soaks right in and leaves a dark spot, it’s definitely time to refinish.