Bring a Wooden Floor Back to Life

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Starting an extensive renovation or replacement of hardwood flooring can be costly. Thankfully, there are other ways to bring your floors back to life if they are not deeply damaged. If you want to give your floors a facelift, try out these tips. 

Give It A Good Clean

Sometimes, all a dull hardwood floor needs to help it sparkle again is a thorough cleaning. To begin, remove furniture and rugs from the space. Lift your furniture to avoid additional scratches or damage. Once the room is empty, vacuum and wipe down the floor with a damp cloth. If your wooden floor is very dirty, use a gentle cleaning product, but in most cases, warm water alone works well. Take care to use cleaning products formulated specifically for wood surfaces. Consider steam cleaning but only if the seal on the floor is in good shape before you begin. Otherwise, the added moisture may worsen the condition of the floor.

Screening and Recoating

Screening and recoating your floor is an effective way to bring the sparkle to your old wooden floor without completely refinishing it. This process works well on floors that are not deeply damaged. The first step is to lightly sand the surface with a buffing machine to prepare the floor for a sealant like polyurethane. Hiring a buffer from a hardware store is reasonable if you have a large area of wood flooring in your home. Once the floor has been buffed, apply a new coat of finish. Be sure to allow for plenty of drying time before bringing your furniture back in. If you have a few smaller areas that are dull or distressed, you may be able to sand by hand then apply a sealant product with a rag.

Consider A Full Sanding and Refinish 

If there are deep scratches or other similar damage on your floor, you may consider working with a flooring contractor for full sanding and refinishing. This project can be daunting, but the result is a consistent finish and color. For those that have engineered wood flooring, ensure the veneer or solid wood top layer of your flooring is thick enough to withstand a sanding.

Visit your local hardware store for supplies and advice if you choose to DIY. Otherwise, ask your real estate agent for recommended contractors in your area.

3 Ideas for a budget-friendly floor project

With so many DIY options available, it’s never been easier to tackle your home’s flooring projects. However, there are a few key items to remember, such as material cost and experience required for installation.

Here are some ideas for cheap flooring ideas you can DIY:

Paint your linoleum or laminate flooring

It’s simple to dress up drab linoleum floors with a bit of paint. Durable floor paint adds a new color or refreshes the original color to hide imperfections. For this floor project, use an all-purpose interior paint primer and the floor paint of your choosing. Flex your creativity and use painter’s tape or stencils to create your own designs.

Try vinyl floor stickers

Vinyl stickers are a quick way to transform your floor for less, while still getting the vinyl floors you want. You can buy sets of peel-and-stick faux tiles in a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures. This is an especially good floor project option for those who want a big change without a big commitment or bill.

If you get tired of the vinyl, you can pull them back up and replace them with a new design anytime. Vinyl floor stickers cost less per square foot than other flooring materials, and significantly less than tearing up the entire existing floor.

Pour a concrete overlay

If you prefer the industrial design style or simply want a cheap flooring option that’s virtually indestructible, try a concrete floor. DIY concrete mix is available at every major hardware or home improvement store and is less costly than other floor materials.

Remove the existing flooring and add your concrete overlay in thin layers until you achieve the desired thickness. Concrete also has the advantage of being versatile. If you don’t like the original color, there are a variety of stain and color options to explore.

No matter which flooring material you prefer, DIY flooring projects are the most affordable way to go. Consider these ideas for your next DIY floor project.