What Is Floor Restoration?

When you restore a floor, generally you are fixing a damaged floor after it has had a few years of wear and tear. The wear and tear could be from water damage, pet odors, or water spills, or electrical, plumbing, or heating repairs. So, why is the difference? Restoration takes someone who knows the floor well and understands how to restore it safely to perform the work. The person is called a restorer, and there are many different kinds of restorers.

Most hardwood floor refinishing jobs are not that complicated. The surfaces are sanded to remove the existing finish, and then either coated with an appropriate finish, such as polyurethane, or painted. There are also times when the wood is simply sanded to remove the scratches and wear, and then a fresh coat of wood is painted. These jobs are more often than not very simple and require minimal tools.

However, there are times when there is a need for more elaborate hardwood floor restoration. For example, there might be small dents, stains, or gouges that were not noticed before the restoration process. Also, the wood might have chips, scratches, or growths that are difficult to see without magnification.

Some wood floor restoration can be very involved, especially if it is being done for commercial purposes. In these cases, it is essential that the floors are properly restored, because not only does the floor look horrible, but it can make the business suffer. Also, badly stained or chipped floors can not only make a person feel unsafe, but also present health risks, such as asthma attacks. When these floors are refinished, they are no longer just a surface that someone could fall on, but instead, they are an eye-catching and valuable piece of hardwood. Also, refinished hardwood floors tend to cost less to purchase and maintain over time.

Sometimes wood floors are painted over after they have been restored. This is known as drum sander refurbishing, and it can cost significantly less than hiring a professional to refinish the floor. Before a person starts to paint the floors, though, they will need to remove all of the dust and dirt using a vacuum. A professional will also have the wood dust extracted with a wet vacuum, then he or she will use a drum sander to remove all of the dust that was still there.

Other times, wood floors are refinished by using a flooring resurfacing machine. A floor resurfacing machine can be used to not only refinish wood floors, but also tile and marble. Although this type of floor restoration is more involved than most others, the results are comparable to a professional refinishing job. It does, however, take some special equipment and materials. All flooring restoration should be left to professionals.