Hardwood floors are the essence of a home, however, wear and tear is common and can steal away their luster, flexibility, and beauty. While there are many other flooring options available, most of the homeowners prefer to go for hardwood floors because they come in a variety of designs and shapes, and are also affordable. It is vital to keep hardwood floors well maintained so that the look of the house isn’t compromised and you don’t have to deal with a large expense of replacing the entire flooring.
With the passage of time, a few wooden blocks might start to come out, squeak or look weary and unpleasing. Here’s where you need to pick up the tools and get them fixed. Restoring hardwood floors isn’t very difficult if you know how it’s done. But, do not let this intimidate you because hardwood floors have their own benefits. In fact, many sellers like rescomdesigns.com even suggest buyers opt for hardwood flooring as it can complement other items well and enhance the overall look of a house. This article will guide you on how to restore a hardwood floor by yourself.
Inspect The Flooring – If the flooring of your home is making squeaky noises then it’s time to inspect it. Look for damaged or worn out pieces. Knock on all individual pieces and determine if they produce a hollow sound. If they do, you need to replace those pieces.
Chip Off Pieces – Once you figure out which pieces require replacement, grab a chisel and begin to pull out damaged pieces one by one. This should be done with extreme care so that you do not end up damaging the neighboring pieces in the process.
Buy The Right Pieces For Replacement – The next step involves buying pieces that are of the exact size, shape, and color as the ones that you have removed. This is important or else the entire floor will look unpleasing due to mismatched pieces.
Clean And Level The Floor – First, wear protective gear as you will be using glue or bitumen to install new pieces. Clean the spot where you will be adding new pieces so that there’s no extra stickiness. See if the floor looks leveled or not. If it doesn’t, use a hand sander to level the pieces that seem out of place. After leveling the floor, take a break so that the floor can dry.
Put The New Pieces In Place – Take a notched trowel and start applying the adhesive material or glue on the underside of the pieces. Observe the pattern and put the pieces one by one. Fill the ridges so that the grip on the piece is firm. Leave the newly installed pieces to dry for some time.
Touch Up – Grab a sandpaper and rub it on the floor once it is completely dry. This will smoothen and polish the surface and make it shine. Look for gaps between the pieces, if there are some, mix sawdust with solvent and apply into the gaps to fill out spaces.
This is how you can restore your hardwood floor in a few minutes, but if there are major issues then call in a professional.