Solid wood floors are an investment that brings beauty and character to your home. Over time, wear and tear can leave them looking dull or damaged. But with the right approach, you can restore your floor’s natural charm by following a wood floor restoration process to keep it looking its best for years.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps to restore and care for your solid wood floor, ensuring it remains durable, beautiful, and long-lasting.
When to Restore Wood Floor
How often you restore your wood floor depends on things like the type of wood, use of the floor, and condition.
Solid hardwood floors may need more frequent sanding or restoring compared to engineered varieties. Busier areas of the home like hallways may need to be maintained more often than low-traffic areas like bedrooms.
Regular maintenance every 7-10 years is typical for well-maintained hard wood floors. Hard wood floor restoration can be carried out around 4-6 times in its lifetime.
Before diving into restoration, it's essential to assess your floor. Look for signs of damage such as scratches, scuffs, stains, or uneven finishes. Identifying the extent of wear will help you choose the right restoration method.
1. Assessing Your Floor’s Condition
Before getting started with your wooden floor restoration, it’s important to assess the current state to determine what level of restoration is needed. There are various types of damage to look out for:
- Surface Scratches: These are light, shallow marks that don’t penetrate deeply into the wood. These can often be from where furniture has been moved, or in busy areas of the home. Surface scratches on wood floor can often be buffed quickly and easily.
- Deep Scratches: These require more attention, often involving sanding or filling with wood filler, especially in areas where the protective finish has worn off the floor.
- Water Damage: Water stains or spots can take away from the beauty of your wood floor, and in some cases, cause warping.
- Discolouration and Fading: Sunlight and wear can lead to colour fading. A stain application during restoration can bring back the vibrancy of your wood floor.
2. Preparing Your Wood Floor for Restoration
Preparation is key for any kind of DIY or wood floor restoration. To get off to a good start, follow the following steps:
- Clear the Room: Remove all furniture, rugs, and any other items from the room.
- Clean Thoroughly: Sweep and vacuum the floor to remove any debris. Using a damp mop, eliminate any dirt and allow to dry fully.
- Repair Small Damages: For small scratches or dents, use wood filler to lightly fill the scratches or gouges.
- Protect Yourself: When sanding or using chemical cleaners, ensure proper ventilation in the room. Wear protective goggles and a dust mask to avoid inhaling particles.
3. Sanding Wood Floors
Sanding is a crucial step in any wood floor restoration. This process removes the worn finish and surface imperfections, creating a smooth base for refinishing. There are various sanding tools that can be used for this process, depending on the type of hard wood floor you’re restoring.
It’s recommended to start with a course grit to remove the top layer of the finish and any deep scratches. Then, move to a finer grit to smooth the surface, ensuring you sand evenly to avoid creating dips or uneven areas. Sweeping and vacuuming between grits to remove dust can help to see how much more sanding is required.
Important Tip: Always sand in the same direction as the grain of the wood to avoid creating scratches that are difficult to remove.
4. Staining and Finishing Your Wood Floor
Once your floor is smooth, you’ve got a blank canvas to apply stain to which will give it a protective finish. This step not only enhances the natural beauty of your wood floor but also protects it from future damage. When choosing a stain, there are options available, depending on how you want your wood floor to look:
- Natural Stain: If you want to highlight the wood’s grain, opt for a clear or lightly tinted stain. Natural stains work well in homes where other décor is a focal point, or if you have a rustic aesthetic.
- Darker Stain: Darker wood stains can give a dramatic, modern look but be aware that they may show scratches more easily over time.
Staining Process
- Test in a small area: Always test the stain on a hidden section to ensure it’s the colour you want.
- Apply with a cloth or brush: Use a lint-free cloth or paintbrush to apply the stain in even strokes. Allow it to sit on the wood for a few minutes before wiping off any excess.
- Drying time: Let the stain fully dry before applying the finish, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Maintain Wooden Floors
After your wood floor restoration, routine care can help to keep it looking good as new, while maintaining the durability. These tips can help to prevent future damage and extend the time between wood floor restorations.
Daily & Weekly Care
- Regular sweeping to remove any dust or grit on the surface of the floors, particularly in high traffic areas.
- Avoid harsh chemicals that could strip the finish. Choose more gentle cleaners that are specifically designed for wood floors.
Long Term Care
- Furniture pads can be used under furniture legs to help prevent deep scratches.
- Area rugs can be used in busy areas of the home such as hallways to protect against heavy foot traffic.
Discover more about maintaining solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring in our helpful guides.
When to Call in a Professional to Restore Wood Floors
While DIY restoration is a definite possibility for many homeowners, there are times when professional help is the best option. If your wood floor has suffered from major water damage, causing warping or buckling, it’s best to call an expert. Where there are extensive scratches of gouges over a large portion of the floor, a professional sanding will ensure an evenly refinished floor.
Hardwood Floor Restoration
Restoring and caring for your solid wood floor doesn’t have to be daunting. While it might be a big and messy job, with the right tools, techniques and a little patience, you can bring your floor back to its original beauty. And with routine care, you’ll ensure it stays that way for years. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to consult a professional to maintain your floor’s
