When people think of floor refinishing, they may envision a whole host of options. They include sanding, coating with a veneer, applying a wax or other finish, sealing it, and then staining or painting it in the color of your choice. All these options can work well. In fact, you can do many of them yourself, but for professional results, you should use a reputable floor refinishing service.

Hardwood floor refinishing generally costs anywhere from three to eight dollars per square foot, depending on which method you use and where you do it. Location, condition, and availability influence the cost more than anything else. You can choose between a few different methods, such as: Traditional, semi-traditional, and engineered methods tend to cost less than a do-it-yourself method that uses a power sander and a heavy belt sander. The type of finish you use also makes a difference.

Some homeowners like to use rubber or plastic Sanders to perform this job. Others prefer to use a power sander that has a beater bar for getting into tight places. A combination of both will get the job done well. However, these Sanders can be heavy, slow, and labor-intensive. If you don’t have a lot of extra room, you may want to consider a rental for this project.

One popular method for hardwood floor refinishing is water based polyurethane laminate or moisture-cure urethane (Curable). These products are easy to work with, quick and gentle on your floors. Although these products dry fairly quickly, you may still want to wait the entire drying process to make sure that your floors are completely dry before using them. Because these products are applied with a brush or roller, you may also want to consider renting a machine to speed up the application process. These machines are available at home improvement stores and through many online retailers.

For smaller jobs, you can use a hand sander or power sander. This method works well if you have a reasonable amount of room to spend sanding. You should also consider the width of your room when planning your refinishing project. Smaller areas usually need sanding in a quarter-inch or less. Larger areas typically need to be sanded in half-inch increments. Either way, it is important to wear protective eyewear such as eye protection, long sleeves, and sanding gloves.

One convenient way to finish your wood floor or subfloor is with a power or vacuum sander. A power sander functions much like a sander that uses a belt to move across the floor, but this method allows you to work in small spaces. This makes it easy for people who may not have a lot of extra space or time to complete a project like this. Vacuum Sanders is available at wooden floor and furniture restoration shop and through many online retailers.