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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.
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 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.
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.
As a lifelong resident of Litchfield County, Heather is quite familiar with the beautiful Northwest Corner of Connecticut. In partnership with her husband at Turri, Inc., in Torrington, she managed and grew a 30+ employee electrical contracting firm that served both the residential, commercial and industrial industries. Currently residing in Goshen she hopes to transfer and utilize many of the skills she learned in contracting to the real estate industry.
Knowing how a vital community relies on its volunteers, Heather spent many hours in several capacities at local organizations that she admires. She serves on the Woodridge Lake Finance Committee and House Committee, Victoria Court Condominium Association (secretary) and Educating Canines Assisting with Disabilities (volunteer and nursery mom). Heather has also been involved with Goshen Community Care & Hospice (president of board of directors), Warner Theatre (board of directors), LARC (volunteer), Festival of Trees (founder), the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, and Goshen Business Circle. Heather also served as Vice President of Woodridge Lake’s Board of Directors.
In Heather’s spare time, she enjoys spending time with family usually in an active way by playing tennis, golf, boating, hiking and skiing.
Heather is honored to be a part of the E.J. Murphy team and hopes you will contact her with any of your real estate needs.
