Did you know that hardwood floor refinishing has the highest recovered cost of any remodeling project?

Refinishing hardwood floors is not just a home improvement project but a wise investment. According to a 2022 National Association of Realtors study, it has the highest recovered cost of any remodeling project, offering a remarkable 147% return on investment( https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/remodeling-impact).

Hardwood floors, with their elegance and natural scent, bring a unique advantage to your home. They can be reconditioned through sanding and refinishing to regain their original appearance, even after many years of use. Now that you’re convinced of the numerous benefits of hardwood floor refinishing and are ready to embark on this exciting home improvement, it’s time to take charge of the preparation process.

Hire a professional!

Your understanding and actions are very important. From hiring a certified professional to following post-refinishing care instructions, they can significantly influence the speed and quality of the process, putting you in control and setting the stage for a successful outcome.

When refinishing parquet floors, the most heavily trafficked area of your home, entrust the job to a certified professional. By opting for a flooring contractor who is an expert in the field and holds a certification from the National Wood Flooring Association (https://woodfloors.org/start-your-journey/), you can expect superior craftsmanship, use of high-quality materials, and a job that is completed efficiently and to the highest standards.

Opting for a certified professional for your hardwood floor refinishing is a decision that impacts the entire process, starting from the time of the estimate. As a certified professional, I recognize that every project, house, and living and environmental condition is unique. That’s why I personally visit the project site, carefully assess the floor’s conditions, and engage in detailed discussions with the homeowners, ensuring a tailored approach that values your unique needs and preferences. 

During the project’s on-site evaluation, we will also discuss an important aspect-the stain color. The choice of stain color directly impacts the project’s duration. A project where the client opts for no stain or a light stain color will be completed in several days; however, if a medium or dark stain is preferred, the project’s duration is likely to increase. Understanding the color’s stain influence on the project’s timeline is vital for effective project planning.

Communication is key!

Communication is vital to my work with clients, from the initial onsite consultation to the project’s finalization. Maintaining an open conversation is the cornerstone of a successful project. If you have specific requirements or concerns, I encourage you to discuss them before the project begins. In the case of a larger remodeling project, I cannot stress enough the importance of scheduling the hardwood floor refinishing project as the last task after all the wet work, including painting, is finished.(https://miuvcoatedfloors.com/genuine-dilemma-painting-walls-or-refinish-floors-first/).

Provide a balanced humidity level in your house!

We’re all too familiar in Michigan with the long, chilly winters and the sweltering, humid summers. Keep a humidifier in working order during the winter months and a dehumidifier in the basement for the summer season. This ensures a balanced humidity level in your home year-round. The National Wood Flooring Association recommends maintaining a constant humidity of 30-50 %, which benefits your hardwood floor, home, and overall health. 

Please make sure the area we will be working on is empty and ready for us to start the work!

One frequent question usually arises: who is responsible for moving furniture? I always recommend hiring a professional moving company to clear the area we will work on of all furniture, rugs, electrical equipment, stove, fridge, and other items that may hinder the hardwood floor refinishing process. Hiring a professional mover will give you peace of mind, knowing that all your furniture is in the hands of experts and storing it in the right place. But the real convenience comes from the fact that you can schedule the moving out and then move everything back into your home without hassle, ensuring a smooth and stress-free process that you have full control over.

Try to keep pets and children away

I encourage my clients to live in the house during a floor refinishing project. This way, they can oversee the progress, and give an all clear before I add the final details. While sanding and refinishing hardwood floors can cause temporary noise, I strive to disrupt your life as little as possible. However, considering alternative housing options, like staying with friends or family, would be beneficial if you have small children and pets.  On the other hand, if you prefer to keep your pets and small children at home, ensure they are away from the refinishing area. For your pets, it’s essential to stay away, as their hair could potentially stick in the finish, and to prevent paw prints and damage to the floor.

Temporary inconvenience? It could happen, so be prepared!

Sanding and refinishing hardwood floors is a process that takes place in work phases; applying stain color and then top coat finishes is a phase that can restrict access to certain areas of your house. However, this process is predictable. Once stain color and finishes are applied, they need dry time when walking on the parquet is impossible. I always provide a clear schedule of what will happen each day of your project, allowing you to anticipate these challenges and make necessary arrangements to disturb your daily activity as little as possible. This clear schedule will help you feel prepared and less overwhelmed by the process.

Make sure you follow post- refinishing care and maintenance instructions!

Once the hardwood floor refinishing project is complete, rest assured that as a certified professional, I will always provide you with clear and detailed post-refinishing care and maintenance instructions. These expert tips, backed by my professional certification, are meticulously designed to preserve the beauty and longevity of your newly refinished hardwood floors. They include light foot traffic on newly finished floors, refraining from placing furniture or rugs for some time, and using recommended cleaning products for maintenance. By following these guidelines, not only will your newly finished parquet cure properly, but it will also last for a long time.

Are you ready to restore the beauty and extend the life of your hardwood floors? My pieces of advice above will help you prepare for the hardwood floor refinishing process.
Michigan Hardwood Floor Services is here to serve you with our attention to details, patience, and skills.

Michigan Hardwood Floor Services is a proud member of National Wood Floor Associations