How to Prepare for Refinishing your Hardwood Flooring

A couple of months ago, we decided it was time to refinish our hardwood flooring. We have hardwood floors throughout our house but had not touched it since we moved in. The floor didn’t start out very nice and shiny, and it was in much rougher shape after two kids and three dogs walked on it for a few years. Overall, the process was much more complicated than we realized it was going to be. I wanted to list some steps that you need to take before you refinish the flooring. Doing these things will help you save time and money – so try not to skip them.

Know what you are hoping to achieve

For us, the main reason we wanted to refinish our flooring was that we were hoping we could get rid of the ugly red color of the flooring. It turned out there is a special process to reduce red in Brazilian cherry, so we made sure we hired someone that specialized in that kind of flooring. The first guy we called was not aware that this color of flooring is supposed to be conditioned, which told us he was the wrong choice for us.

Plan a trip

Be prepared to leave the home while the floor is being refinished. There is no way to avoid inhaling tons of dust. Not only that, but dangerous odors from stain and polyurethane can remain in the air for several days. This is even more important if you have kids or pets – but even if you don’t you should still plan to leave.

Get bids

Get bids from multiple companies before you make a choice on a flooring contractor to use. The price range for this kind of job can vary widely. Most contractors will charge competitive prices, but without knowing the contractor personally, it’s difficult to say that they will stay honest. You can check the Better Business Bureau, but be aware that you cannot totally rely on that either. We ended up finding our person by asking our friends and family on Facebook. A referral from someone you know is the best if you can get one.

Check out the contractor

You will want to make sure that the contractor you hire is bonded, insured, and licensed to work in your area. You can ask for all of these certifications and confirm them.

Pick a stain

When you are ready to pick the color for your newly stained floor, make sure you have a good understanding of the stain. Dark colors may be more popular right now, but they also make a floor appear dirtier. This means it was not the best option for my family (kids and dogs), but I love the color enough we did it anyway. There is also a difference between satin and glossy flooring. Either is a perfectly fine choice, although glossy is probably more popular right now. If you have kids or animals, satin is growing in popularity so you would be okay to go with that. Satin is harder to slip on, so it may be a little safer than glossy.

I hope this helps you prepare your floor for refinishing, and I wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose!

Matt is a home decor blogger who enjoys helping families transform their home.