What Is Floor Refinishing? A Beginner's Guide for Business Owners
Floors are more than just a surface (especially in high-traffic commercial areas); they are a crucial part of establishing the first impression of the space.
You can keep the most resilient things looking sparkly for so long; however, everything does not last forever - including hardwood floors!
All good things must come to an end, and circulation will eventually dull any hardwood surface, and stains will become noticeably apparent. How does your floor look? Dull, scratched, or stained, there is a way to restore it to a shiny surface.
You are likely asking, "How?" It is entirely reasonable that you do not know; it's all about rebuilding your coat by refinishing your floor. Have you ever wondered what floor refinishing is and how it can help your business?
This beginner's guide is for those who are new to refinishing walks. In the given guide you get to know about the process, its advantages, and what to expect when refinishing your floors. In this way, your business can make a decision that will save time and money by repairing and restoring your floor to its original shine.
What Is Floor Refinishing?
Refinishing floors will give a solid wood floor the benefit of being sanded and restored to its original, beautiful, and strong condition. It extends the life of a floor, provides protection from future damage, gives a clean and bright surface to work in a commercial space, and preserves the beauty of the finish. Thus, it will save your money.
Why Refinish Instead of Replace?
Cost-Effective: The cost of replacing a hardwood floor is very high; refinishing a floor generally costs between $3 and $8 per square foot.
Time-efficient: The refinishing process saves you time and downtime for your business compared to replacing your floor.
Eco-Friendly: Ultimately, refinishing is the greener choice, as it conserves existing materials and reduces waste in the replacement process.
The step-by-step refinishing process
Initial Inspection: The floor condition should be assessed. To determine whether refinishing is suitable for it.
Area Preparation: Furniture should be moved and the area cleaned to provide a dust-free environment.
Sanding the Floor: Sanding the floor is the method through which old finishes and surface imperfections are removed using commercial grit (as opposed to residential).
Color Application: If you would like to change the color of the wood or add color to it, now is the time to apply a stain.
Sealing: Finally, apply a top coat to protect the floor and enhance the clean, bright surface. Polyurethane is usually the top coat.
Cure Time: A cure must wait to allow the floor an adequate time to dry properly before resuming heavy foot traffic to the floor. The typical cure time must be 24 to 72 hours, depending on the finish time.
Choosing the Right Type of Finish
Selecting the appropriate type of finish is also essential for your business. It can change the way a customer perceives your company and its operations.
Water-based Polyurethane: If you have a commercial space that requires a quick completion, then this is the finishing product for you. It is non-toxic, has a low odor, and dries much quicker.
Oil-based Polyurethane: As mentioned above, the drying time of oil-based polyurethane is considerable. However, it gives the finish a rich, warm, amber color and durability.
Maintaining Your Floor After Refinishing
As the floor refinishing is done. Maintaining it is another task. Here are some tips for the maintenance:
Daily Maintenance: Use a microfiber mop or a vacuum cleaner specifically designed for hardwood flooring to remove dirt and particles.
Prevention: Use mats at the entrance to reduce dirt and limit mixing. Also, you can take help of furniture pads to reduce dust and scratches.
Scheduled Upkeep: Incorporate professional commercial floor cleaning maintenance into your janitorial routine to extend the life of the finish and prevent severe damage.
Is Floor Refinishing a DIY Job?
As easy as it sounds, in reality, it's easy to make costly mistakes without the right equipment and experience. Mostly, small business owners make this kind of mistake to save money, but end up spending more due to their errors. So, hiring professionals like Uncle Sams Contractors offers key advantages.
Precision and Safety: Using heavy sanding machines is not an easy task. Trained professionals know how to use the machinery safely and effectively.
Time-Saving: Refinishing by yourself can cost you the business of one or two weeks. At the same time, a professional crew can do all that work in a day or two.
Flawless Results: You may have missed a spot, experienced blotchy staining, or had an uneven finish. However, a professional crew doesn't make mistakes.
Final Thoughts
What is floor refinishing? You can answer them without damaging the floor, restoring its charm and durability, making it look like a brand-new hard floor. It's a more innovative, more efficient way to revitalize worn commercial flooring. You are investing in your brand's appearance, safety, and professionalism.
When you hire Uncle Sam's Contractors, you know that you'll get the best quality with the least amount of downtime. As a manager of an office, healthcare facility, or retail outlet, consider floor refinishing as part of your longer-term property management strategy.