If you ordered prefabricated hardwood floors and had them installed by a contractor, you probably would have gotten the standard look and design, which is usually good. The standards for producing quality material are usually high, as manufacturers compete for the market. The floor you have may last you a lifetime with proper care. But if you are remodeling the house, it may be the best time to consider refinishing your floors.
Spot Finish or Overhaul?
Pre-fabricated hardwood floor planks usually come treated for protection against moisture and insects. They are coated with a varnish to keep in their luster. This gives the floor its finish.
You can maintain the spotless and elegant look of your floor by waxing often and minimizing friction. Use rags when moving furniture and never mop across the floor. But even with great care, the color of the wood fades and dents and scratches ruin the glossy surface over time. If the problem is kept to a minimum, like just a few scratches and a few stains, you can deal with it by adding another layer of finish. You can start with restoration by refinishing some areas or re-doing the whole floor area.
Since refinishing your floor can be quite expensive, you have to be a little bit more practical and make sure you really need one before taking on the project. You can conduct a simple test to find out if the original finish of the floor still works its protective ability. Pour a tablespoon of water on the floor. If the drops bead up and you can easily wipe them off with a dry towel, the finish is still working.
If the test fails, you may proceed with refinishing that spot. But if you think you won’t have the time to do another round of refinishing anytime soon, you may as well reapply the coating to the whole floor area.
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