5 Things You Need to Know Before You Can Refinish Your Hardwood Floors

One of the more popular jobs my Chicago hardwood flooring company gets called to do, besides installation, is refinish hardwood floors. Some floors are close to 100 years old and can be a major undertaking to restore.

While for sake of time and sanity, it makes sense to hire a company, should you decide to do the job yourself, here are some tips to know.

1. It is a lot of hard work. 

Indeed, a lot of work. Depending on the size of your house and how much flooring you plan on refinishing, it can range anywhere from five days to seven or eight. And they will be long days. On one of my first jobs, it was a refinishing job for a house that wanted to redo their four bedrooms, the hallway, large living room, and the kitchen; I thought this was going to be a three day job. No sir! It took six days.

2. Know what is covering your floors. 

Back to the house I just mentioned in my first job. It was old and a little run down. Someone just bought it at an auction. Each room had a special challenge. A few of the rooms had no finish left on the floor and the previous owner had painted over the floors with this ugly yellow paint. One of the bedrooms had carpet covering the floor, then a thick layer of blue paint, then the hardwood floor. Due to the differences in coverings on the floor, we had to adjust our sanding style.

3. Price out your equipment. 

You will want to get a drum sander and an edger. Both are must-haves. Shop around and find the best price.

4. Stir up the poly between each use, okay? 

Some novices will make this mistake and it can be frustrating. If you use polyurethane, know that it is shiny but you can add a powder to reduce the shine. However, this powder will settle to the bottom so you have to stir the poly to keep it all mixed up. If you do not do this, then you might find some spots in your floors that are very shiny amongst more matte looks.

5. Know when to be done. 

Know when enough is enough. When you are refinishing old floors, there are going to be uneven spots; if your floors are covered in paint, you might find that you can't sand off the paint without ruining the floor. If you can't get the uneven spot or paint to go away without ruining the floor, do not ruin the floor. Sometimes, those little paint cracks or dip in the wood can make your floor feel and look vintage and organic.

Of course, if you cannot get a large bit of paint off or the floor is just in too bad of shape to restore, you can always cover with laminate hardwood flooring.

If you are unsure of what to do or would rather hire a company, then contact Chicagoland Pro, a hardwood flooring company in Chicagoland.



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Technology & The Hardwood Floor Industry

Chicagoland Pro Blog

The wood floor industry is in full swing. We at Chicagoland Pro have seen a major comeback for our industry and an increased desire for wood floor in the last 25 years. With this revived interest there are tons of new and exciting things in the industry with the help of technology. From engineered wood to new apps there is something for everyone and its easier than ever to purchase, choose and install wood flooring in your home. 


The biggest advancement in the hardwood floor industry is engineered wood. This wood includes several layers of hardwood. The layers are stacked and bound by using a pressurized heat system. This type of wood is more durable and is less likely to be effected by indoor humidity and water making it an excellent choice for kitchens or bathrooms, a recent trend for homeowners. 


Other advancement include new ways to help home and property owners decide on the design and style of their wood floors. Advancements in technology has brought us apps like the Quick-Step App which is currently available in the Apple Store. This tool allows people to easily view and create a design plan for their flooring. Other web sites include design tools which make viewing floor options and styles easier than ever. With these new tools consumers can check out what their floor would look like in the desired space, identify types of wood and stains that would work for them.  You can match the rooms and color to your desired floor to preview the look pre-purchase. These tools allow customers to have a better end-result that is more satisfying to their taste and style of home. They also save consumers time and money by allowing them to view these options from the comfort of their own homes versus traveling to stores and then returning home to match samples.  It greatly relieves the stress of not knowing what the floor will look like once installed and creates a better overall experience for clients. 

Training and education for industry professionals has benefited from recent technological advancement as well. A good example of this can be found on the Restoration Science Academy website which offers training for floor professionals on I-Pad's. Class subjects can include cleaning and restoration of hardwood floor, water extraction and legal contract assistance. This allows those with limited resources and time to save while at the same time helping them to develop their professional skills. 

While these are all wonderful achievements, the biggest gains have been in the use of NEW LOW VOC products currently available on the market. The overall improvements to the flooring products has created healthier and more environmentally friendly options for consumers and professionals alike. BONA is a company we use and we are proud of the many products they have that limit the amount of toxins that people are exposed to. From cleaning, to sealing these products are much better for our health and the health of our clients while being more environmentally friendly overall. 

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Chicagoland Pro is going GREEN!

Green Hardwood Floor Finish is here and there are so many benefits to them that we decided to dedicate a whole blog post to the topic. We are thrilled to see the revival of plant based products and eco friendly practices in our industry. The benefits are overwhelming as we can now offer our clients, our staff and the environment better health. 

As demand and our industry grew; new products came out that were chemical based. Some products could be up to 50% Petroleum derived. To this day many stains & finishes that are available include Petroleum but consumers are becoming more educated on the topic and choosing products that are oil or water based. The public really should be mindful of the disadvantages the chemical products have. Health concerns around these products are based on the fact that Petroleum does contain harmful human carcinogens and may result in major health problems if ingested, exhaled and misused. 

Currently NEW Eco Friendly products & practices of hardwood floor staining, sealing and finishing have just recently gained in popularity and the products available have become more durable than their chemical competitors. For those that are doing at home refinishing or installation it is important to note that there should be a Green Seal on the product certifying that it is indeed Green.  Consumers should consult the manufacturer, a professional from the industry, as well as doing some research to make sure that the product they are using is truly LOW VOC or VOC Free. 

Some of the benefits of using Green products include better health for the people in the home or space where the floor will be applied. While many don't realize it, floor stains that are NOT VOC Free or Low VOC can not only have lasting effects on the person applying the stain but also for those inside the home as these chemicals will be inhaled for an extended amount of time even after the floor has dried.  People who choose the greener products should also know that there is little if not any lasting effects on the environment. 

The products also help to greatly increase the safety for the people installing the floor's themselves, as they are constantly exposed to them throughout their work day. Industry professionals such like Wayne, owner of Chicagoland Pro are thrilled with these new advancements and are hoping that with time the chemical products will no longer be needed, offering professionals in this industry longer and healthier lives.  

At Chicagoland Pro we use the Bona Traffic HD Finish which is  scratch resistant, very low VOC's ( less than 125) Just one of the benefits of this products is its low odor and how fast dries! It is also not flammable and is easy to clean up with water.

With the advancement of new & innovative products on the market, you can now purchase stains & finishes that are so safe that residents can apply them to counter tops, toys and even dish wear! Residents are even able to spend time inside the space where the product is being applied in some cases. For many who are planning renovations in their homes this is a relief as they do not have to change their routines or loose access to their homes for an extended amount of time. Ultimately the green choice is not only healthier for the planet and people, but also saves time and money.  

Fixing the Scratches in Your Hardwood Floors

Scratches can be such a nuisance in hardwood flooring! You have all these beautiful hardwood floors that you spent all that time and money installing and maintaining and then BAM! Scratch. Now your beautiful floors have that embarrassing looking scratch. How do you fix it? Well, there are some steps you can take to get rid of the scratch.

1. Figure out how deep the scratch is. This is an important step in figuring out what to do next. Most scratches are only in the finish of the wood or at deepest, the surface level of the wood. Most scratches are not in the underpart of the wood, past the surface level, since those are considered cracks or gauges and they often require replacing that piece of wood or possibly a small section of the hardwood flooring. You will indeed know if the scratch is actually a gauge or a crack since they are such large imperfections in your floors. 
2. Clean the area. The scratch area, like a scratch on a person, requires cleaning before you can start to repair the area. The reason for needing to clean the floors is because you want to remove any dirt that is in the area that will inhibit the repair from going smoothly. 
3. Hide the scratch. If it is not time to refinish the floors and you would rather wait to fix the scratch until it is actually time to refinish the floors, then you have a few options. 
1. The first is to hide the scratch with a permanent marker; these come in a wide variety of colors at stores and so you can find one that is similar if not exactly the color of your hardwood floors. 
2. The second option is to find a stain marker. You can find these in flooring stores and hardware stores in colors that are going to match your hardwood flooring color. 
3. Reapply some of the stain from the staining. If you have some of the stain laying around, go ahead and reapply some. You can do this with a cotton swab, cotton ball, something that will gently apply the stain but not leave any of itself behind. 
4. Get a fix-it kit. Generally, flooring companies have fix-it kits they can give you to fix the scratch if you have a scratch that will not go away, even after you have tried the other home remedies. 
5. What if you have deeper scratches? To fix the larger or deeper scratches, get a fine grade sandpaper and rub the area. Make sure to follow the direction of the grain and move the sandpaper in a circular motion. After that, wipe the area with a damp cloth to clean the area, then allow it to dry. Once the area is dry, grab some stain and use a paint brush or whatever tool you used during the original staining and reapply some stain. Do it gently and then allow it to dry. 

If your scratch is just too large or deep, then you may have to replace some of the flooring or at least that floorboard. Hardwood flooring maintenance and hardwood flooring refinishing is not always difficult work for things but if you would rather hire someone to fix it, then hire Chicagoland Pro - a Palatine hardwood flooring company. We give free estimates.  As a Chicago hardwood flooring company, we know that people love their floors and having a scratch or some repair can be stressful, don't worry, we can take care of it and you will love your floors! 

Refinishing Your Hardwood Floors 101

Have you been wondering how to do hardwood restoration at home? Well this blog will give you a few quick tips that can help you handle your hardwood floors .

The first tip is that you have to pick the right hardwood floor sander. If you are new to this sort of thing, then choosing any orbital sander is your safe bet; while these kinds of sanders do take longer to remove finish than drum sanders, they are more user-friendly. The reason orbital sanders are better for novices is because you can move them with or against the grain of the wood, it doesn't matter. The only precaution is that you keep the sander level while using it or you can have uneven sanding.

The second tip is to be careful & take precautions. Because of the amount of dust that is generated while doing hardwood refinishing , you should have plenty of dust masks, earplugs, and eye protection. Please, do not do the sanding without these things or the dust can get in your eyes, lungs & airways, ears and the sanders can be loud and damage your hearing. When applying the finish liquid, make sure to wear appropriate respirators, gloves (neoprene or vinyl).

The third tip is to be gentle. Don't be too aggressive with your hardwood while sanding them. Generally, you want to start with a lower grit count and then move them up as you progress your sanding and reach the desired fineness.

The fourth tip is to the careful while applying the finish. A good way to make sure you do the finish evenly is to go row by row on your hardwood floors . This way, you minimize the risk of over-coating while doing the floors . It is better to use thinner coats than thick coats while doing this stage.

Enjoy doing your own hardwood flooring refinishing and consult a pro if you run into any problems or questions.

Summer Hardwood Flooring Maintenence

Hardwood Floors take a beating - we all know this. But most especially in the Hardwood Floors looking great!
summer when humidity is high, air conditioners are running, and we're constantly cleaning muddy shoe prints up. The constant heat, cold, and wet conditions can take their toll after a while, but there are ways to keep your

Hardwood Floor Refinishing and Repair is the best way to keep your hardwood floors looking as good as new, and Chicagoland Pro, a Palatine Hardwood Flooring Contractor, is the way to go.

Our hardwood flooring company recommends that you seeks Chicagoland Pro as for Palatine hardwood flooring maintenance company.  Maintenance during the summer months in more important than most people realize.  This is because the floors tend to wear out more and even the most carefully installed floor can expand during the summer months and cup or buckle due to the high moisture and the humidity in the air.  

One of our other hardwood flooring tips is that we do recommend that you vacuum your hardwood floors.  Vacuuming the floors allows for dirt or dust that is trapped to be sucked up and disposed of which a broom cannot reach.  However, if you are vacuuming your hardwood floors we strongly recommend that you use the bare floor attachment and not to roll the vacuum across the floors because this could also damage your flooring.

Also, the strong summer sun is very damaging to hardwood flooring.  Many of our calls are for hardwood flooring restoration due to sun damaging the floors from the shades of blinds never being drawn down or closed.  Direct sunlight to hardwood flooring can lead to discoloring the floor.

If you want to protect your floor and keep it looking beautiful for as long as possible, have one of our Palatine hardwood flooring installation experts tell you what the best products are to clean and care for your floor.  We want to advise you against using wax, detergents or any oil based soaps which will or could damage the finishing on your floor. Hardwood flooring refinishing is a great option for anyone interested in getting the beautiful luster and charm back to the floors.  Our hardwood flooring company can tell you exactly what products to use that are designed for your flooring.  Do not just rely on any product or water alone because when certain products evaporate, they can cause hardwood flooring stains.

If you have any questions about your hardwood floors, or if you are interested in hardwood flooring maintenance or hardwood flooring restoration, comment below or contact our Palatine hardwood flooring company.

Radiant Flooring

Over the last few years we have been hearing a lot of homeowners talk heated flooring, also known as radiant flooring.  As a Chicago hardwood flooring company we felt we should at least address the topic and share our two cents on radiant flooring.  Here's what you need to know about radiant flooring before you decide to have it put in your home:

Can make for a more comfortable room

Perhaps you or someone you know has a home that is constantly cold.  No matter how much you turn up the heat, the house remains cold.  Having a drafty house happens.  Cold homes are typically the result of a home that isn't insulated very well. Radiant, or heated flooring, can make a room much more comfortable without the need to jack up the heating.  Homeowners that have radiant flooring talk about how nice it is to step onto warm bathroom tiles on those cold winter mornings.  While we may not be radiant flooring people ourselves, we can see how it would be a nice edition to a cold, drafty home.

Resale value

Every upgrade you put into your home gives it the potential to have a higher resale value later on down the line.  With this in mind, radiant flooring could be a nice addition if you plan on selling your home later.  An upgrade like heated flooring could certainly usher in some bids on your home for those buyers who want heated floors.

Quiet operation

One of the most commonly asked questions in regards to radiant flooring is "Is it loud?"  Surprisingly many homeowners and radiant installers alike report little to no sound from the flooring.  Compared to forced-air or radiator systems, radiant flooring is considerably quieter.

Gives homeowners the ability to use forced-air and radiator systems less often

Rather than continually running the heat all winter long, radiant flooring gives homeowners the ability to run their heat less, which is nice for homeowners looking to save some money on heating bills.  It also eliminates the dust and allergens that are associated with forced-air.

Have radiant flooring in your home? Let us know what you think of it in a comment below or contact us.

Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company
Palatine Hardwood Flooring
Chicago Hardwood Flooring Company
Chicago Hardwood Flooring 

Hardwood and the Alternatives

When it comes to flooring for your home or office, the choices are truly endless.  As a Palatine hardwood flooring company, we often speak with homeowners who know that they want to install flooring for their homes, but aren’t sure what type of flooring they want to go with.  Depending on the needs of the room in your home the type of flooring you choose is crucial.  Every room in your home or office has different needs and to top it off, not all flooring is created equal.  Some types of flooring stand up to wear and tear better than others. Some types of flooring require more up-keep than others.  This is exactly why we tell homeowners to choose flooring based on the needs of room the flooring will be going in.  So how does one choose which is flooring is best?  Here are some facts on hardwood flooring and some of the top alternative flooring choices:

Hardwood Flooring

Most homeowners today are looking for hardwood flooring for their home and it is an understandable choice.  When it comes to selling your home, hardwood flooring instantly increases the resale value due to the fact that so many homeowners are willing to pay more for a home that utilizes hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of different species and shades and is available at most home improvement centers and online.  Hardwood flooring installation can be done by the homeowner themselves or by utilizing local hardwood flooring installers, like us. It is not recommended for homeowners to simply tackle hardwood flooring installation themselves as installation can be quite difficult.  Hardwood flooring is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it is durable and also natural.  Hardwood flooring is a great choice for allergy sufferers since hardwood does not provide spaces to harbor dust, dirt and mold. 

Tile

 

Tile flooring is undoubtedly one of the top choices of flooring for bathrooms and kitchens. Tile flooring, like hardwood flooring, is quite durable and is very easy to clean. Ceramic tiles can be found at local home improvement stores and occasionally, you can find tile at very low prices.  While the tile pieces themselves may be cost-friendly, the cost of installing the tile may be a lot more than you bargained for.  Tile installation can get quite costly.  The other downside to tile is that it is quite hard against the bottoms of feet and that it stays cold, which can be less than desired during the cold winter months.

Laminate Flooring

Over the past few years we, as hardwood flooring installers, have had quite a few people ask about installing laminate flooring.  While we are obviously hardwood flooring people ourselves, we can understand the draw for wanting laminate flooring.  Laminate flooring is made to look like the real deal despite the fact that it is not.  Laminate flooring can be aesthetically pleasing (unless you’re the “all hardwood flooring” type).  Installation is quite easy with the laminate floor boards simply snapping and locking into place.  Laminate flooring comes in many colors, styles and patterns can be made to look like wood, stone or tile.  We typically see people opt to use laminate flooring in kitchens and bathrooms or a room in their home that experiences heavy foot traffic.  One of the biggest pros with laminate flooring is that it is hard to dent or scratch it. 

Carpeting

Carpeting is a great flooring option due to the fact that it comes in such a wide variety of colors, textures and patterns.  Depending on what the homeowner is looking for, carpeting can be quite cheap.  It can get more expensive depending on the type of carpeting the homeowner is looking for.  The good part about carpeting is that it is warm, plush, soft and it also absorbs sound pretty well depending on the type of carpeting.  Typically, putting carpeting down will require a professional installer, which can be good or bad depending on the homeowner’s flooring budget.  The downside to carpeting is that it needs to be cleaned frequently as it has the tendency to hold allergens and dirt. Due to the fact that moisture and mold can be housed quite easily by carpeting, it is not the recommended flooring choice for bathrooms and kitchens.  Carpeting probably isn’t the best choice for allergy sufferers.   

Looking for more information on flooring choices?  Feel free to leave us a comment below or contact us.

Palatine Hardwood Flooring

Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company

Chicago Hardwood Flooring

Chicago Hardwood Flooring Company

Hardwood Flooring Installation