DIY Floor Sanding vs. Hiring a Professional

Whether laminated, reinforced, parquet and more, hardwood flooring exudes style and ergonomic ease. From maple, oak, and mahogany, Canada has an array of high-quality lumber. Adaptable to changing seasons, hardwood floors are a go-to for homeowners.

However, to preserve their natural beauty, they require maintenance and care, like floor sanding. The choice between doing this yourself and hiring professionals often comes down to weighing between convenience and affordability. Hiring professional help will require some investment while DIY takes time and effort. When it comes to floor sanding your hardwood floors, you may be wondering which route you should take.

Replace or Refinish?

When investing in a brand new home, opting for A-grade materials will ensure the safety of your family and the structural integrity of your house. Hardwood floors, which are extremely durable and resistant to the elements, are an excellent flooring choice.

However, if you purchased an existing house which has hardwood floors installed, you need to consider whether you should replace or refinish them.

Here are the pros and cons of replacing and refinishing hardwood floors:

• Replacing your hardwood floors usually takes less time and effort compared to a refinishing job. While the cost of replacement may be up to 5 times the amount of refinishing, if the wood has decayed and softened, replacing the existing flooring is a better option.
• Refinishing your hardwood floors is the more feasible and budget-friendly choice if the floors are relatively new and/or have little to no damage. Sanding and coating can make your floors look good as new without having to purchase new materials. The downside is that refinishing can be messy and uses chemicals that can cause irritation and allergies. You and your family may have to stay somewhere else before moving in.

When you’ve determined whether or not to replace or refinish your floors, you can then decide between doing the work yourself or getting a professional to do it for you.

DIY Floor Sanding

Hardwood wear and tear is inevitable. Canada’s freezing winters and smouldering summers can cause the wood to expand and crack over time. This fluctuation in temperature is a catalyst for premature bowing and bending. However, this can easily be fixed with a refinishing job — but is it possible to DIY when you restore hardwood floors to their former glory? You can and here are the ways to do it.

What Floor Sanding Equipment to Use

The first thing that you need to have is the appropriate sander for hardwood floors and knowing how to use them to sand floors DIY style. Each type of sander operates differently on various wooden floors. There are 3 main types you can choose from, including:

1. Edge Floor Sander
   Small and user-friendly, this floor sander is hand-held and used for smaller spaces (like hidden nooks and crannies) and lighter floor stains. Compared to other sanders, it is cheaper to rent and uses less electricity.
2. Drum Floor Sander
   Heavily built and large, this sander is used for removing damaged and high spots, paint drippings and stains, and deep water stains. Due to its design, you need 2 people to operate this device.
3. Orbital Vibrating Floor Sander
   Similar to a drum sander, the orbital vibrating floor sander also has to be used while standing up. Used for smooth finishes, this type of sander can be used after the drum floor sander.

What to Do

Before rolling your sleeves and putting on your overalls, you need to thoroughly examine the floor for problems first. This way, you will be able to do work on the places that are damaged and preserve the pristine parts.

• Start the refinishing process by cleaning and preparing your hardwood floor. Do this by sweeping, mopping, and sanding.
• For large areas, use the drum sander first then finish it with the orbital vibrating floor sander.
• After the sanding, clean off the dust and vacuum the floor.
• You can then move on to staining your hardwood floor. Use a paintbrush first for a rough finish and smooth it out with a roller.

Cost of DIY

Accomplishing things on your own can give you a sense of accomplishment. However, if you don’t know what you’re doing, taking the DIY route in your hardwood refinishing may cost you more money. The cost to sand and stain hardwood floors yourself may be affordable, but amateur mistakes may cause irreparable damage.

Architecture bloggers estimate about $200 for the supplies and the renting of tools per day. This will cover the sander, stain, paint brushes, rollers and cloths, and safety equipment. This estimate may not be much. However, they warn homeowners to avoid mistakes, which can increase costs when you take into account costs for repair. These errors may include the inconsistent staining finish, poorly applied coat, mishandled sanders, and improper cleaning.

DIY your floor sanding only if you know how to use the equipment, what safety measures to take, and what refinishing techniques to use.

Hiring Professional Help

Going the DIY route can be either money-saving or disastrous. Hiring experts to do the job may be expensive but it is a good investment.

Knowledge and Experience

Paying for expert sanders and hardwood handlers is like acquiring a complete service. You are paying not only for the actual job, but also for the knowledge, experience, and professionalism of the technicians. Additionally, sanding experts are equipped with professional-grade equipment and tools that will allow them to do the job better and faster. This can help you feel at peace knowing that your home is getting the proper treatment it deserves.

Cost of Professional Help

How much does it cost to hire someone to sand floors? Professional companies often charge $3 to $5 per square metre for complete refinishing, which means a 20×20 room can go up to $800. Refinishing stairs range from 25 to 50 loonies per stair. Now hiring experts may be expensive, but the finished job will be more polished, clean, and sleek. They will also be able to do it quicker and identify other problems that you may have overlooked.

Your house is a reflection of your life and the future of your family. Ensuring that the house is in tip-top shape is a safety obligation. Doing things on your own may cost less, but doing it with amateur hands may only lead to more repairs and money. Hiring experts will guarantee you a high-quality finish.

Hardwood floors are the foundation of your home. If it breaks, falls, or gets damaged, the other parts of the house will follow. These types of damage may cause accidents, mould growth, and health risks. Be a responsible homeowner and turn to a reliable company if you aren’t confident in your floor sanding techniques.

For floor sanding services our professional team here in Capital Hardwood Flooring will make sure that it will look beautiful and timeless. Our services include bespoke staining, installation, and finishing. Contact us today at (416) 536-2200 or email us at [email protected]