MAKE YOUR WOOD FLOORS LOOK LIKE NEW

Did you buy an older home because you fell in love with its character? Many homes built in previous decades or centuries feature details that often aren’t prevalent in new construction, such as Dutch doors, transom windows and even dumbwaiters or laundry chutes.

One of the most attractive features in many older homes are the hardwood floors. But years of wear and tear can leave them looking dull, scratched or dingy. If your home’s hardwood floors need a makeover, follow these steps to have them looking like new.

Sweep and repair

After emptying the room of all its furniture, give the floor a good sweep and vacuum to get rid of all the dirt and grit. This is also the best time to deal with repairs, such as sinking nail heads, filling in scratches or patching holes.

Clean with appropriate cleaner

Next, you’ll want to clean your floor with an appropriate cleaner, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap or Bona Floor Cleaner. It’s important not to use regular soap or harsh chemicals on your hardwood floor, as they can leave a residue or damage the wood with too much moisture. Let the floor dry.

Polish and seal

After the floor is dry, apply a thin layer of polish evenly around the room. The polish will help to moisturize the wood and leave it shiny. Polishes can be purchased with either a satin or glossy finish, depending on your tastes. Some floors benefit from a second coat; follow instructions on the label to determine how much time should elapse between applications. Be sure to give the floor plenty of time to dry before moving furniture back in – in some cases up to three days.

Buffing and waxing

Sometimes cleaning and polishing just doesn’t give your floor the love it needs to restore its luster, especially if it is already finished with wax or shellac. In this case, you can use a floor buffer to remove the top layer of finish off the floor. Buffers can be rented for around $50 a day, just be sure the buffer has a sanding screen so you don’t remove too much of the surface of the floor. Clean the dust and follow with a floor wax, which can be buffed to a shine once it dries.

When to call a professional

If none of the above techniques give you the results you desire, it may be time to refinish your hardwood floors. This technique requiresmore time and know-how, so even though you can rent a sander to do the job yourself, it might be best to hire a professional. Not only will they properly sand your floor, they will also re-stain and seal it, restoring your beautiful floors to their former glory, which, with the proper care, will last you for many years to come.

Nothing gives a home warmth and character quite like a well-cared for hardwood floor. It is worth the investment to refresh your floors; not only does it renew your home’s energy, it can evenincrease its value.

SELLING? SHOULD YOU EXCHANGE THAT CARPET FOR HARDWOOD

Flooring is one of the more controversial subjects when it comes to home improvements. There are two firm camps and rarely do they meet in the middle. When you’re planning to sell your home, you may think you need to replace the carpet in order to get the best price on the market.

While only your local real estate professional can advise you on the best option for your situation, here are some thoughts for consideration:

Hardwood Flooring: Hardwood flooring has become central to modern design and many homeowners raised in wall-to-wall carpeting are easily persuaded to exchange their carpet for hardwood. Updating an older look with wood flooring might just be the key to getting your home sold. Before you do, however, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.

Visual appeal: There’s no getting around it: wood is simply beautiful. Whether you’re into dark cherry or a modern light bamboo, a wood floor can complement most décor and most tastes.

Maintenance: For many people, a modern wood floor product is easy to maintain. Usually sweeping or a light dust mop works for most cleaning. Periodically going over your floor with a damp mop using a wood safe product can pick up sticky residue or spills. In addition, they handle a lot of traffic without the “traffic patterns” that carpets pick up. Finally, if your floor gets scratched, you can have it buffed out, re-stained and coated with a clear protective coating.

Special considerations: People that suffer from allergies may find that they have fewer episodes with hardwood over carpet. Since the carpet fibers can collect pollen, animal hair and dander, dust mites and other allergens and irritants, you may find removing the carpet and replacing it with hardwood is an excellent and healthful idea.

People looking at your home with an eye to purchase it will find that hardwood holds a lot of attraction for them if they suffer from allergies or asthma.

A note of caution: If you’re considering a vinyl or other synthetic wood-look flooring, you might find you have fewer takers. Those with allergies tend to stay away from household products that can release VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which make asthma worse. Laminate products and especially those products requiring glue can be a source of VOCs. A better option is engineered wood since the surface is a layer of wood veneer over several layers of wood.

In many cases, hardwood can boost your resale value above that of carpet and yet the cost to you is relatively reasonable. According to a market data study done by USA Today, hardwood flooring is one feature people are willing to pay extra for.

If you’re considering some upgrades before you put your home on the market, take a look at replacing the flooring with real hardwood, or an engineered hardwood. Many retailers have end-of-the year specials on home upgrade products.