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Sanding vs. Buffing Hardwood Floors: Top Differences

Lamp on a hardwood floor
Posted on May 5, 2021 by fivestarwood

Have your hardwood floors have started to look dull and lifeless lately? The good news is that you can easily get them refinished and make them look as good as new again. This versatility of hardwood floors is why people prefer them over vinyl and carpet.

Hardwood floors can last a lifetime if they undergo regular maintenance. A study conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that 54% of buyers prefer homes that have hardwood flooring.

Sanding and buffing helps revitalize old and dull-looking hardwood floors. Let’s look into the  main differences between the two.

Buffing

A person walking on hard wood floor

 

Buffing can help get rid of minor scratches and scuffs on hardwood floors. It may be a time-consuming process, but it’s affordable and very effective in bringing back the old shine.

Moreover, buffing further protects the hardwood floor from wear and tear by increasing the overall durability of the floor. How often you buff your hardwood floor depends on the foot traffic it receives. Homeowners should buff their hardwood floors once every year while hardwood floors at workplaces must be buffed twice a year.

Unfortunately, buffing doesn’t help repair damage caused to the wood or any form of discoloration. You also need to hire an experienced flooring contractor to apply the coated polyurethane.

Sanding

Sanding the hardwood floor helps remove the  scratches and stains from the surface with the help of coarse sanding equipment. The process begins by first removing the protective layer of the sealer, after which the hardwood is sanded to remove marks and other imperfections.

Hardwood floor should only be sanded if they have deep scratches or have suffered a lot of damage.  Once the hardwood floor has been sanded, the final step involves finishing it off with a sealer.

The entire sanding procedure may be more time-consuming than the buffing process. Plus, there’s a limit to the number of times a hardwood floor can be sanded since it removes a thin layer of wood every time.

Buffing and sanding are both quite different from one another. The kind you choose depends on the condition of your hardwood floor. Always contact a professional to find out which method would be best for your hardwood flooring Seattle.

Reach out to our flooring contractors at Five Star Hardwood Floor in Seattle, WA. We offer hardwood floor installation, repair, refinish, and recoating services. With our state-of-the-art equipment and advanced buffing and sanding practices, your hardwood floors will look good as new. Call us today for more information on our Seattle Hardwood Flooring Services.