Hardwood floors are meant to last a lifetime, but they can often get a dull appearance or suffer nicks and scratches, so you need to take steps to restore its original appearance. You typically don't need a new floor installed and may want to reconsider trying to refinish it yourself as of course you want to protect the floor from further damage.
Sometimes a dull finish can be corrected if you give it a good cleaning in the areas that are scuffed or scratched. But a good refinish will restore the entire floor to its original condition and make it look brand new; this should be done by a professional because the job is not as easy as it may sound. If you are ready to hire a flooring professional there are some questions and considerations you should cover with him or her first:
- Do they have a license to practice in Illinois?
- Do they have a bond and are they insured?
- How long have they been in business?
- How much experience do they have with this particular type of job?
- What types of techniques and tools will they use and are these the latest on the market?
- What will they do to minimize dust and the odors of the new floor?
- How will they protect the rest of the home and other rooms?
- Are their practices environmentally friends?
- Can you get a free written estimate and a warranty as well?
- Can you check their references?
A good flooring professional will do a thorough assessment of the floor and give you some recommendations for taking care of this. You should get a few estimates from a few contractors and compare, and if the prices are very different don't hesitate to speak up and ask why. Sometimes the methods they use are just different and not necessarily better or worse. And if you do choose to work with a flooring professional make sure you understand the entire process and are not home or can stay in another part of the house for the entire procedure.
And he or she should give you some recommendations for how to take care of your floor once it's done so that it looks brand new for as long as possible!
