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Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

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Sarah L
Sarah L Midvale, UT on Aug 15, 2011
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Refinishing hardwood floors: DIY or hire a pro?

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12 Comments
  • Harold M Franklin, NC
    Hire a pro. You can destroy a wood floor when sanding with a drum sander. Plus its back breaking work (My opinion anyway)
    on Aug 15, 2011 · Like 1
  • Lindsay New Port Richey, FL
    Maybe you can see if someone will work with you, and start you off and teach you and then you take over?
    on Aug 15, 2011 · Like 0
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA
    Harold is right.
    on Aug 15, 2011 · Like 0
  • Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME
    This is NOT a DIY job for most people. Pros have tons of stories to tell abut ruined flooring by DIYs.

    However, this depends on what condition the floor is in and how much work is required. Sometimes a light screening will do, and larger orbital machines can be rented that can be handled by a DIY. Got pictures?

    on Aug 15, 2011 · Like 1
  • Connie E
    Pro Pro Pro.
    on Aug 15, 2011 · Like 0
  • Steve G Fort Collins, CO
    Pretty sure my neighbors on both sides who did this DIY would probably go pro if they had to do it all over again.
    on Aug 15, 2011 · Like 1
  • Pamala S Prairieville, LA
    Hard work, so we went with a pro and never regretted it.
    on Aug 16, 2011 · Like 0
  • KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO
    Even with "pros" you need to select wisely. I recently performed some cabinet repairs and some minor plumbing and electric work for a client. She was having floor work and painting work done. The "painter" said that he also did floors, so she went with him...this is before she found out I do floors. ( My flooring history goes back to 1983, so When I saw the work the "painter" did I was stunned by the poor quality). ...»

    Some example of his "pro" work....these are AFTER photos not before's

    • Cupping and soiling near kitchen not sanded out...avoid wood in kitchens
    • Sanding swirls due to debris
    • Soiling "path" the the left of register not  sanded clean...also old finish to right not sanded
    • late wood / early wood not sanded smooth ...in pine...which is easier
    on Aug 17, 2011 · Like 0
  • Sarah L Midvale, UT
    Thanks for all the great advice.
    on Aug 17, 2011 · Like 0
  • Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME
    Eghaads KMS!!! Looks like he didn't even try to make it look nice. Also like he used hand held orbital for all of it and did not have the right equipment
    on Aug 19, 2011 · Like 0
  • KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO
    He did have a floor "pad" sander....the vibratory type. His first work was wimpy and I insisted to the home owner that he should do a more thorough sanding the first pass in the living room did nothing to clean up the soiling in the heavy traffic areas...even afterward they were highly visible
    on Aug 19, 2011 · Like 0
  • TonyaM Williams Atlanta, GA
    Sarah, I would hire a pro on this one. The dust alone is going to make you feel as if you are in a sandstorm in the Sahara. There are some projects that are DIY and others that are LAPDI--"Let A Professional Do It" this one falls in the latter category. Let us see your before and after pics. TMW
    on Aug 19, 2011 · Like 0

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