Refinishing hardwood floors: DIY or hire a pro?
by
Sarah L
+9
12 answers
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Hire a pro. You can destroy a wood floor when sanding with a drum sander. Plus its back breaking work (My opinion anyway)
Harold M
on Aug 15, 2011
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Maybe you can see if someone will work with you, and start you off and teach you and then you take over?
Lindsay
on Aug 15, 2011
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Harold is right.
Peace Painting Co., Inc.
on Aug 15, 2011
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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?
Nichter's Home Services Corp
on Aug 15, 2011
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Pro Pro Pro.
Connie E
on Aug 15, 2011
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Pretty sure my neighbors on both sides who did this DIY would probably go pro if they had to do it all over again.
3po3
on Aug 15, 2011
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Hard work, so we went with a pro and never regretted it.
Pamala S
on Aug 16, 2011
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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
KMS Woodworks
on Aug 17, 2011
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Thanks for all the great advice.
Sarah L
on Aug 17, 2011
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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
Nichter's Home Services Corp
on Aug 19, 2011
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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
KMS Woodworks
on Aug 19, 2011
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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
TonyaM Williams
on Aug 19, 2011
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