Of course, refinishing hardwood floors is a DIY job. That’s why you can rent your own floor sander, right?
But just because you can rent a sander doesn’t mean you should. Even if your friends have dubbed you the “Jack-Of-All-Trades” after that amazing paint job you did last year, there is a big difference between DIY painting and DIY floor sanding.
Read on to find out about just some of the disadvantages of refinishing your own hardwood floors.
The job will not come out as well when it’s done by a DIYer
There’s no question about it, if you hire a professional, your job will look, and feel, much better. Sanding is a very difficult skill to learn, especially if this is your first time, or even your tenth time. It usually takes around 2 years of constant practice for a professional to refine their skills.
And, very importantly, the professionals have MUCH BETTER equipment than what you can rent. This is their bread and butter.
The finish will not last as long
If the sanding isn’t done properly, the stain will not penetrate properly and the polyurethane will not adhere properly. As a result, the finish will not last very long, and will probably need to be redone within 2 to 4 years (vs the typical 7 to 10 years). So, not only does the job look inferior, but you will need to redo them sooner… so you really haven’t saved any money.
It will take you longer vs hiring a professional
Professional sanders do this all the time, so they are more adept at this work and can do it faster. They also have more powerful machines which they are experts in using.
Generally, most crews can sand and refinish around 1,000 square feet per day. It will often take a homeowner 2 to 4 times as long to do the same area, and at a lower quality than the professionals.
It’s usually messier when you sand yourself
The professionals have better sanding machines and these collect more of the dust created when sanding your floors. They also tend to have better vacuums that suck up the sawdust particles.
The savings for DIY are minimal, especially when you factor in the cost of equipment and materials
If you’re looking to save money by doing things yourself, you will have better luck with painting, installing tiles or even installing hardwood flooring. But sanding and refinishing hardwood floors…that’s a whole different ball game.
You will need to use the correct equipment and supplies, such as varnish, an electric floor sander, the correct sized sandpaper, a brush, hammer, bucket, and a mop. All these items are necessary to successfully refinish those floorboards, and the prices can add up quickly.
