Buffing is a great way to polish up your wood floors to make them shine once again. This is an ideal method that helps fix minor scratches and imperfections and smoothens up the surface of your wood floors. And since it is a less intensive method of restoring the wood floors, buffing is something homeowners often opt to do by themselves.
However, while attempting to buff the wood floors, it is crucial to do it right as otherwise can leave your floors with damage or uneven results. Let us dive into some common mistakes you should not commit when buffing your wood floors and get the best results out of the process.
5 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Buffing Your Wood Floors
Not cleaning before buffing
One of the common mistakes people make when buffing their wood floors is avoiding cleaning them first. It is crucial to clear the floors of the loose surface dust thoroughly prior to buffing.
If not, the dirt and dust particles on the floors will interfere with buffing by getting caught by the machine and abrading the floors, leading to potential scratches or uneven results.
That is especially true for prefinished floors that are more prone to scratches. You have to pay special attention to cleaning prefinished hardwood floors.
This will reduce the risk of damage and ensure that you get effectively buffed floors with an even finish.
Not considering wood floor type
While buffing the floors, considering the wood floor type is something most homeowners miss out on. It is important to buff your floors according to their type.
For example, solid hardwood floors differ from engineered hardwood floors which limit the number of times you can buff their surface as compared to their solid counterparts.
You also need to choose an appropriate buffing pad based on your floor type. Buffing softer wood types with aggressive buffing pads can cause damage too.
Not choosing the right grit
Another common mistake to avoid while buffing is choosing the wrong grit. Many tend to start with a coarse grit abrasive to buff their floors while moving to a finer one. However, you need to understand that buffing and sanding are different.
When it comes to buffing, your aim is to just smoothen up the surface of the finish, unlike sanding which involves stripping all the upper layers of finish. Starting with a coarse grit can significantly remove the finish instead of just smoothening it up.
So make sure you start with fine grit and only move on to the coarser one in case of major scratches. A fine grit will ensure you are not stripping too much of your finish and get a smoother result.
Not maintaining a steady pace
Since most homeowners are not that used to the buffer machines, they make the mistake of not paying attention to their pace. Moving the buffer too fast cannot give you effective results whereas going too slow or keeping the buffer at the same spot for long can lead to unwanted dents or uneven looks.
Make sure you are maintaining a steady pace throughout the buffing process so you can protect your wood floors from damage and get a smooth and consistent look post-buffing.
Expecting a fix for deeper imperfections
Homeowners often expect buffing to fix all imperfections on their floors. Although buffing helps to rectify minor flaws in your wood floors, it cannot go beyond a superficial touch-up.
So, if your floor has deep scratches or dents that go beyond the level of finish, you cannot expect buffing to bring desired results. In that case, you will need to opt for a sanding expert in London.
A reliable team of floor sanding experts like The Floor Sanding Co. will ensure the removal of the upper, damaged finishing layer and fix the deeper imperfections on your wood floors before refinishing them evenly.
Summary
Wood floor buffing can be an effective approach to give your tired floors a touch-up. But that’s only when it’s done right. You should avoid making common mistakes like skipping the cleaning, choosing the wrong grit, and not maintaining a steady pace. That will make sure the buffing gives you the desired results and restores your wood floors to flawless ones.