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Luxurious Bathroom Flooring in Washington Metropolitan Area

Why Hardwood Floor Sanding Is Important

You’ve probably heard that wood floors should be refinished as they age to preserve that shiny new look you love. But is hardwood floor sanding really that important? Or is this an expense you can spare?

At Elegant Floor Service, we find hardwood floor sanding to be critical if you want to maintain beautiful, scratch-free flooring. And if you already have some marks on your floors, you can also use this time to finally make those much-needed repairs and restore the color that once made your flooring pop.

If you’re still not convinced, keep reading to learn what makes sanding so important—or just give us a call if you’re ready to have your floors refinished in Maryland, Washington, DC, or Virginia!

Benefits of Sanding Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring can add a touch of luxury to any room, making the entire space feel newer and even adding depth to the design. But even the most durable wood floors—and they are known for their durability—need some extra attention as they age, and sanding is a critical component to proper maintenance.

Here’s how you can benefit from sanding hardwood floors:

  • If your floors need minor repairs or are worn out, sanding can take care of the damage. It can also be used to secure loose planks or nails.
  • If your floors have lost their original stain with age, you can re-stain them during this time and restore the color you love.
  • If your floors have lost their shine and look dull, a polish is applied that can enhance the appearance. Sanding makes your floors look newer and smoother.
  • If you want to preserve your flooring and protect it from future damage, we apply a sealant that can prepare your floors to withstand use.

It’s only natural that as your floors age, they’ll undergo some wear and tear. But that’s what hardwood floor sanding is for! Not only can the refinishing process eliminate the normal scratches and marks that form over time, but it can brighten up the room, making your floors look nearly as beautiful as they were when they were installed. What’s more, your floors tend to be more resistant to movement after they’ve been sanded and when your floors are completely even, it also becomes more difficult for dust to collect.

Hardwood Floor Sanding in Maryland, Washington, DC & Virginia

Now that you’ve seen what hardwood floor sanding can do for you, are you ready to schedule refinishing with Elegant Floor Service? Our flooring specialists have extensive experience serving homeowners in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia and can help you recover your floors from any damage, while make them look newer and protecting them from future use.

Let us help you with all your wood floor refinishing needs—contact us to schedule service today!

Spacious living room with stone fireplace.

A Guide to Wood Floor Refinishing

So you’ve heard that you should have your floors refinished, or maybe you’ve just heard the term refinishing floating around. But what exactly does the process entail? What can you expect from a wood floor refinishing job and is it worth the expense?

At Elegant Floor Service, we’ve put together a basic guide to refinishing so you can get a better understanding of what’s being done to your floors and how it can help them look new again.

What Is Hardwood Floor Refinishing?

Before we get into the details, here’s a basic overview of what hardwood floor refinishing is and what its purpose is. Essentially, it’s a process that’s completed when your flooring starts looking dull and unattractive, with the intent to:

  • Restore color and shine
  • Repair scratches and marks
  • Protect your floors from future damage

How to Refinish Wood Floors

Now that you’ve seen why refinishing is critical to the general upkeep of your floors, we’ll get a little deeper into how to refinish wood floors. The process is typically completed in a few key steps:

  1. We begin by preparing your floors—filling in minor cracks, replacing badly damaged boards, and pushing in any protruding nails. And of course, we’ll have to relocate any furniture that’s in the way.
  2. Then, we’ll sand your floors to remove scratches and marks using a variety of equipment to get all the edges and tight spaces.
  3. Once sanding is complete, we’ll vacuum and clean up the space to eliminate any dust.
  4. Finally, we’ll help you find the best stain for your floors and apply it accordingly.
  5. We’ll finish it all with a top coat that will make your floors look polished and seal them up for future protection.
  6. Once we’re all done, all you have to do is let the finish dry for about 24 hours and you can walk on your polished new hardwood floors once again!

Have more questions on how to refinish wood floors? View more information on the hardwood floor sanding process here or give us a call with your inquiries!

Schedule Wood Floor Refinishing in Maryland, Washington, DC & Virginia

If wood floor refinishing isn’t done correctly, it can damage your flooring rather than give you that shiny, new look you wanted—so it’s best left to a professional flooring company with the experience and training to handle such a delicate job. Fortunately, Elegant Floor Service has the tools and staff you need to get the job done right, even on the toughest of floors.

Let us help you restore elegance to your flooring—call us today to schedule wood floor refinishing in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia!

Dark brown wood grain flooring.

Why Are My Hardwood Floors Splitting?

If you’ve noticed splits in your hardwood floors, you’re probably a little distressed—especially if your floors are on the new side. And, unfortunately, that’s when hardwood floor splitting, also known as checking, is most likely to occur.

The question is why? And is wood floor restoration possible or is it too late? Hardwood floor splitting occurs because of excess moisture or humidity—but it can be linked to a number of different problems. We’ve outlined the common causes below so keep reading if you want to learn more or give us a call to get started on wood floor repairs in Maryland, Washington, DC, or Virginia!

Improper Conditions at Installation

It’s very possible that your problems began at the very beginning—with the installation. More specifically, you could be experiencing hardwood floor splitting because:

  • The wood was installed in an uncontrolled environment—meaning it was outside the 35 – 55 percent relative humidity (RH) range that’s used throughout the industry.
  • The wood wasn’t acclimated properly before installation. Your floorboards were either too wet or too dry when they were installed.

Splitting Hardwood Floors in Washington Metropolitan Area

The Humidity Levels Changed

Alternatively, your wood floors were installed in entirely proper conditions, but the RH has since changed. On one end of the spectrum, it’s possible that the moisture content was acceptable during installation and then excessively dry conditions during winter altered it. On the other end, it’s possible that the moisture accumulated during excessively humid summer months, again leading to cracks.

A Damp Crawlspace Is Under Your Flooring

If you have a very damp crawlspace, the moisture can seep through the subfloor. This can cause your floors to take on the moisture and then release it into the room, resulting in hardwood floor splitting. You can easily check for this issue by inspecting your crawlspace for signs of moisture or even mold.

Repairing Split Wood in Maryland, Washington, DC & Virginia

It’s important to note that though hardwood floor splitting occurs due to drying stresses, cracks like these can only form if your floors were installed in an environment that exceeds normal interior humidity ranges. Splitting can easily be prevented so long as you choose an experienced flooring contractor who understands the proper conditions needed for installation.

So if you think your floors are beyond repair and you’re ready for a replacement, be sure to do your research and choose a contractor with skill and experience. At Elegant Floor Service, we can help you install new hardwood floors to replace extremely large cracks or repair splitting hardwood floors with smaller ones—whatever your needs may be, we’ve got you covered.

Call our Silver Spring flooring company today and we’ll do everything we can to get your floors in the best shape possible!

Here's an alt tag for the image: Dark brown wood plank floor.

Wood Floor Renovation Ideas

Looking for a way to make your home look newer? Wood floor renovations can make any room sparkle with sophistication and elegance, giving your indoor space that updated look you want without breaking the bank in the process.

Save costs on a complete home remodel with wood floor renovations—keep reading for ideas or call us to get started in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC!

Hardwood Floor Designs

When it comes to hardwood floor designs, there are various components to look at. Keeping in mind your requirements for budget, style, and maintenance, as well as the rest of the room décor and the amount of foot traffic it typically gets, consider the following ways to make your flooring look unique:

  • Types of wood – Choose from oak, maple, hickory, walnut, and more. Each type offers its own unique grain patterns and colors, and some species, like oak, tend to have better hardness ratings than others.
  • Color – Most woods offer a range of colors, from reds to browns to tans and more, depending on which species you select. 
  • Wood grain – Depending on the type of wood you choose, along with the color, you’ll want to consider whether you want a tight grain or not, and whether you want a grain that runs straight or one that spirals. 
  • Size of floor planksWide plank flooring can add depth to any room, while narrow planks tend to be less susceptible to warping in humid environments.

To make a more informed decision, feel free to ask our flooring specialists for samples during your consultation!

Call Us for Hardwood Floor Designs in Maryland, Virginia & Washington, DC

When you’re coming up with wood floor renovation ideas, there are so many factors to consider—so it’s important to choose a Maryland flooring company with the right expertise and attention to detail to guide you through your project. And of course, the more experienced the company you choose, the less stress there is on you!

From product selection through installation and refinishing, Elegant Floor Service can help homeowners throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC with all aspects of the remodeling process. Our flooring experts can show you samples of the many hardwoods we provide and provide recommendations based on your budget, the existing room and furniture design, and how much traffic the room gets. If you want to install new hardwood floor designs in kitchens or living rooms, for instance, or have young children running around your home, you’ll want to choose one of the more durable options—like oak.

Transform the look of your home with elegant, custom hardwood floor designs by Elegant Floor Service—call us at 800-417-3172 to schedule a consultation today!

Light gray and oak wood flooring.

Buffing Hardwood Floors

New hardwood floors have a shiny, polished look that adds elegance and sophistication to any room design. But over time, the shine can start to wear away, leaving you with scratched, dirty, dull flooring and memories of a once beautiful floor.

By buffing hardwood floors, you can bring beauty back to your flooring without the more expensive costs of a replacement. And of course, you can opt to have your floors completely refinished for even better results!

The Importance of Buffing Hardwood Floors

Buffing hardwood floors offers numerous benefits to sustain the look you love and restore that brand new feel to your flooring.

Wood floor buffing:

  • Can be an affordable alternative to complete refinishing or the final step to the restoration process, depending on the condition of your floors and your budget requirements.
  • Can hide or reduce any visible scratches and marks.
  • Can help protect your floors from future damage.
  • Can restore that shiny, new look to your floors.
  • Is quick and efficient.
  • Is less invasive than a full restoration.
  • Leaves little mess and cleanup is easier than ever.
  • And more!

For more information on how buffing hardwood floors could help you, call Elegant Floor Service to schedule a consultation in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC.

The Wood Floor Buffing Process

At Elegant Floor Service, we typically offer wood floor buffing as part of our wood floor refinishing service. But for those on a budget or with minor damage, wood floor buffing can be integral to maintaining your flooring on its own. The process typically consists of the following steps:

  1. First, we’ll relocate any furniture that’s in the way.
  2. We’ll then remove any wax from previous polishing jobs.
  3. Next, we’ll perform wood floor cleaning to help your flooring better absorb the new polish.
  4. Finally, we’ll buff your hardwood floors to restore shine and reduce any visibility from scratches!

Buffing Hardwood Floors in Maryland, Virginia & Washington, DC

Want to restore the sleek, polished appearance to your hardwood floors? Have minor scratches or dirt? Buffing hardwood floors is the perfect solution for floors with minor damage, without the wait time or costs associated with a complete refinishing job.

At Elegant Floor Service, we set the standard for wood floor maintenance with our buffing services, drawing on years of experience and training to provide a high-quality service throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Eliminate dullness and restore the original look to your flooring with wood floor buffing by Elegant Floor Service—call today for a free estimate!