Both methods have their own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to know which one is right for your home. They both can be viably used to restore wood flooring to its former glory and extend your wood’s life, but it is important to know how they work to determine which one is right for you.
Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between sanding and recoating so you can get a better idea of what each method entails and how it will affect your home.
Sanding vs. Recoating: Similarities and Differences
One of the biggest similarities between refinishing and sanding is that both processes can restore your wood floor to its original condition and make it look new. These processes can also extend the lifespan of your wood floors by years and eliminate any existing damage that might be present.
However, there are differences between these two restoration methods that you should take into account when making the decision. Here are some things you should know about sanding vs. recoating so you can decide which one is the best option for your home.
Sanding is Cheaper and Quicker
One of the main benefits of sanding is that it is cheaper than refinishing and is much easier and faster. In most cases, you can have your floors sanded down in just one day without moving them out of the house or taking any additional precautions to protect them during the sanding process. While you don’t have to sand in general, you’ll find yourself doing so in most situations where the finish on your floor has worn off or needs replacing.
On the other hand, refinishing is a much more extensive process involving moving your furniture out of the room and taking other steps to ensure that the floor stays protected. After the floor has been refinished, it will need to be completely dried out in order to return to its normal condition.
Therefore, if you want to restore your wood floors quickly without breaking the bank, you should opt for sanding instead of refinishing. However, refinishing as a process may be better for other types of wood, like bamboo hardwood flooring.
Sanding Allows you to get rid of any Imperfections in the Floor Surface
Another advantage of sanding is that it allows you to remove any scratches or other imperfections on the floor without damaging the wood surface. When you sand the floor down, it removes the old finish from the wood and exposes the underlying wood underneath, allowing you to fix the damaged parts of the floor without having to replace them or refinish the entire floor from scratch.
This makes the sanding process a much more cost-effective option than refinishing, as you don’t have to invest in new materials and can save a lot of time and money in the long run.
Refinishing Protects Your Wood Floors From Future Damage
One of the major disadvantages of sanding is that it does nothing to protect your floors from any future damage that might take place in the future.
This means that if something happens to your floors later on down the road, such as water damage or exposure to extreme temperatures, you won’t be able to fix it by simply sanding them down again because the old finish will be completely removed when the floor is sanded down.
However, refinishing your floors will give them an extra layer of protection against any future damage that might occur. This makes refinishing a much better option if you want to protect your wood floors for the long term.
Sanding is More Invasive and Will Need to Be Done More Often
Another disadvantage of sanding is that it is more invasive than refinishing and will need to be done more often in order to keep your floors looking their best.
This is because when you sand the floor down, you are removing a layer of wood from the surface of the floor, which can make it more susceptible to damage in the future.
Refinishing, on the other hand, simply adds a new layer of finish to the floor without removing any of the wood, making it a much less invasive option.
If you want to keep your wood floors looking their best for as long as possible, you should opt for refinishing over sanding.
Conclusion
There are two main differences between sanding and refinishing: cost and time. Sanding is much cheaper than refinishing because you don’t need to buy any new materials, and it takes less time to complete as well.
However, refinishing does protect your wood floors from future damage that might otherwise occur, which is why most homeowners prefer it over sanding in the long run.
So, whether you’re looking to restore an old wooden floor in your house or simply want to change your flooring to something more modern, sanding is probably a better bet than refinishing when it comes to saving money and getting the job done fast.
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