How long will the finish last on my hardwood floors?

Paying a professional to refinish your hardwood floors could be a small fortune. A lot of consumers are concerned with one question: how long before I need to pay again to refinish my wood floors? Or in other words, how long will my finish last?

How long is determined by a lot of variables:

1. What type of wood you have and what type of finish was applied

If you have oak floors with polyurethane finish you’re most likely to have a long lasting finish. If you have very soft wood with only two coats of a one part water base finish (designed for low traffic residential use) the finish would not last as long.

1. How long did you let your finish cure before occupying the home

Most people want to move into their home as soon as the finish is dry on their wood floors. That is a big mistake. The finish needs time (a good week or two) before it cures. Curing means that the finish is pretty much done off gassing and it is hard all the way through.

1. Did your wood flooring contractor apply the finish correctly

The finish would behave as good as how it was applied. Meaning, your contractor applied the finish to the floor using the right applicator and right spread rate. Some guys like applying the finish really thin and that means less resin is left on the floor to protect it.

1. How big is your family

Are you a single mom with three kids or two parents with no kids? Do you have dogs? Is so, are they small or big? The more people and pets walk on the floor and use it, the more wear and tear the floor finish will show.

1. What is your life style

Do you let people wear shoes inside your house? Do you clean once a week? A month? Two months? Are you a crazy cook like me? Drips and drops all over the kitchen floor? Do you have a lot of parties at your place with women walking with high hill shoes?

As you can see everything counts and adds up. Everyone is different so it is best to hire the best pro you can find and let them provide you with the product that matches you and your needs.