Paint or Stain: Which is Better for Old Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood floors, as sturdy as they are, inevitably sustain the wear-and-tear of everyday life. If scratches and stains are not properly dealt with, the appearance of your floors can really suffer. For many homeowners, replacing an entire hardwood floor isn't a viable option, so some turn to the next best thing: staining or painting. But which option is best for you, your home, and your budget? The following are pros and cons of both approaches that we help you make the right decision.

Staining
One option for homeowners dealing with old, scratched, or otherwise beaten-up floors is to refinish or stain them. Here are the pros and cons of this flooring project:

Pros:
This option allows you to get as close to the original look of your hardwood floors as possible. Refinishing or staining a hardwood floor restores years to its appearance, can get rid of unsightly scratches and stains, and can add resale value to your home. It can also increase your floor's durability, adding years to its lifespan.

Cons:
Staining or refinishing a floor is hard work. The process usually involves removing the existing finish, sanding down the whole floor to get rid of scratches and stains, and reapplying a few new coats of finish. This can be a very time-consuming venture for a DIYer, or a costly one for homeowners hiring a contractor. Additionally, if you don't know the specific brand and variety of finish your old floor had it can be difficult to recreate the exact look.

Painting
Another option for homeowners looking to spruce up their floors is to paint them. This is a much less common practice than staining, but some more creative types are finding interesting ways to approach the project. Here are a few of the pros and cons:

Pros:
Paining a floor is certainly cheaper and easier than refinishing a floor. It also allows you to get creative and use your floor as a canvas, using bright colors, creating beautiful patterns, or even painting entire murals. Painted wood floors bring a whole new feature to the decor of your home and, if done well, can add lots of beauty to any room.

Cons:
Of course, painting a hardwood floor comes with plenty of cons. For one, laying down the primer and layer after layer of paint can take a lot of time. Paint is also not as durable as stains or finishes, and many homeowners with painted floors complain about peeling, cracking, and chipping over time. Finally, not every home buyer likes a painted hardwood floor, so if you're planning on selling your home any time soon this may not be the best option.

When it comes to updating the look of old hardwood floors, most homeowners choose to refinish or stain, especially if they are particularly tied to the original appearance of their hardwood. But your hardwood floors are just that - yours - and you should paint however you want them if you have the inclination. Just remember that your floors are an integral part of your home, and you should treat them as something that will be around for a long time - because they will!

Have you ever refinished or painted your home's hardwood floors? How was the experience? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Dealing with Scratches and Scrapes: A Homeowner’s Guide to Hardwood First-Aid

You may think your hardwood floors are as tough as Superman, but even the most resilient hardwood species has its kryptonite. Maybe it will sustain a scratch from someone walking around in high-heels, or suffer a scuff from furniture being moved. Scarred forever? Certainly not! Here are several easy first-aid options for tackling the various injuries your hardwood floor may sustain in the line of duty.

For Scratches:
The method of repair for scratches on hardwood depends on the type of finish your floor has. If your floor has a wax or penetrating stain finish, simply apply new wax to the area with a soft clean cloth. If it’s a surface finish, such as polyurethane, you can use a touch-up kit specifically made for your specific floor finish. These are sold at most hardware or home improvement stores, or you can order them online from such companies as Glitsa or DuraSeal.

For Shoe Heel Scuffs:
Like scratches, the treatment for heel scuffs depends on your floor’s specific finish type. For a waxed floor, simply add new wax and buff to a shine with fine steel wool. For a surface finished floor, scrub away with a urethane cleaner. This cleaner will also work for food stains or water spots on finished hardwood floors.

For High Heel Scrapes:
Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of great DIY remedies for high heel scrapes or divots. If the scrape or divot isn’t too noticeable, try filling it with a raw walnut and then reapplying the floor’s original finish. If that doesn’t work, or if there are too many scrapes or divots to conceal, call a flooring professional.

For Pet Paws and Claws:
Pets can wreak havoc on your hardwood floors. Luckily, Sparky’s nail marks can be treated much like any other hardwood scrape. If the scrapes aren’t too bad, apply new wax to wax-finish floors. If you’ve got surface finished floors, use a touch-up kit.

While hardwood repair projects are too much for the average homeowner, most maintenance problems require little more than a simple touch-up kit, rags or wax. Not sure if your hardwood scratches can be easily remedied? Contact a flooring professional at The Fantastic Floor today to find out! We can’t wait to help you save your beautiful floor!