Why You Probably Shouldn't Do Your Hardwood Floor Project Yourself

Rod Lorenz

 

DIY hardwood flooring projects

To DIY or not to DIY? It’s a question every homeowner inevitably asks themselves at some point. The prospect of trying to save money on something you can do yourself is alluring in many ways.

Often, that’s the right instinct. However, it’s not wise to tackle some home improvement projects unless you’re a professional.

In many home improvement projects, you can get away with a lack of professional experience. For example, repainting a room yourself is something homeowners like to do, and the result can look pretty good.

However, even with relatively easy projects, there’s always going to be a difference in the skill level of DIYers and professionals. DIYers usually take more time to complete projects, make more mistakes, and create more mess than a skilled professional would.

Hardwood floor installation, re-sanding and refinishing, without doubt, fall under the “don’t DIY” category. Owing to the complexity of the work, there’s a big chance you’ll end up requiring the help of professionals either way.

Complexity of Work

When it comes to hardwood flooring, it definitely takes training and experience to become dependably good at the job and produce consistently good results. The process of installing, re-sanding or refinishing a hardwood floor is a complex one, and a novice can make many mistakes.

Lower-quality tools are also a problem most DIYers would face if they tried to do a hardwood project themselves. The machines you can rent at building supply stores typically aren’t close to what professionals use for sanding, and the difference in the results is noticeable.

When sanding is done improperly, that negatively impacts the rest of the job. When staining and refinishing after a poor sanding job, be prepared for blotchiness, dips, and chatter marks in the floor.

Another common mistake DIYers make is using a low-quality finish and applying it in layers that are too thick. If that’s the case, it will take longer for the floors to dry, which may lead to coagulation that ruins the surface.

It Doesn’t Pay Off

Financial considerations are why many homeowners decide to do DIY projects, but that doesn’t always pay off. Once you factor in the time you’ll spend on floor installation, the cost of materials and equipment, and potential mistakes that may set you back, DIY doesn’t seem like such a good idea anymore.

If you’re looking to install new hardwood floors or freshen up the appearance of existing floors yourself, don’t make rash decisions. Unless you’re prepared to sink a lot of time, effort, and money into a project that still might not turn out the way you want, it’s best to avoid DIY hardwood floor projects

For complex projects like installing or refurbishing hardwood floors, It’s almost always better to hire professionals who will do the job in less time and with much better results than you could accomplish yourself.

Ralph’s is happy to help you with all your ha dwood flooring needs. Visit our showroom to see what we can offer!

Image:  Shutterstock

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