Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: Wanting to get even, no gaps, finished and hi-shine look to hardwood that has buckled due to the settling of our 100-year-old home. No boards have broken; only some have gouges or splitting. For the most part, the distressed look of it all through this living room and the kitchen doesn’t bother me, but it looks worn and dirty all the time even when keeping it dust free and washed.
I would ideally like to fill any gaps between the boards just to have a smooth floor underfoot and get the best look and easy clean quality out of it. Would sanding and refinishing do this for me? Do people do this to a floor that has buckled from a structural problem long ago, or is this totally ridiculous?
A: It sounds like the finish has worn and the exposed wood has become discoloured. Provided there is enough surface to sand, the floors can be refinished, and during this process, a latex wood filler can be used to fill gaps. Any damaged boards could also be replaced at this time. In the finishing department, my approach is to use polyurethane coats without a lacquer sealer used as a base. By using polyurethane only, buffed between coats to ensure adhesion, the final finish is much more durable.
I am not sure what you mean by buckling of your floor. Do you mean there is a hump in the floor? This should not cause a problem, though special care may have to be taken during sanding, not to over sand the high spots.
Original / moved link https://faceliftfloors.com/q-and-a/buckled.php
My floors are not even due to the settling of the house over the past 50 years
Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: My floors are not even due to the settling of the house over the past 50 years. Is it a problem refinishing them, or would it be OK?
A: A lot of older homes have uneven floors due to settling, mine included. Some are more severe than others. The main thing to consider is how much wear surface is left on your existing floors. The wear surface is the distance from the floor surface to the top edge of the groove. If it can tolerate another sanding, go for it!
Original / moved link https://faceliftfloors.com/q-and-a/wear.php