Wood Floor Buffing

There is no doubt that the atmosphere of your home or working space is significantly influenced by the look of the floor. Being the focal point of every room it is, wood flooring has to be maintained properly and regularly so it can look amazing, last for decades, and create a unique, beautiful, cosy, and inviting atmosphere anywhere it is installed. Wood flooring is a great choice not because it is durable, hard-wearing, and so attractive, but also because it is available in so many different styles and colours that everyone has the opportunity to find the perfect match for their interior and create a unique and creative style. No matter how wild and creative your wood floor design dreams and ideas are, there is pretty much a wooden floor out there for you that can tick all the boxes and if you are not able to find it already looking the way you want, wood is a versatile and easy to transform material so the flooring professionals can easily meet your expectations and answer your requirements. No matter if the simple and tranquil backdrop of your bedroom, or the statement piece of your living room or office, wood flooring is a great choice for any setting, anywhere.

However, no matter how many benefits and advantages a wooden floor comes with, its flawless condition and appearance can still be affected by some common issues and problems. Your floor can start struggling with different imperfections due to different reasons, most commonly due to wear and tear, humidity and effect of moisture, scratches, dents, permanent stains, etc. The good news is that all of these are avoidable and a little bit of suitable and regular maintenance and care can go a long way toward keeping your floor in flawless condition. Did you know that if maintained properly, real wood floors can last you up to a whole century? It is not an industry or professional secret anymore, having a good cleansing routine and a reliable professional wood flooring team to take care of the floor once it starts to struggle with imperfections noticeably, this is the way to show your favourite wooden floor some love and have it in tip-top shape for many, many years.

While the responsibility for the majority of your floor’s maintenance is pretty much in your hands and regular and suitable cleaning every week is just about enough to keep it in premier condition, sometimes just keeping it clean and dust-free is not enough. This is when professional help is much needed and appreciated and the right treatments and professional services can pretty much completely transform the look and condition of every aged, tired, and dull floor and bring it back to its initial beauty and strength. Thankfully, wood floors can be refinished and repaired several times in their lifetime and you can practically have your floor looking brand new all the time. So whenever your floor needs more in-depth maintenance, it is highly recommended to stop neglecting the situation and contact your local professionals. It is good to know that even more, thorough and in-depth wood floor maintenance won’t require you to invest too much money, time, energy, and elbow grease and sometimes just a simple and time-saving treatment is more than enough to beautify and strengthen. Buffing is a great service and a great alternative to the popular sanding and refinishing services, the best solution to slight imperfections and just for refreshing and rejuvenating the look of your floor without all the mess and hassle.

That is right, floor sanding and refinishing are not the only two services required for your floor’s look to be refreshed and all of the slight imperfections on the surface to be removed. In many cases, buffing and polishing the surface is just about enough for giving your worn and tired floor pampering sessions and bringing it back to its initial beauty. With the help of buffing and polishing, you can not only have the appearance improved but the overall condition too, as they help you for minimizing the risks for the floor that come with common imperfections such as scratches, dents, marks, dirt buildup, etc. So instead of opting for the more heavy-duty sanding and refinishing treatments, simply consider buffing and polishing the floor as an alternative in case your floor is not highly damaged and too worn.

What is Wood Floor Buffing and When is Recommended?

Just like sanding, buffing is also a wood floor treatment and a process designed to strip off a layer of old finish along with the imperfections on the surface. However, when it comes to buffing, unlike sanding, the process involves removing only a thin layer of the surface, without affecting the bare wood underneath and without being able to get rid of the deeper scratches and more significant imperfections that penetrate through the top finish layer. In a nutshell, buffing won’t affect in any way the top layer of the bare wood floorboards, it is designed to treat the layer of finish only and it can remove only light and small imperfections. In case this is not enough for improving the condition and look of your floor, make sure to opt for sanding and refinishing instead. However, if buffing is just enough for maintaining your hardwood floor in the great condition and appearance you are going for, you will be happy to find out that buffing can also make a significant difference and offer impressive improvement.

Besides being the more effortless, easier, and simpler alternative to sanding, buffing is also significantly messed- and hassle-free. When it comes to sanding, the process has some specifics, which means that mess and dust are often expected throughout and after the service is delivered. However, since buffing is not affecting a layer of real wood, sawdust is not a problem, there is no strong odour or noise, and no inconveniences during the process of buffing in general. Of course, this does not mean we are throwing shade on sanding, it is still a very beneficial service with so many advantages, however, it is recommended in situations when buffing won’t do the job anyway. However, if buffing is the right solution, we recommend you to opt for it first as it is less stressful for the floor and for you as an experience in general.

In case your floor is in a relatively good condition and you need to just work on its appearance as it looks a bit too dull, tired, and sad recently, buffing is the right solution to go for. However, remember that major and significant imperfections are treated by more in-depth and heavy-duty wood floor sanding and repair services. Some wood floor issues and problems remain hidden from the unprofessional eye of a homeowner. This is why we highly recommend you have your floor inspected by professionals and arrange a consultation as this is the best and safest way to find out which service is more suitable in your case.

What you can expect from buffing is an improved look of the floor and a lustrous shine that can last for many years, if you continue to maintain and clean your floor properly. The basic equipment used for delivering a professional wood floor buffing process involves the so-called buffer or rotary machine. The buffing machine has a polishing pad attached to it that should be intact for the best results to be achieved.  Just like it is with sanding, before having the buffing service delivered, make sure the floor is completely clean and no furniture pieces and other objects are going to be obstacles for the wood floor buffing professionals to deliver the service properly. Before the start of the buffing treatment, it is also important to have the hardware or oil finish stripped off from the surface of the floor. This is not that hard at all and you can even do it yourself as a DIY project if you want to save up a few pennies by applying a mineral spirit or wax stripper to the floor. If you decide to do that part by yourself, always make sure to strictly follow the instructions and guidelines of the manufacturer of the product as these sorts of products have to be handled with caution.

Next, to prepare the floor for the upcoming buffing and polishing services, it has to be clean thoroughly and all the dust and dirt on the surface should be removed for perfect results afterwards. This can be done either by you or if you don’t have the time and energy to deal with that, you can book a professional wood floor cleaning service too. A thorough hoovering is required along with wiping up the floor’s surface with a damp mop or rag. In case a second round with the mop is required, do not hesitate to wipe up until a completely clean surface. While warm water is just about enough for an everyday cleaning routine, make sure to buy a wood floor cleaning product for this one as you are aiming for flawless results. Always choose a cleaning product with a neutral pH and make sure to follow the guidelines/instructions on the packaging. By preparing the surface that way, the application of the polish will be even and the results – uniform.

Before continuing with buffing and polishing, the floor’s surface should be completely dry. Wood floor buffing is, generally, a very time-saving and simple process. However, keep in mind that it may take a bit longer in some cases. Don’t be impatient and plan your schedule properly by discussing the estimated time for the service with the professionals on-site. The buffing machine spins in a clockwise direction, so the best way to start buffing the floor is by starting from left to right. The tool should not be left lingering on one spot for too long as it will affect the uniformness and evenness of the application. Movements should be smooth, a motion should be sweeping. Such a simple and pretty much effortless treatment will leave the floors very appealing and rejuvenated. It is also a perfect alternative to the time-consuming refinishing processes for wooden floors finished with oil-based sealants as simply re-oiling and recoating the floor takes significantly less energy and time and costs cheaper.

When to Choose Buffing over Sanding?

Buffing and sanding are two types of different services that can achieve pretty much similar results, however, whether to choose to buff over sanding highly depends on the current condition of your wooden floor. Let us remind you that slightly scratches floors that look a bit aged, dull, sad, and tired are often treated by buffing and polishing only as both treatments are just about enough to bring back the floor to its initial beauty and durability. However, in case your floor is slightly more distressed and scratches and dents penetrate through the protective top layer of finish and affect the bare wood floorboards underneath, then buffing won’t achieve the visual effect you are going for and won’t minimize the risk of imperfections growing into more serious issues and problems with your wooden floor. Buffing is also recommended for oil finished floors that need a bit of rejuvenation and refreshment as a part of the maintenance routine.

Is Buffing Suitable for Laminate Floors?

Unfortunately, just like sanding, buffing and polishing are not available for laminate floors. Although designed to mimic the beauty and appearance of real wood, laminate floors are not made out of real wood material and plywood and this is why they cannot be treated by sanding and buffing machines, neither a layer of finish or polish can be applied on top.