Home Repair Tips Hardwood Floors

Welcome to the Greenwood Village Handyman Website!  I hope you enjoy this article by Keith Paul, founder of HandyPro Handyman Services:

How to Restore Hardwood Floors

We have just purchased a beautiful home with the exception of the oak hardwood floors that are looking slightly worn. They are solid, and I believe they could look great if we refinished them. But we never have completed this type of project and would like some advice on how to do so. -Terry S.

Hi Terry,

Welcome to the world of wood refinishing. Besides painting and cleaning, I believe refinishing hardwood floors can have one of the most dramatic effects on any home, not to mention the return on your investment could literally double or more.

The trend for hardwood flooring is that it's in high demand. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, “Between 2002 -2007 wood flooring retail sales increased at 6.4% compounded annual rate while the overall wood flooring market increased 2.2% annually.”

However, it is not one of the easiest home improvement projects.

Pre-inspection. It is best completed while the room is empty. Your first step is to determine the cause and extent of any floor damage. The floor boards must be solid and secure and not majorly warped. Hammer in any protruding nails using a nail set to sink them slightly below the surface of the floor as they can damage the sandpaper.

You will need to use a hardwood floor sander which is available to rent at most rental stores. For larger stains and heavy finish build up you may have to rent a drum belt sander. Otherwise, for medium projects I prefer using an upright, self leveling, four disc, random-orbital sander. This sander will allow you to get closer to the walls and is easier to maneuver due to it being self leveling.

Sanding. Remove all the corner round molding carefully so you can re-use it if possible. Sand according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Sand a minimum of three times, starting with heavy grit sandpaper such as 36 grit, then ending with fine grit sandpaper such as 120 grit.

Although the sanding machine keeps most of the dust in the dust collector, it's best to do it on a day when you can open a few windows and doors. Of course my last floor sanding job was in February.
Sand slowly with the grain while keeping the machine constantly moving forward. For hard to reach areas and edges, you may have to use an edge sander, also provided by the rental store.

Finishing. Before applying any finishes to the floor, you want to make sure that you remove all of the dust off the floor. First, broom sweep the floor, and then lightly damp mop. After the floor dries use a tack cloth to pick-up any leftover dust particles.

Apply the appropriate color stain if applicable. If you prefer a more natural look, just apply clear polyurethane carefully with a lamb’s wool applicator, as seen in the picture, and follow the manufacture's instructions.

Be sure to take your time and remove any bubbles or puddles that may form. Many products state two coats are sufficient; however, I have always applied three coats to ensure the floor's resistance to wear and tear.

Although this is a labor-intensive project, it is well worth the effort. The final results will ensure the rich look of hardwood and a durable floor for years to come.

What’s on your to-do list?  HandyPro Handyman Services offers affordable solutions to a wide variety of homerepairs and maintenance projects.  They also offer senior home modification services including kitchen and bathroom remodeling, stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, super strong grab bars, walk-in tubs and showers and more.  HandyPro specializes in helping the homeowner, business or property manager have minor repairs completed professionally, in a timely manner, and guarantees 100% customer satisfaction.

Hiring a Handyman, Senior home modification, wheelchair ramps, stair rails and grab bars, stair lifts, kitchen and bathroom retrofitting, Carpentry, Plaster, Drywall, Acoustic Ceilings, Grout tub, fix leaky faucet, home warranty/maintenance, paint home, caulk bathtub, replace locks, garage doors, cabinets, countertops, fix running toilet, repair squeaky door, install molding, security services, stained glass, door repair/install, drywall repair, painting, kitchen, insulation, concrete, masonry, repair gutters, remove wallpaper, replace ceiling fan, caulk awning, siding repair, install shelves, organizers, ceramic tile, window well covers, replace bathroom fan, draperies, blinds, shades, glass, mirrors, decks, and much more…just ask!

Denver, Aurora, Englewood, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills, Littleton, Glendale

80012, 80014, 80022, 80033, 80123, 80127, 80202, 80203, 80204 80205, 80206, 80207, 80209, 80210, 80211, 80212, 80214, 80216, 80218, 80219, 80220, 80221, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80225, 80010, 80011, 80012, 80013, 80014, 80015, 80016, 80017, 80018, 80019, 80045, 80047, 80247, 80110, 80111, 80112, 80113, 80121, 80122, 80123, 80150, 80120, 80124, 80125, 80126, 80127, 80128, 80129, 80130, 80246

Disabled Veterans Call the Greenwood Village Handyman for Home Modification Services

The Certified Aging in Place Specialist offers a much needed service for American heroes who have difficulty getting around in their home

 

Greenwood Village CO – The local handyman welcomes our American heroes home and provides a much needed service for disabled vets. As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, he can make a positive difference for disabled veterans who now have difficulty living in their home as it currently designed.

The VA offers little-known programs to help with home modification for veterans who are injured and disabled as a result of serving their country. Through special government grants these well-deserving heroes can receive financial assistance for home modification service.

The growing number of aging homeowners and veterans returning home from service brings an increased demand for customized home renovation. Todd Wortmann, owner of HandyPro of Suburban Denver and Aurora is proud to satisfy this growing need as he specializes in home modification to include wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, grab bars, kitchen and bath remodeling and many special services to meet their clients’ individual needs.

HandyPro (http://greenwoodvillagehandyman.blogspot.com/) has national agreements with companies that supply the specialized tubs, showers, lifts and equipment needed to improve accessibility and mobility in homes for seniors and disabled veterans. Their relationship with medical supply companies and rehab and physical therapy professionals brings a wealth of knowledge to help each client on an individual basis.

HandyPro Handyman Services is a locally-owned franchise company offering home modification, repairs and remodeling. They provide free estimates and all work is guaranteed for one year. All service contractors are licensed and bonded. HandyPro is a member of the Better Business Bureau with 0 complaints and a BBB Rating of A+ on a scale from A+ to F. Visit http://handypro.com/codenverandaurora.html to learn more.




About HandyPro Handyman Services:
What’s on your to-do list? HandyPro Handyman Services offers affordable solutions to a wide variety of home repairs including home modification for seniors, home improvement and home remodeling, seasonal home maintenance and more. HandyPro specializes in helping the homeowner, business or property manager have building repairs completed professionally, in a timely manner, and guarantees 100% customer satisfaction. HandyPro Handyman Service has been in business since 1996, serving over 20,000 clients with zero complaints from the Better Business Bureau. HandyPro Handyman Services has been featured on Rachel Ray and Fox News.

Greenwood Village Handyman Home Improvement to Maximize Investment

The Greenwood Village handyman is the one to call for help with home improvement especially if you are looking for ways to maximize your investment and make your home more competitive in today’s real estate market.

When people plan to sell their home many will invest a ton of money, fixing everything in sight as they try to make their home stand out in an over saturated market.  This is a buyer’s market and there is plenty of inventory to choose from, so if a house does not meet their needs they will simply move onto the next house on their long list of properties to look at.

While it is wise to make some improvement to show pride of ownership, the local handyman advises against overdoing it.  If you spend too much money on home remodeling, you probably will not realize a return on the investment. 

Most real estate experts agree that some home improvement and upgrades are well worth the seller’s time and money.  New kitchen countertops and appliances, bathroom remodeling and energy efficient upgrades will pay off, but there are some improvements that are just not worth the hassle.

Before investing too much money in home renovation, consider the surrounding properties in the neighborhood.  For example, if most homes have laminate countertops and linoleum floors, it would be inappropriate to invest in granite countertops, ceramic floors and high-end appliances.  If no one in the neighborhood has a pool, hot tub or gazebo, then this would be a bad investment.  Your home should be competitive, but not way over the top.  Unwarranted upgrades will only turn buyers away.  Many buyers are turned off by the in-ground swimming pool because of the high-maintenance and liability exposure.

Some homeowners have converted their attached garage to living space to add a bedroom, game room or family area.  While this seemed like a great idea for your growing family, another family will miss the convenience of a place to park cars and store outdoor equipment.  If most of the homes in your neighborhood have garages, then keep the garage!

Fresh paint is a great investment – worth $20 in the can and $1,000 on the wall.  If you have always dreamed of bright colors and extravagant designs, save it for your own home and keep your home improvement efforts more neutral.  Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home and making their own personal touches.  Keeping it neutral ensures their furniture and accessories will go with the home.

Home repairs like patching holes in the walls or replacing scratched or gouged trim will show pride of ownership and make the home appear to be well cared for.  Adding too much flare will result in a waste of money.  If the buyer doesn’t like it, they will be likely to ask for a price reduction so they can afford to tear it out and redo it according to their own style.

What’s on your to-do list?  HandyPro Handyman Services offers affordable solutions to a wide variety of home repairs and maintenance projects.  They also offer senior home modification services including kitchen and bathroom remodeling, stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, super strong grab bars, walk-in tubs and showers and more.  HandyPro specializes in helping the homeowner, business or property manager have minor repairs completed professionally, in a timely manner, and guarantees 100% customer satisfaction.

Hiring a Handyman, Senior home modification, wheelchair ramps, stair rails and grab bars, stair lifts, kitchen and bathroom retrofitting, Carpentry, Plaster, Drywall, Acoustic Ceilings, Grout tub, fix leaky faucet, home warranty/maintenance, paint home, caulk bathtub, replace locks, garage doors, cabinets, countertops, fix running toilet, repair squeaky door, install molding, security services, stained glass, door repair/install, drywall repair, painting, kitchen, insulation, concrete, masonry, repair gutters, remove wallpaper, replace ceiling fan, caulk awning, siding repair, install shelves, organizers, ceramic tile, window well covers, replace bathroom fan, draperies, blinds, shades, glass, mirrors, decks, and much more…just ask!