Our hardwood floors lose shine over time, no matter how often we clean them and wax them. But this doesn't mean that you should replace the whole flooring. Those scratches and nicks can be dealt with with the help of a floor buffer. Leave the floor replacement for some other time, because it won't be necessary.
Buffing hardwood floor is a less expensive and messy alternative to take. It is somewhat a new technique that is used to revive hardwood flooring. If this technique is used in the right way, your surface will definitely get a new look - shiny one.
Before we start to explain what is buffing all about, lets say it is not a solution to any situation. If the flooring surface is damaged seriously, then a machine won't be able to erase all those scratches and marks. And since there won't be any shine here either, it is best to refinish the whole wood flooring. The buffing is an option only when there are minor scratches involved. Some gaps, light wear and gouges are perfectly fine and can be repaired.
When you use a buffing machine or a scrubber, it is like preparing your surface for a new finish. This is because finish would quickly peel off it there isn't any buffing.
The machine, floor scrubber or buffer, is available for purchase or for rent. You can rent one for small amount of money, but if you plan to use it for more then 5 or 6 times, I suggest you buy one. This is because you will be more convenient with one of these polishing machines on your disposal and because after several usages, the polisher will pay itself off.
A screen that goes with a buffer should be around 100 grit. It depends on the hardwood flooring, but most of them are ok with a 100 and 120 grit. Just make sure to cover all the areas equally.
The steps you need to take when buffing, meaning using your scrubber or buffer:
Clean the area with a vacuum cleaner after you finished sanding it. No dust or dirt should be on the surface.
Prepare a buffer, get used to it and feel the vibe it is working on.
Set a screen that has 100 or 120 grit.
In case you have a wax finish on your floor, remove it before you start buffing.
After you finished buffing the entire surface with a scrubber, apply wax.
This is all you need to know. There will be some other details included in this operation, but you will get to resolve them as you work. Nothing tells you more about floor buffers then actually using one and experience it by yourself.
2 comments:
Excellent post. I will definitely keep comming back to your blog for more information. Thanks.
I haven't used a floor buffer since I was a kid in the 60s when my mother had a small, useless machine named after a president and founder of the FBI. Having said that … my wife and I now have an Oreck Orbiter buffer to keep our hardwood floors and oriental carpets clean. What a difference half a century has made in the technology. Although the 50/60’s model buffer was supposed to do all the tasks the Oreck will do, I never saw my mother attempt more than polish the hardwood floors. Usually, it was more trouble than it was worth. I am really impressed with this little machine.
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