Refinish Wood Floors

When you make your decision to do something with the floors in your older home there are a few things to consider. The process of being green and sustainable is best approached holistically.

The attachment of “green” to a product you purchase often says very little about the overall environmental impact. Sometimes the most beneficial and more cost effective process is to refinish the existing wood floors.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle is not only a catch phrase but should be the motto for anyone with an older home. In fact, for many years the FHA loan requirements specified that hardwood flooring be used in construction of homes.

If you can’t already see the wood floors in your older home, then lift the carpet and you might find a surprise. There are many reasons to consider refinishing your wood floors instead of burying them under carpet or some other flooring material.

Reduction of waste from landfills is a huge priority for everyone with a conscious these days. Consider that an average wood floor refinish generates approximately three large trash bags of dust for every 1000 square feet of flooring.

In comparison, carpet would generate somewhere on the order of five to eight times that volume of waste. Furthermore, the sanding dust biodegrades considerably faster and naturally and adds back to the carbon cycle of nature. The carpet can be recycled, but requires greater energy to process and still contains petroleum derivatives in the fibers and pad.

Reduction on dependence of petroleum, particularly foreign petroleum, is another priority our nation must contend with in the quest for an environmental balance.

The basis for a positive choice for your floor covering options should be based on quality rather than impulsive decisions. This means that you should consult only with reputable contractors and honest flooring retailers who are professionals.

My primary definition of a professional is someone who seeks first to inform you and allows you to make your own choice once you have that information. Material choices that are based on an “endpoint” decision, such as bamboo floors, will often leave you with regret if you are not well informed. The life cycle of your flooring is a huge and often overlooked when making flooring purchases that can impact the environment and your wallet.

I hope this article will inspire you to make well informed choices when making floor covering choices for your home. I have only seen one hardwood floor in my years of contracting that was not able to be refinished and repaired. That speaks a lot to the longevity of wood flooring as an option for your home.

Scott Avery is the owner of Modern Tech Floors based in Portland, Oregon.
 

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