How can your refinish hardwood floors, if you can't move out? |
Posted: November 26, 2018 |
What should you do if you need to refinish your hardwood floors, but you can't afford to leave the house.
We get this question often, especially among homeowners who are about to sell their house. Obviously, the best time to refinish your floors is before you move in, but if you've lived in your home 10 or 20 or even 30 or more years, that time is long gone.
The 2nd best time to sand your floors is while you're away. But sometimes, this just isn't possible, especially if you are in a rush to sell your home or if you have a limited budget.
And, of course it gets trickier if you have hardwood in almost the entire home.
So, I wanted to provide some potential solutions if you find yourself in this position.
First, let me state, that your life will be much easier if you use a water based polyurethane in this situation. Oil based polyurethane smells...a lot. And, if you have to live in your house while this is being done, it will be very unpleasant with oil based poly.
Water based poly doesn't smell as bad, and whatever odor there is dissipates MUCH faster. Also, water borne polyurethane will dry (and cure) much faster. So you will be able to get your life back to normal much faster.
Second, you will usually need to do this in 2 phases if you plan to stay there. This is both because of where you'll need to put the furniture and you will need to make sure you have access to a bathroom (in each phase) and a way to get in and out of your house.
If you have a basement with a full bathroom and a way to enter and exit from the basement without crossing any hardwood floors, then you are in luck. And, you will just need to worry about where the furniture will go.
But, if you don't have this option, you will probably need to do this in 2 phases. And, you will need to wait 3 days between each phase before it's safe to move he furniture back (4 days if you are using an oil based poly). Each phase may take 2 to 6 days (pending on area to be done, furniture to be moved, whether you are using a stain or going natural).
You will want to plan ahead so that you have enough space for the furniture to be moved. Usually, we try to do the majority in Phase 1 (or at least 2/3 of the area). Look for space that won't be refinished that you can place the furniture in (e.g. do you have tile in the kitchen, or a large bathroom or a carpeted room or two or a basement?). Figure out spatially how much can be put in these areas. Then, from there, figure out where you will sleep.
And, make sure that you will have a bathroom you can access (without stepping on the hardwood) and a place to get in and out of your home (without stepping on the hallway). This can be tricky if your bedroom is on the 2nd floor along with the bathroom as you usually need to cross the hallway and/or the steps.
If you have a 2nd set of steps, it's easier, but if you just have one, see if you can find a place on the main floor where you can sleep AND have access to a bathroom.
Then, figure out where you will stay in phase 2 is usually much easier as there are usually only 2 to 3 rooms that need to be done and if you've planned correctly in phase 1 you're fine.
Another creative solution is that if you can at least find a bathroom on the 1st floor (or basement) even if it's not a full bathroom, use it, and then find another place where you can shower.
I've had people use their gym, or start a gym membership (sometimes you can get a week or month free), or shower at work or the YMCA or at a friend's house.
Of, if you're installer believes the work can be done in 2 days (which means you can walk on the floors at the end of Day, you can shower the morning of Day 1 (before the installers arrive), skip day 2 and then shower the end of Day 3. (In order to do this, you would need to go natural as stains take longer to dry.
There are usually creative solutions if you just brainstorm a bit.
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