What Does the Hardwood Refinishing Process Involve?

Wood floor restoration involves several steps designed to rejuvenate the surface of the wood, remove scratches, and apply a fresh protective finish.

Here’s an overview of the process:

1. Preparation: Furniture, rugs, and any obstacles are removed from the area. Dust barriers may be put in place to minimize debris spreading to other parts of the home.
2. Sanding: The existing finish is removed by sanding the surface of the hardwood. Depending on the floor’s condition, multiple passes with progressively finer sandpaper are typically required. This step smooths out any scratches, dents, or imperfections.
3. Vacuuming and cleaning: After sanding, the floor is vacuumed and wiped down to remove all dust and debris. Ensuring a clean surface is essential for the next steps.
4. Staining (optional): If a new color is desired, a stain can be applied at this stage. The stain penetrates the wood and must dry completely before the next step.
5. Finishing: A protective finish, usually polyurethane, is applied to seal the wood and give it a shine. Homeowners can choose between water-based or oil-based finishes. This coating provides durability and protects the floor from future wear.
6. Curing: The final step is allowing the finish to dry and cure. Depending on the type of finish, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days before the floor can handle foot traffic again.

Will the Color of Your Hardwood Floor Change After Refinishing?

The color of your hardwood floor can change after refinishing, but it depends on the choices made during the process. If you prefer to maintain the original color, the existing finish can be sanded off, and a clear protective coat can be applied to preserve the natural look of the wood.

However, refinishing also provides an opportunity to change the floor’s color. By applying a stain before the protective finish, you can choose a new shade ranging from light to dark tones, giving the floor a completely different appearance. While re-staining hardwood floors is optional, many homeowners use it to update the style of their space or to match new décor.

How Often Should You Resurface Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood floors should generally be refinished every seven to ten years, but this timeframe can vary based on factors like the amount of foot traffic, wear, and the condition of the wood. High-traffic areas, such as entryways or kitchens, may require refinishing more frequently—possibly every three to five years—while rooms with less use may last longer before needing refinishing.

Signs That It’s Time To Refinish

• Visible scratches and scuffs
• Dull or faded finish
• Water damage or stains
• Splintering or cracking wood
• Faded or worn areas
• Cupping or warping

How To Prepare Your Home for Wood Floor Restoration

There are a few steps you can take to ensure your hardwood refinishing goes smoothly and efficiently.

Here’s how to prepare your home:

• Remove furniture and rugs: Clear the room of all furniture, rugs, and decorative items. This includes heavy pieces, like sofas or tables, as well as smaller items, such as lamps and picture frames. The refinishing crew needs full access to the floor space.
• Protect other rooms: Dust is inevitable during the sanding process, so it’s wise to cover doorways with plastic sheets or dust barriers to prevent debris from spreading to adjacent rooms.
• Take down wall hangings and curtains: Vibrations from the sanding equipment could cause items to shift or fall. Remove pictures, mirrors, and curtains from the room for protection and to prevent dust from settling on them.
• Seal off air vents: Dust can easily enter HVAC systems, so sealing off air vents in the refinishing area will keep your ducts clean and reduce the spread of dust throughout the house.
• Plan for pets and family: Since the process involves sanding and applying finishes that may release fumes, it’s important to relocate pets and family members, especially those with allergies or sensitivities, to a different part of the house or even stay elsewhere temporarily.
• Arrange for temporary access: Refinishing takes time to complete and for the finish to dry. Plan for alternative ways to access other parts of your home without walking on the refinished floors for the duration of the process.

What Types of Finishes Are Available for Hardwood Floors?

Several types of finishes are available for hardwood floors, each offering unique advantages in terms of appearance, durability, and maintenance.

The most common options include:

Oil-Based Polyurethane

Known for its durability and rich, amber tone, oil-based polyurethane is a popular choice for high-traffic areas. It provides a glossy or satin finish and tends to deepen the color of the wood over time. It takes longer to dry but offers excellent protection.

Water-Based Polyurethane

Water-based polyurethane is a clear finish that doesn’t alter the wood’s natural color, making it ideal for homeowners who prefer a more natural look. It dries quickly and emits fewer fumes, making it a more environmentally friendly option. However, it may not be as durable as oil-based finishes in high-traffic areas.

Hard-Wax Oil

This finish penetrates the wood to create a matte, natural appearance while providing water and stain resistance. Hard-wax oil allows easy spot repairs, making it great for maintaining a fresh look over time. It’s not as durable as polyurethane, however, and requires more regular upkeep.

Penetrating Oil Sealer

Penetrating oil sealer, like tung or linseed oil, soaks into the wood to highlight the grain and add warmth. It provides a soft, natural sheen and allows the wood to breathe. However, it’s less protective against scratches and stains compared to polyurethane finishes.

Acid-Cured Finish

Also known as a Swedish finish, this high-performance option is extremely durable and resistant to wear, moisture, and chemicals. Acid-cured finishes provide a glossy appearance, but the fumes during application can be strong, requiring proper ventilation.

Shellac

Shellac is a natural resin finish that creates a warm, rich color on hardwood. It dries quickly and offers moderate protection, but it’s not as durable as polyurethane or acid-cured finishes. It may also require more frequent maintenance.

Why Not Laminate, or New Hardwood?

Hardwood flooring has stayed trendy over the years, even encouraging the invention of materials like laminate that imitate its appearance but tend to cost a little less.

So why keep the old flooring when you can just get something new?

Well, if time and cost are of any consideration as they are with most of our clients, you’ll want to choose refinishing.

Installing a new floor will take you two to four weeks, whereas refinishing can be finished in three to five days!

When it comes to cost, you’re looking at a $3,000 dollar difference!

So if you don’t absolutely need to replace your hardwood floors, choose to refinish. You won’t regret it.

Can I Refinish?

You may be looking at your floor now and wondering if it’s too far gone. Lucky for you, that is highly unlikely. Hardwood floors can be professionally refinished just about every time. If it’s not an option it’s usually because of one or more of the following reasons:

Thinness

If the wood has already been sanded down an extreme amount, we won’t want to risk going any further, because it won’t support you anymore!

Condition

If a carpet has been screwed in to the flooring for many years, there may be too much damage from screws.

Pests

If your floor has had pests the wood is likely to be brittle and just not a good bet for restoration.