Hardwood Floors

We run across floors that have ware, scratches, or minor imperfections. In many cases like this, a full sanding to the bare wood may not be necessary. After we've done our on-site assessment, if we determine this is the case, we may recommend a simple "Screen and Recoat" option. This allows us to typically spend much less time, material and labor cost, saving you money and placing a new "Recoat" or refinish on the surface of your floors. 

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Proper maintenance, cleaning, and having your floors managed in a timely manner can save you time, money and keep your floors looking great for years to come. We'll come in, do a "screen" of the top surface of the finish of your floors, which allows for both a good mechanical and chemical bond to the floors of the recoat. After the screening and clean-up is finished, we'll then apply one to two coats of a recoat finish. 

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In many cases we can be in and out the same day. Below are a couple examples of the screen and recoat process. Contact us for more information.

Providing your floors meet the criteria, we'll begin by using a very fine screening disc on a machine to "screen" or rough the surface of the current surface. This is necessary for a good bond to occur, prior to applying the new sealer product to your floor. Your technician will explain cure time, when you'll be able to walk on the floor with light traffic, and other important information during the installation.

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We do a thorough vacuuming and wipe of the surface prior to applying any finish. While we do attach a vacuum system to most of our machines it you can expect some dust to escape and spread through the home. We do our best to stop the spread of dust.

We use a variety of products from a number of manufacturers and are always doing research, looking for better, more durable finishes that out-perform previous ones. We will go over the benefits and options of different types during the initial assessment to see what works best for your floors and your situation. We're always available for questions if you have any.

More often than not, we find that many of the cleaning products on the market today sold specifically for hardwood floors actually contain an acrylic wax in them. This wax, when first put down, usually gives the floors a bright luster, almost like a high gloss finish in a polyurethane or sealer that you'd seal a hardwood floor with. What usually happens over time though is the wax loses its luster and rather than it being polished or removed, additional cleaner is added, giving that luster again. Over time though, this can cause a fairly thick layer of wax that actually causes the original finish of the wood floors to be lost.

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When we do our onsite visit, we'll usually perform a wax test to determine if any wax needs to be removed, especially if the floor just needs to be cleaned and maintained or a Screen and Recoat needs to be done. Let us help you maintain those floors with regular floor scrubber maintenance visits to help keep dirt, residue and wax build-up from generating on your beautiful hardwood floors. Call us for more information.

During our Assessment we'll discuss your goals, budget and condition of your floor. Some cases require a complete sanding down to the natural wood to access the grain of the wood, level and smooth out the floor and prepare it for a refinish. 

A full refinish typically takes multiple days and is more expensive due to additional equipment, labor, and material costs. There are benefits such as allowing some deeper scratches or marks to be addressed and sanded for a better finish, changing the color scheme of the floor, and blending some problems such as urine and water stains.

Your technician will explain your particular scenario after the inspection and provide you with a recommendation on what we believe is a best course of action towards refinishing your floors. See the pictures below for additional information.

Depending on the species of wood floor you have, opening or "popping" the grain is a process in the preparation phase, prior to staining, which opens the wood grain after it was sanded, allowing a more even and consistent finish. 

Staining can be an option, depending on the floor and budget. It does add additional costs and time but can dramatically change and customize your floor. We do our best to try to match a customer's color choice to availability and product.

Depending on the job site, material and condition, we may apply the stain manually or with equipment to ensure an even and consistent look throughout. The final step after the application of stain is the sealer or finish. Our technician will visit with you about the sheen you desire, your lighting and area. Some situations work better with a shinier finish while others look and function better with a duller or more matte finish, or somewhere in between.