Refinishing
Refinishing restores a floor's original luster, enhances the aesthetic appeal of a home, and increases property value.
Refinishing solid hardwood floors is an essential maintenance task that helps preserve the beauty, durability, and longevity of the flooring. Over time, hardwood floors experience wear and tear from foot traffic, furniture movement, pets, and exposure to moisture. Scratches, dents, and fading can make the floors look dull and aged. Refinishing restores their original luster, enhances the aesthetic appeal of a home, and increases property value. It also protects the wood from further damage, preventing costly repairs or even complete floor replacement in the future.
The refinishing process
The refinishing process involves several steps to ensure a smooth and professional result. First, the floors must be thoroughly cleaned to remove dust and debris. Next, sanding is performed using a drum sander to strip away the old finish, smooth out imperfections, and create a clean surface. This step is crucial, as it allows for an even application of the new finish. After sanding, the floor is vacuumed and wiped down to remove any remaining dust particles.
Once the surface is prepped, a stain can be applied if a color change is desired. After staining, a protective sealant of oil-based or water-based polyurethane finish is applied in multiple coats to enhance durability and resistance to damage. Each coat needs adequate drying time before the next is added. The final step involves buffing to create a polished and even finish.
99% dust free sanding
Traditional sanding sends fine wood dust through the whole house — into vents, onto shelves, and everywhere you did not want it. We use dust free sanding equipment that captures roughly 99% of that dust at the machine, so it goes into a container instead of settling on your belongings.
Custom staining and stain matching
Stain reads differently on every species. The same can of walnut stain will look one way on red oak and another on maple, so we test samples on your own floor before committing to a colour. If you are refinishing one room and need it to match hardwood elsewhere in the house, matching stains to existing floors is something we do regularly.
Choosing a finish
We offer both oil based and water based polyurethane. Oil based ambers gently over time and gives a warmer, more traditional look. Water based dries clearer and faster with less odour, which matters if you need the room back quickly. Neither is universally better — we will explain the trade-off for your floor and your household.
Worth it over replacement
Refinishing hardwood floors not only revitalizes their appearance but also extends their lifespan, making it a cost-effective home improvement. With proper maintenance, refinished floors can last for decades, ensuring a timeless and elegant look in any space.
Refinishing — frequently asked
How often can a hardwood floor be refinished?
A solid hardwood floor can typically be sanded and refinished several times across its life, depending on the thickness of the wood above the tongue and how aggressively it has been sanded before. That is the main advantage solid hardwood has over engineered and laminate products.
What is screening, or a buff and coat?
Screening is a light abrasion of the existing finish followed by a fresh coat of polyurethane. It does not remove stain or reach bare wood, so it will not fix deep scratches or colour changes — but if your finish is dulling and the wood underneath is sound, it is a much faster and cheaper option than a full refinish.
Do I need to move out during refinishing?
Most customers stay. The rooms being worked on are unavailable, and there is odour with oil based finishes, but with dust free sanding the disruption to the rest of the house is limited. We will tell you what to expect for your specific job.
How long before I can put furniture back?
Light foot traffic is usually fine within a day of the final coat, but furniture and rugs need longer so the finish can fully cure. We give you exact timing when we walk the finished floor with you, since it varies between oil and water based polyurethane.
Call today for a free estimate
Tell us about your floors and we will give you an honest assessment and a written estimate at no cost.