Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Over the years we've tried out many combinations of vacuums and machines to achieve some of the best dust collection in the industry. with that said, no hardwood floor refinishing is truly dust-free. We are simply trying to bring the amount as close to zero as possible. A thin layer of dust, similar to the amount found during a routine house dusting, should be expected. If better results are achieved, this is an added benefit.

A good idea for the extra sensitive customers is to line up a house cleaner after the hardwood refinish takes place. During the refinish, request plastic be put up to block off surrounding rooms. This will come at an additional cost, but make protects especially sensitive items such as an office or electronics.

Most professional companies will request access to 220v power. Oftentimes, this will require the use of a dryer or stove outlet, and/or a minimum 30 amp breaker in your fuse panel.

Note: if 110v wall outlets that previously worked do not work on completion of a hardwood refinish, this is often not the fault of the refinishing company. Instead, this is generally an issue with your home's electrical system that was exposed by running continuous power to a circuit. Often, similar occurrences will take place running toasters, portable AC units, hair dryers, etc. Consult an electrician if this happens.

Most Top coat finishes used today are water-based. Industry-leading water-based finishes like Bona and Palmann have a full cure time of 5-7 days. This is a vast improvement over former oil-based finishes such as Synteko which had a cure time of 2 weeks. Top-of-the-line finish like Bona Traffic HD boasts a full cure time of 3 days! Consult your hardwood floor refinishing crew for accurate information on the specific finish they use.

After full cure time has elapsed, it is safe to put rugs down. Keep in mind that area rugs placed in areas will lots of sunlight will always experience some spot fading. This can be mitigated with the use of blinds.

Screen & Re-coats are excellent maintenance steps. In a 4 person household with avg use, a screen & re-coat is a good step every 1-2 years. If you are lighter on your floor, consider it every 5 years. In our experience, this is a worthwhile procedure that elongates the time in between full refinishes at around 1/4-1/5th the cost.

Floor refinishing is a job that should be left to the professionals. At Eco Floors, we use up to 7 machines on a standard refinish. Not only would you have to develop skills with each of these machines, you'd have to understand the interplay between them. Without a knowledge of what each machine is, what it is capable of sanding, and how to use it, it is extremely difficult and time-consuming for you to attempt a refinish. What grits should you use? What grits will show up once the finish is applied? How do you contain the dust? How do you apply the finish without leaving lines, pools, or dry spots? How do you make the end finish smooth? When should you water pop the floor to achieve better results? These are only some of the questions a professional refinisher must be able to answer to deliver an excellent finished product.

What are some worst-case scenarios for a botched refinish job? An inexperienced sander may sand through the entire "wear life" of their newly installed floor resulting in extensive board replacement or the need for a full floor replacement. If the finish or stain is applied and doesn't dry, you will have to pay a flooring company 25% or more extra, in addition to their normal price, to clean up the mess and re-sand the floor. Keep in mind, that we are often contracted to fix the work of other refinish companies that have experience.