Floor Refinishing Service. Hardwood Floor Sanding & Installation
Floor Refinishing Service. Hardwood Floor Sanding & Installation
Hardwood floor refinishing is the process of sanding down the top layer of a hardwood floor and applying a new layer of finish or stain and finish. It also includes removing gaps by filling them in with wood patch. This process can remove scratches, stains, and other damage from the surface of the floor, and give it a fresh, new look. The whole surface needs to be sanded a few times with a different grade of sanding paper and buffed with the screen to achieve the perfect effects.
The length of the refinishing process can vary depending on the size of the room or work area and the condition of the floor, but it typically takes about three to five days. This includes sanding, staining (if desired), and applying the finish coats. The different finish has different drying time, for example, an oil-based finish requires at least 8h of cure time between coats in regular conditions (depending on humidity and if the windows are open, or the fan is running), and the water base is usually dry after the 2 hours with airflow.
Yes, you can stay in your home during the refinishing process, but it is important to keep in mind that there will be some noise and some dust. We take precautions to minimize the mess like securing the other areas of the house by taping the foil and cleaning up thoroughly when the work is done, as well as using a vacuum with a dust separator, filters, and good-quality tools. The only time when you usually won't be able to stay is in the last phase, only when applying an oil-based finish due to a high VOC and fumes concentration.
Yes, all furniture and other items need to be removed from the area before we start the refinishing process. It would have to be done earlier before we start refinishing, as we need to plan our time accordingly. If you can't move it yourself for any reason, you'll have to hire someone to do it for you, however, in some cases, we are able to help with a few items, but not gonna move everything for you, unless you want us to delegate that work and find someone to do it. There is always room to talk about solutions.
We use a variety of finishes depending on the customer’s preference and the condition of the floor. We apply both oil-based polyurethane and water-based finishes like Bona, Loba WS EasyFinish and Pallman, and can explain the difference between them all. Each type of finish has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice depends on your specific needs and preferences.
This can depend on the amount of foot traffic and wear and tear on the floors, but in general, hardwood floors should be refinished every 5-10 years to maintain their appearance and protect them from damage. However, in some cases, we were redoing floors that were still in good condition after 20 years.
Depending on what kind of finish we are gonna use, there may be some odor during the refinishing process due to the chemicals in the finish. This is minimal when using a water-based finish. The oil-based finish gets concentrated a lot, but oxidizes in the first 24 hours. However, we take steps to ventilate the area and minimize any unpleasant smells, which also speeds up drying times.
After the refinishing process is complete, it is important to avoid walking on the floors right away. Cure time: Allows for really light foot traffic in 2-3 hours (when using a water-based finish and at least 8 hours when using an oil-based finish), normal traffic after 24 hours. It all also depends on the amount of airflow. Full cure takes about 5 days but furniture can be set after 72 hours and we recommend area rugs in 10-30 days. Although rugs can be set in as little as 5 days.
Once the finish has fully cured, you can clean the floors with a hardwood floor cleaner like EcoMe floor cleaner, Bean & Lily floor cleaner, Aunt Fannie’s Vinegar floor cleaner, Puracy natural carpet upholstery shampoo, or Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner, etc. and avoid using any harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners. It’s also a good idea to place felt pads under furniture legs to avoid scratching the surface.
We use professional-grade sanding machines, edgers, and buffers to ensure a smooth and even finish. We also use dust containment systems to minimize the amount of dust produced during the sanding process, scrapers, and other tools needed to accomplish the work like hammers, craw bars, air compressors, nail guns, glue, etc. Depending on if it's sanding or installation, there are two different sets of tools needed.
Cure time: Allows for really light foot traffic in 2-3 hours (when using a water-based finish and at least 8 hours when using an oil-based finish), normal traffic after 24 hours. It all also depends on the amount of airflow. Full cure takes about 5 days but furniture can be set after 72 hours and we recommend area rugs in 10-30 days. Although rugs can be set in as little as 5 days.
The finish will continue to cure and harden for several days after application, so it’s best to avoid heavy foot traffic during this time.
Yes, if you want to change the color of your hardwood floors, we can apply a new stain during the refinishing process. We can provide samples to help you choose the right color for your space. We can apply the new color on the small area of your existing floor to help you better envision how it will look. Here is a full list of available stain colors - click here.
We take precautions to protect your walls and baseboards during the refinishing process, but some minor scuffs or marks may occur. You will need to touch up any areas that need attention to ensure a seamless finish. You should be fine when going with the natural look option, however, with darker colors, there can be some stains that need to be touched up.
When performing a stairs installation and when you choose white risers, or woodwork, for example, you'll have to paint them as they will be covered only with one coat of primer.
If you have wooden quarter rounds and baseboards, we are able to refresh them by applying one coat of finish on them while applying it onto the floor.
Yes, we can refinish engineered hardwood floors, but the process is slightly different than refinishing solid hardwood floors. We will assess your floors and recommend the best approach for refinishing them. Usually, you can refinish an engineered floor up to 2 times, it all depends on the amount of real wood layer in the engineered floor and the floor wear.
Refinishing will restore the natural beauty and shine of your hardwood floors, but it depends on the condition of the wood. If the wood is severely damaged or warped, refinishing may not be enough to make it look new again. In most cases, it looks like new or better.
The cost of refinishing hardwood floors varies depending on several factors, including the size of the floor, the condition of the wood, the type of finish used, if there will be a stain used or not if there is some woodwork to do like quarter rants; base shoe; baseboards and the location of the job. On average, the cost ranges from $3 to $8 per square foot. However, we are quite competitive and usually charge from $2-6 per sqft for sanding depending on the job complexity, and $2-4 for installation.
We accept Checks, Zelle, Cash, and Apple Pay. At this moment we do not offer financing, but if requested we can research an appropriate option for you.
I guarantee a flawless finish and satisfaction. Never had issues with my work quality when sanding hardwood floors. I'm an attention-to-detail guy. Any issues that you address about my work quality, I'm able to solve or do a touch-up. I believe that providing excellent work quality pays off in the future, as people will recommend me more likely - no flaws left behind. I'm not set on a quantity of jobs, but work quality.
Yes. These finishes are low VOC and can be walked on with socks within just a few hours without the toxic smell. What's more, they are low-emission (VOC < 80 g/L) and meet current requirements for workplace and consumer health and safety.
Yes, most people schedule a painter right after the floors are refinished. However, keep in mind those few tips as it is very important! Most experienced painters know that they shouldn't place any foil on the floor to secure it from the paint. Instead, use the paper I tape together so that it doesn't slide, and tape the sides into the baseboards, not to the floor. Adhesiveness in the tape will damage the floor. The newly refinished floor needs to still "breathe" and fully cure. Curing time depends on the finish that was used, but usually, it takes about 5 days, for the full cure to reach up to 10 days. Read more about cure time in the bookmark: HOW LONG
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Refinishing Service – Northbrook
