Woodbury Hardwood Floor Refinishing & Installation

Wood Floor Refinishing Service - Choice Hardwoods - AFTER

Wood floor sanding, staining and refinishing

Refinishing your hardwood floors can dramatically transform the look of your home, breathing new life into old, worn-out floors. Not only does hardwood floor refinishing restore the original beauty of your floors, but it also extends their lifespan, allowing them to last for decades with proper care. If you’re researching the process, stain options, finishes, and how to choose the right look for your wood floors, you’ve come to the right place. Choice Hardwoods, a leading expert in the field, can guide you through this process, helping you make informed decisions that suit your style and home’s needs.

The Process of Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Hardwood floor refinishing generally involves three key steps: preparation, wood floor sanding, and applying a finish. Here’s an overview of the process:

1.Preparation: The first step in refinishing hardwood floors is preparing the room. Furniture, rugs, and any other items will need to be removed. Floors will be inspected for any necessary repairs, such as replacing damaged boards or filling in gaps. This is also the time to decide if you want to change the color of your floor with a stain.

2.Wood Floor Sanding: Once the floor is prepped, the next step is sanding. Sanding removes the existing finish and any surface imperfections such as scratches, dents, and worn areas. This process leaves the raw wood exposed and ready for a new finish. Sanding can also help even out any inconsistencies in the wood’s surface, making it smooth and uniform.

3.Staining and Finishing: After wood floor sanding, you can choose to either leave your floors natural or apply a stain to achieve the color you want. Once stained, a protective finish is applied to seal and protect the wood. Choosing the right finish is essential for the durability and aesthetics of your hardwood floors.

Staining Wood Floors: Color Options and Design Trends

When refinishing your hardwood floors, one of the most exciting decisions is whether to stain them. Staining allows you to change the color of your floors to match your home’s design. Modern trends include both dark and light finishes, as well as natural looks.

Dark Stains: Rich, dark stains like espresso or ebony create a luxurious and modern feel in a home. These shades are particularly popular in contemporary and minimalist designs, where they complement neutral color schemes and sleek furniture.

Light Stains: Lighter stains like gray, whitewash, or natural oak are trending in modern design. These lighter shades make spaces feel more open and airy, which can be ideal for smaller rooms or homes with minimal natural light. Light stains are also great for Scandinavian or coastal-inspired interiors.

Natural Finish: If you prefer to keep the natural look of your hardwood floors, you can opt for a clear finish that enhances the wood’s natural color. This is especially popular with woods like maple or oak, which have beautiful grains and textures that can stand alone without the need for additional color.

At Choice Hardwoods, we understand how the right stain can dramatically change the look of your home. We offer a variety of color options, and our team is happy to help you choose the best one to fit your design vision.

Polyurethane Finish Options: Water-Based vs. Oil-Based

Once you’ve chosen whether to stain your hardwood floors or leave them natural, it’s time to select a finish. The most common types of finishes are water-based and oil-based polyurethane, each offering unique advantages.

1.Water-Based Polyurethane:

Pros: Water-based finishes are popular for their quick drying time and low odor. They are more eco-friendly than oil-based finishes and have a clear, non-yellowing appearance, which is ideal for lighter stains or natural wood. If you’re looking for a more modern or subtle finish, water-based polyurethane is often the best option.

Cons: Water-based polyurethane may not be as durable as oil-based finishes, and it typically requires more coats to achieve the same level of protection.

Best For: Modern homes, lighter wood species like maple or white oak, and spaces where a minimal, clear finish is desired.

2.Oil-Based Polyurethane:

Pros: Oil-based finishes are known for their durability and rich, warm look. They add a slight amber tint to the wood, which deepens over time, giving your floors a classic, traditional feel. Oil-based polyurethane also requires fewer coats and can last longer under heavy foot traffic.

Cons: This type of finish has a stronger odor and takes longer to dry. It also tends to darken the wood over time, which may or may not be desirable depending on your design goals.

Best For: Traditional homes, darker wood species like walnut or red oak, and areas that see a lot of wear and tear.

Both options are excellent choices, but the right one for you depends on your personal preferences, the species of your wood floors, and how you want them to look in the long run.

Wood Species and Finish Compatibility

Different types of wood species react to stains and finishes differently, which is why it’s important to understand the characteristics of your floors before making a decision. For example:

Oak: Oak is one of the most common hardwood species found in homes. It absorbs stains well and looks great with both light and dark finishes. Oak’s strong grain pattern gives it character and works well with a variety of design styles.

Maple: Maple has a smooth, consistent grain and a lighter color. It’s often left natural or lightly stained, as it doesn’t absorb darker stains as evenly. Maple is ideal for modern or minimalist spaces that favor a clean, sleek look.

Walnut: Walnut has a deep, rich color that is naturally darker than many other woods. It looks best with a clear or oil-based finish that enhances its natural beauty without overpowering it.

At Choice Hardwoods, we have experience working with all types of wood species and can help you choose the perfect combination of stain and finish to suit your flooring needs.

Why Refinishing Your Hardwood Floors is Worth It

Hardwood floor refinishing is a fantastic way to upgrade your home without the cost of a full floor replacement. It can increase the value of your property, as well-maintained hardwood floors are highly desirable for potential buyers. Refinishing your floors not only makes them look brand new, but it also prolongs their lifespan, ensuring that they remain a beautiful and functional part of your home for years to come.

Whether you’re looking to go lighter, darker, or just refresh your floors with a clear finish, Choice Hardwoods is the perfect partner for your wood floor refinishing project. With our expertise in wood floor sanding, staining, and finishing, we’ll ensure that your floors are transformed into a stunning, long-lasting feature that adds value and beauty to your home.

Hardwood floor installation, patching & repairs

Hardwood Floor Refinish - Wood Floor Sanding - Floor Installation
Measuring and installing light wood - Hardwood Floor Installation - Minneapolis, MN - Choice Hardwoods

A hardwood floor installation is an excellent investment in any home, offering unmatched beauty, durability, and value. Whether you’re installing brand-new hardwood or replacing damaged areas through patching and repairs, understanding the process can help you know what to expect. With decades of experience in the industry, Choice Hardwoods has helped countless homeowners transform their interiors with high-quality wood flooring installations, repairs, and refinishing. Here’s a comprehensive look at how a typical wood floor installation project unfolds, and how patching and repairs are seamlessly integrated into the process.

Initial Consultation and Selection

The first step in a hardwood floor installation project is to schedule a consultation with a professional contractor, like Choice Hardwoods, to discuss your vision and preferences. During this stage, we help you choose the best type of hardwood for your home. Hardwood species like oak, maple, and walnut each have unique characteristics in terms of color, grain pattern, and hardness. Additionally, the choice of plank width will impact the final look of your floors—wider planks create a more rustic, expansive feel, while narrow planks are more traditional and elegant.

At this point, you’ll also decide whether you want prefinished hardwood (which comes with a factory-applied finish) or unfinished hardwood, which is installed raw and then sanded and finished onsite. Prefinished hardwood floors offer a quicker installation, as there’s no need for sanding or finishing after installation. However, unfinished hardwood floors provide more flexibility, allowing you to choose custom stains and finishes, and ensuring a perfectly smooth surface.

Wood Acclimation and Subfloor Preparation

Once you’ve selected the type of wood, the next step is to prepare for the installation. One critical aspect of hardwood floor installation is ensuring that the wood is properly acclimated to the room’s environment. Hardwood planks need to sit in the room for several days before installation to adjust to the humidity and temperature. This step prevents the wood from expanding or contracting too much after it’s installed, which could lead to gaps or buckling.

In addition to acclimating the wood, the subfloor must be carefully inspected and prepared. At Choice Hardwoods, we always check for proper subfloor conditions to ensure the success of the installation. This includes evaluating the subfloor for moisture content, which can be a significant factor in the performance of your hardwood floors. If necessary, we address any issues with the subfloor, such as adding moisture barriers or repairing weak spots.

Installation Process

Once the wood has acclimated and the subfloor is ready, the actual installation begins. Choice Hardwoods uses tried-and-true methods to ensure that your wood floor installation is smooth and precise.

1.Laying the Boards: Hardwood planks are carefully laid out to create a natural flow and uniform appearance. We often start from the longest wall in the room and stagger the joints to create a more stable and aesthetically pleasing layout.

2.Securing the Wood: There are several methods for securing hardwood planks, including nailing, stapling, or gluing the boards to the subfloor. The best method depends on the type of wood and subfloor you have. Regardless of the method used, our goal is to create a strong, durable floor that will last for decades.

3.Sanding and Finishing (if applicable): For unfinished hardwood floors, after installation, the next step is to sand the surface to ensure a perfectly smooth, even floor. Sanding removes any rough spots, ensuring the wood is ready for staining and finishing. You can then choose a stain and finish that suits your style, whether you prefer the warmth of oil-based poly or the clear, quick-drying benefits of water-based finishes.

Patching and Repairs

Sometimes, homeowners choose to install hardwood in a home that already has wood floors in certain areas, or they may want to address damage such as water stains, buckling, or pet damage. This is where hardwood floor repairs come in. The good news is that hardwood floors are versatile and can often be repaired without replacing the entire floor.

If certain boards are damaged or worn out, Choice Hardwoods can remove the affected areas and seamlessly weave new wood into the existing floor. Here’s how the hardwood floor repair process works:

1.Removing the Damaged Boards: The first step is to carefully cut out and remove the damaged boards without disturbing the surrounding wood. We take great care to avoid further damage and ensure the remaining floor is in good condition.

2.Weaving in New Wood: Once the damaged boards are removed, we select new boards that match the existing wood as closely as possible in terms of species, width, and grain pattern. The new boards are then installed using the same methods as the original installation, ensuring a seamless look.

3.Sanding and Finishing: After the new boards are in place, the entire floor, including the repaired area, will need to be sanded down to create an even surface. This is an essential step to blend the new wood with the existing floor. Finally, the entire floor is refinished to ensure that the color and finish match perfectly.

Final Steps and Cleanup

After the hardwood floor installation or repairs are complete, we apply the finish, whether you’ve chosen a natural finish, stain, or a specific type of polyurethane. This finish not only enhances the beauty of the wood but also protects it from scratches, spills, and daily wear and tear.

Once the finish has been applied and dried, the final step is cleaning up the workspace. At Choice Hardwoods, we take pride in leaving your home spotless, so you can immediately enjoy your new floors. We also provide tips on how to care for your hardwood floors, ensuring they stay beautiful and durable for years to come.

Why Choose Choice Hardwoods?

Choosing the right contractor for your hardwood floor installation or repair project is crucial to achieving the best results. Choice Hardwoods has extensive experience in installing, repairing, and refinishing hardwood floors, and we are committed to providing high-quality service to every customer. Whether you’re installing brand-new floors or patching up a damaged area, we’ll ensure that the job is done with precision and care. With our expertise, attention to detail, and dedication to customer satisfaction, Choice Hardwoods is the top choice for homeowners looking to transform their spaces with beautiful, long-lasting hardwood floors.

If you’re ready to take the next step, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to guide you through every stage of the wood floor installation process, from product selection to the final finish.

Choice Hardwoods MN - Wood Floor Refinishing - Wood Floor Installation - Hardwood Floor Repair

Choice Hardwoods
10917 Rhode Island Cir N, Champlin, MN 55316