Process For Refinishing Floors At Choice Hardwoods

At Choice Hardwoods, we specialize in bringing your hardwood floors back to life through a meticulous and professional full sand and refinish process. This process is designed to completely restore the look and feel of your floors, removing years of wear, scratches, stains, and discoloration. Our system utilizes the best equipment and techniques to ensure that your floors not only look amazing but also stand up to everyday use for years to come. Below is a detailed description of our full sand and refinish procedure, from start to finish.

Step 1: Setting Up and Preparing the Work Area

The first step in our process is to properly prepare the work area. This includes moving any furniture and covering up any areas that need protection from dust and debris. Our team takes great care in protecting your home, including laying down tarps or plastic to cover vents, doorways, and other surfaces that could be exposed to dust.

Once the area is prepped, we assess the floor’s condition, discussing your specific needs and any preferences for finishing—whether it’s a natural look with just a sealer and poly, or a stained finish with multiple layers of protection.

Step 2: Sanding the Floor with the Drum Sander

The most crucial part of a full sand and refinish job is the sanding process. We begin by using a drum sander, which is the primary tool for removing the old finish and smoothing out the wood surface. To achieve a smooth, uniform surface, we start with 36-grit sandpaper, which is coarse enough to take off the bulk of the old finish and any imperfections on the wood.

After the first sanding pass, we switch to a finer 60-grit paper to refine the floor further and remove any heavy sanding marks left by the coarse paper. The final pass with a 100-grit sandpaper ensures the surface is smooth and ready for the next stage.

The drum sander is the most efficient tool for larger, flat areas of the floor. However, there are certain areas where the drum sander can’t reach, such as along the edges and in the corners. That’s why we move to the next critical step.

Step 3: Pre-Scraping the Edges and Corners

To make sure the sanding is done properly around the perimeter of the room and in the corners, we pre-scrape the edges using hand scrapers. This step ensures that we don’t bump into the trim when running the edger sander and that we’re able to get every inch of the floor.

Pre-scraping is especially important because trim can be delicate, and we want to avoid damaging it. By manually scraping the edges, we also ensure that we can remove any remaining finish or rough spots that the drum sander might have missed.

Step 4: Using the Edger Sander

Once the edges and corners are scraped, we move on to the edger sander, which allows us to remove the finish from areas that the drum sander couldn’t reach. The edger sander is an important tool because it gives us more precision when working around the edges of the room and in tight spaces.

For the first pass, we start with 24-grit sandpaper to remove the old finish. After that, we follow up with 60-grit paperto smooth out any rough patches and refine the surface. Finally, we use 100-grit paper to finish the edges, ensuring a seamless transition between the sanded floor and the perimeter.

This multi-step process with the edger ensures that every square inch of the floor is properly sanded and prepped for the next steps, achieving a consistent and smooth surface.

Step 5: Buffing the Floor

Once the sanding is complete, we move on to buffing the entire floor with a 120-grit buffer disc. Buffing is a critical step in the process because it tightens the grain of the wood, which helps to ensure a smooth and even finish once the final coat is applied.

Buffing also helps to blend in the different sanding stages. The sanding marks left behind from the coarse grit papers can be smoothed out during this step, ensuring that the floor looks uniform and polished before we apply any coatings. This step is especially important for achieving a high-quality result, as it eliminates any inconsistencies and gives the floor a refined appearance.

Step 6: Cleaning and Vacuuming the Floor

After buffing, the next step is to clean the floor thoroughly. Dust and debris can affect the adhesion of the finish, so we use high-powered vacuum systems to remove every bit of dust and residue left behind from the sanding and buffing process. Our team takes great care in ensuring that the floor is completely clean before moving on to the final coating steps.

We also take this opportunity to inspect the floor for any remaining imperfections. If we find any, we address them before continuing with the coating process.

Step 7: Choosing the Finish and Staining Process

At this point, we’re ready to apply the protective finish to your hardwood floors. Depending on your preferences, we offer a couple of different options for how to proceed:

1. Natural Finish: If you’ve chosen to keep the natural look of your hardwood, we proceed with sealer and polyurethane. This provides a durable, protective layer without altering the natural color of the wood. It enhances the wood’s grain while providing long-lasting protection.

2. Stained Finish: If you’ve opted for a stained finish, the first step is to water pop the wood. Water popping involves lightly dampening the surface with water, which raises the grain of the wood and helps the stain absorb more evenly. This ensures that the color of the stain is consistent throughout the entire floor.

Once the water popping is complete, we proceed with applying the stain of your choice. Our team applies the stain evenly, ensuring that the color is uniform and to your liking. After staining, we allow the floor to dry thoroughly before applying the protective topcoat.

Step 8: Coating the Floor

With the stain (if chosen) applied and dry, we move forward with coating the floor. The coating process involves applying several layers of polyurethane or other protective finishes, depending on your preferences. Polyurethane is the most common choice for hardwood floors, as it offers great protection against scratches, moisture, and wear.

We typically apply two to three coats of polyurethane, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next. Between each coat, we screen the floor (lightly sanding the surface) and vacuum it to ensure proper adhesion and to eliminate any dust or debris. This step helps create a flawless finish that adheres to the wood and lasts for years.

Step 9: Final Inspection and Cleanup

Once the final coat is applied, we allow the floor to cure properly before conducting a final inspection. We make sure there are no imperfections, bumps, or missed areas. Our team carefully checks every corner and edge to ensure the work is up to our high standards.

After the inspection, we perform a final cleanup of the area, ensuring that your home is as clean as when we first arrived (if not cleaner!). We also ensure that your floors are completely dry and ready for you to enjoy.