When To Refinish Your Floors

February 27, 2019

There are telltale signs of an engineered wood floor that requires refinishing. Typically, the surface layer of the floors will be lackluster, have stains, warping, or deep scratches. Over time, it is inevitable that the surface layer – or “wear layer” will wear away.

Many opt to remove and replace only a few boards when there is not a significant amount of damage to the overall flooring. This is a cost-effective solution to postpone refinishing the entire floor. Compared to hardwood floors, engineered wood flooring will require less refinishing or restoration over its course of life. Engineered wood flooring will typically be refinished 1 or 2 times.

How Is Engineered Flooring Refinished?

There are 2 ways to refinish your engineered wood floors. Traditional refinishing involves sanding the surface of your floor to remove damage done to the top layer through wear and tear. Sanding the surface layer will remove scratches, stains, the surface coat, and uneven sections. The sanding process will reveal a smooth surface and renew its grain. After a thorough vacuum session, a polyurethane sealer will be applied to restore the shine – possibly following up with a stain. There is the option to choose between an oil-based or water-based stain. Depending on the thickness of the surface layer, the floor may be sanded more often. It can take up to a week for the entire refinishing process to be completed, this includes drying time.

The other option is sandless refinishing. This process is less invasive compared to the traditional method, as a more gentle sanding technique is implemented. Next, an etching chemical is applied to the top layer where slight damages are repaired then sealed with the application of a top coat.

Please contact MC Floor Solutions Inc. today to schedule a free consultation.