Over time, normal wear and tear takes a toll on the appearance of your hardwood floors. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that the only way to restore wood floors to their former beauty is to refinish them. The good news is that in many cases, you can save a whole lot of money and get excellent results with a re-coat.
So what’s the difference between a refinish and a re-coat?
The Refinish
Refinishing a hardwood floor is an expensive and extensive restoration process. A large, heavy sanding machine is used to remove the existing finish from the floor, and the exposed wood is sanded down to even out the surface and remove dents, scratches, and most types of discoloration.
Following the sanding, great care is taken to remove every speck of dust from the surface of the floor, which is then stained. Once the stain is dry, three coats of finish are applied, with each allowed to dry before the next is added. Lifetime Hardwood Floors offers UV and LED curing, which take the drying time down to a matter of minutes.
During a refinish, many homeowners arrange to leave the house for a few days to avoid the mess and odors associated with refinishing. However, we use low-VOC, low-odor finishes that reduce the inconvenience of having your floors refinished.
Why You Might Choose a Refinish
If you want to change the color of your wood floors or have them re-stained to match other wood in your home, a refinish is the only way to go. Additionally, if you have deep scratches, uneven coloring due to fading from sunlight exposure, or discoloration due to moisture or pet accidents, you’ll need to have the floors completely refinished.
The Re-coat
Recoating a hardwood floor is a simple process in most cases, and it’s far less expensive than a refinish. A re-coat involves roughing up the existing coating, either by lightly sanding—or “screening”—the existing finish or by chemically etching the strong-as-nails coating of a pre-finished floor. Once the floor is prepped and all specks of dust are removed, a new coat of finish is laid down over the existing roughed-up coat and allowed to dry for 24 hours.
It’s important to note that some floors can’t be recoated. If any of the existing finish has completely worn down to the wood, a refinish will be needed to prevent uneven coloring. If certain substances like wax or oil soap have been used to maintain the floors, there’s a good chance that a new finish won’t stick, even if steps are taken to try to remove the residue of the substance. Floors that have been pre-finished in the factory and coated with Teflon or Scotchguard for added durability also can’t be recoated, because it’s impossible to abrade these coatings.
Why You Might Choose a Re-coat
If your floor is looking a little dull and tired due to scratches on the finish surface, a re-coat will leave them looking glossy and smooth again, just like they did when they were originally installed. Although deeper damage can’t be undone with a re-coat, the overall appearance of your floor will be dramatically improved. Most experts recommend re-coating your hardwood floor every three to five years, depending on the amount of wear and tear. For floors that are heavily used, a re-coat should be done when the floor starts looking worn.
A Quick Note About Finishes
Unlike the olden days of harsh oil-based finishes, most quality wood flooring contractors today use a water-based finish, which produces far fewer harmful fumes. While oil-based finishes are more forgiving, they take a long time to dry and have a strong odor. Water-based finishes are durable, beautiful, and better for your health and the environment. When you’re choosing a contractor for a refinish or re-coat, consider the type of finish he or she will be using. Ideally, you should opt for a water-based coating for the best—and safest—results.
Call Lifetime Hardwood Floors for a Free Consultation
If you’re ready to restore your floors to their former glory, contact Lifetime Hardwood Floors today. We offer a free in-home consultation to inspect and test your floors to determine whether they’re a candidate for a re-coat. For both re-coating and refinishing, we use a high quality finish and state-of-the art tools and technologies to bring your hardwood floors back to life.
