Sand-and-recoat or full refinish, which do I need?

If your floor's finish is dull but not scratched, sand-and-recoat. If you have water stains, gouges, or cup, full refinish. We tell you on the estimate.

How dusty is the project really?

With HEPA-attached dust containment, very little airborne dust escapes the sanding zone. We use plastic sheeting at every doorway and run negative-pressure fans. Most clients can stay in the home, with the work zone sealed.

Water-based or oil-modified polyurethane?

Water-based cures faster (24 hours to walk on, 7 days for furniture), low VOC, color-true. Oil-modified gives a richer amber tone, takes longer to cure (3-4 days walk-on, 14-30 days for furniture), and is slightly more durable in heavy traffic. We recommend per use case.

How long until I can walk on the floor?

Water-based: 24 hours light traffic, 5-7 days regular traffic, 14 days for area rugs. Oil-modified: 72 hours light traffic, 7-10 days regular, 21 days for area rugs. Pets stay off twice as long.

Can my old fir or pine floors be refinished?

Usually yes. Bellingham has a lot of original 1900s-1940s Douglas fir and pine. These refinish beautifully but the wood is softer than oak, so we use lighter sanding grits and we may recommend a hardier finish.

Do you handle stair refinishing?

Yes. Stair treads and risers refinish at $105 to $200 per tread. Stair work usually adds 1-2 days to a refinishing project.

How long does the project take?

Sand-and-recoat: 2-3 days plus cure. Full refinish: 4-6 days plus cure. A typical kitchen runs 3-5 days from start to walk-on.

Will the new finish change the floor color?

Slightly yes. Old finish typically has yellowed; new water-based finish is clearer. Old oil-modified finish has amber tone; new oil-modified will be similar but slightly more amber. We can show you finish samples on a closet board first.

Can you change the stain color?

Yes, full refinish lets you change stain. We sand to bare wood, apply new stain (with water-pop test for even color), and apply finish coats. Adds $0.55 to $1.10 per sqft over natural-finish refinish.

Manufacturer warranty on the finish (typically 5-10 years residential) and our 2-year labor warranty.

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