When we first completed your floor, you were amazed at how the floor looked. Over time, you have walked on the floor and the finish which protects it. Many times that finish starts to show signs of wear somewhere between five and ten years after the initial application. The finish may look dull or have surface scratches on it. It is at this point that we want to add coats of finish to keep the floor looking great for many more years.
Here are the most common questions we receive about recoats:
We want to recoat after it shows signs of dulling and surface scratches, but before the finish is completely gone. If you wait too long and the finish is gone, the wood will turn gray as water penetrates the wood.
No – Every household is different. The general rule is that if the floor doesn’t show dulling or surface scratches, it will not need to be recoated. If the wood floor is in your main traffic areas or if you have small children or pets, it is also more likely to need a recoat in 5 years. If you are not sure, we will come to your home and give you a free inspection. If we think it does not need a recoat, we will let you know.
Prior to recoating, we lightly sand the floor. However, it is not as much dust as when we originally sanded the floor.
If we used our Swedish finish (Glitsa) on your floor, there will be a smell and we do recommend leaving for the evening. If we used a water based finish on your floor, there will not be much of an odor and you may choose to stay there. Many times we will coordinate the recoat for a time when you are going to be away from your home.
We generally put on two coats of finish. The first coat of finish adds the body and depth to the floor. The second coat provides the satin sheen and durability.
Yes - We recommend that you clean your floor with vinegar and water or with our cleaning solutions. If you have used any other cleaning products such as oil soaps, waxes, or furniture polishes, the recoat may not work. Those cleaning products can cause the new coats of finish to wrinkle or separate.
In most cases the answer is yes. However, if you have deeper scratches in the wood (ones you can feel), the recoat does not rectify the problem. In fact, it may magnify those scratches.
At this point, your floor would need to be sanded to the bare wood and re-stained and finished. The good news for you is that we have invested in the Atomic Dust Containment system. This system removes all airborne dust making the sanding process virtually dust free.
You will need to take out all furniture. Most people will not remove their appliances.
Yes - In recent years, wood medallions have become more popular. These medallions can be inserted in your floor prior to recoating to give your home a new look. We can also deepen the color of your floor by adding tints to the finish.