Any flooring type in high-traffic areas will wear out after some years. To give your place a fresh look you may not need a flooring replacement, but only floor refinishing services. Floor refinishing breathes a new life into your stained, scratched, faded flooring without going through the troubles of a floor replacement.
This type of cost-effective floor restoration can work well on any type of hardwood flooring. Floor refinishing not only restores the beauty of your place but also improves the strength and durability of the floor. And this is what we want for you.
Our floor refinishing services at Minuteman Floors are different from many other flooring companies. Below, we will explain our top-notch floor refinishing process in detail to show what distinguishes our job. After that, we will discuss different coatings, wood floor refinishing FAQs, and the advantages of hardwood refinishing. Also, we have provided some original photos of our refinishing services throughout the article.
To enhance the aesthetic appeal and lifespan of your hardwood floor, hire Minuteman Floors in Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett, Goffstown, and Candia in New Hampshire, to enjoy our first-class floor refinishing services.
Call Us Now!Minuteman Floors’ Commercial and Residential Floor Refinishing Services
Hardwood floor refinishing is a multiple-step process to renew the shape and the appearance of the floor and extend its lifespan. There are other benefits to hardwood refinishing that will be discussed later. For now, we are going through Minuteman Floors’ residential and commercial floor refinishing process step by step.
Our 9-step Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Manchester, New Hampshire
Hardwood floor restoration generally involves sanding, staining, sealing, and buffing. Our team of professionals will touch your floor no less than 9 times, something that not many other flooring companies offer. These 9 steps include
Step 1: The First Sanding
The first round of sanding is done to remove the existing finish. A floor sander with coarse-grit sandpaper is used to do the trick. As a result, most of the existing polyurethane finish will be removed.
Step 2: The Second Sanding
The second round of sanding is done with lighter sandpaper. This medium-grit sandpaper guarantees the total removal of the existing finish, as well as, some marks and scratches.
Step 3: The Third Sanding
To remove the remaining imperfections and stains, like water stains, we use an even lighter fine-grit sandpaper.
At the end of these three cycles of sanding, you will have a smooth and even floor. Additionally, the wood pores will be opened, which makes it much more receptive to wood stains (wood paints). This is ideal for when you wish to change the color of your floor as well. Unfortunately, many refinishing services only sand the floor twice.
Step 4: The First Coating
We apply a polyurethane sealing coat as the base to protect the wood floor from wear and tear. It also resists moisture, which adds to the durability of your hardwood floor. We offer both water-based coatings and oil-based coatings for your wooden floor. These two different types of hardwood coatings will be discussed in the next part to help you make an informed decision.Step 5: The First Buffing
Once the base sealant is dry, we buff the floor to make it smooth and shiny and remove any imperfections.Step 6: The Second Coating
A second coating of polyurethane is applied to provide more protection.Step 7: The Second Buffing
When the second coat is dry, we buff the floor again and remove the imperfections of the second coat out of it to achieve an even sheen.Step 8: The Third Coating
For the last cycle of coating, we use a commercial high-traffic polyurethane coating to ensure the wooden floor’s durability, even in high-traffic areas. These three cycles of hardwood coating guarantee a hard finish that is exceptionally strong and stable.Step 9: The Third Buffing
After the commercial-grade finish is dry, the final round of buffing starts. These three buffing steps ensure the final hardwood floor finish is even, smooth, shiny, and without imperfections. This is another feature of our professional floor refinishing that distinguishes us from others. Most hardwood refinishing services only buff once, not three times.Additional Steps
Some additional steps depend on the customer or the condition of the floor. For example, if a customer prefers to change the color of their wooden floor, then there will be an additional step for staining (painting) the floor. This is done right after Step 3, the third sanding. Also, in some cases, some flooring repairs are necessary before sealing. All in all, our quality floor refinishing services could be a really special treat for your old hardwood floor. You can see it for yourself in the real before and after hardwood refinishing photos we have taken and put them here for you. Now, read on to figure out what hardwood coatings we offer. Whether your floor is chestnut, oak, bamboo, pine, walnut, cherry, or any other type of hardwood floor, Minuteman Floors is ready to refinish it for you. Call for more information.Choosing Wood Finishes; Water-Based Coatings or Oil-Based Coatings?
There are different wood coatings available on the market. Mostly, the big question is whether to use water-based coatings or oil-based coatings when it comes to refinishing hardwood floors.
Polyurethane finishes are perhaps the most popular hardwood floor coatings (compared to varnish, shellac, lacquer, etc.), especially for interior applications. It is a clear liquid polymer finish that can make a relatively strong protective surface layer for wood when combined with water or oil as the base.
Let’s talk about each separately.Oil-Based Polyurethane Coatings
Oil-based polyurethane wood finish is a popular choice for floor coating as it gives it a warm and golden look. Additionally, it is thick, durable, and easy to apply. But it can take a while to dry.
Another concern about using oil-based polyurethane coatings is their higher VOC content. VOC or volatile organic compounds are chemicals that contain carbon and they can evaporate and enter the air easily. So, oil-based finishes are considered less environmentally friendly.
Water-Based Polyurethane Coatings
The water-based polyurethane wood finish is clear and easy to clean. It also dries quickly, which can particularly be a great benefit for commercial settings as it means shorter downtime. Another advantage is its lower VOC content.
However, the coating is crystal clear and does not add any golden hue to your flooring, if that’s what you are looking for.
To make it easier for you to decide, we will compare water and oil-based coatings below.
What Kind of Polyurethane Do We Recommend for Hardwood Floor Refinishing?
Choosing the type of wood finishes before starting our floor refinishing services depends on both the customer’s personal preferences and the requirements of the hardwood floor. However,our professional recommendation is to use water-based polyurethane coatings, because they dry fast and are more environmentally friendly.
The table below gives you more information about oil-based coatings vs. water-based coatings.
| Water-Based Polyurethane | Oil-Based Polyurethane | |
| Application Process | It dries more quickly, so the process goes faster. | It is thicker and can take more time to dry. |
| Appearance | It forms a vibrant crystal-clear layer that does not change the color of the flooring. | It has a deep and warm yellowish/amber/golden color. This quality gives the floor a rich look. |
| Durability | It provides good durability and resistance to stains and scratches, especially in residential settings. | It is considered more durable and more resistant to chemicals and scratches. |
| Odor | It does not have a strong smell, and as it dries fast the smell goes away quickly. | It has a strong odor and it can linger for a while. |
| Environmental Impact | Due to its low VOC content, water-based coatings are environmentally friendly and do not pose any health threats to people. Also, they can be easily washed off by water and soap, without the need for harsh solvents. | There is much higher VOC content in oil-based coatings and they can easily enter the air, even at room temperature. And, to wash them off, solvent-based products are needed. This can have bad effects both on the environment and people. |
We offer high-quality water-based and oil-based finishes. Our experts will help you choose the right coating for your place.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing Services FAQs
There are some common questions about wood floor refinishing services we frequently hear from our customers. We have decided to answer them here for you.How Often Should I Refinish My Hardwood Floor?
Depending on the foot traffic and how well you maintain it, you should expect to refinish your wood floor every 7 to 10 years.How Many Times Can I Refinish My Wood Floor?
The thickness of wood planks is different. But if you only hire experienced professionals whenever you need refinishing, you can do it 4 to 6 times.How Much Does It Cost to Refinish a Hardwood Floor?
The cost depends on various factors, such as the size of the place, customization, the type of coating, etc. Call us to discuss more.Can I Change the Color of My Wood Floor During Refinishing
Yes. It is optional. You can choose the stain (paint) that you wish and before we start the coating process, we apply the stain to change the wood color.Should I Use Water-Based Coatings or Oil-Based Coatings on My Hardwood Flooring?
Although it depends on the conditions of the wood floor, water-based coatings are better because they dry fast (around 6 hours), they do not smell a lot, and they do not contain a lot of VOCs, which makes them safer and more environmentally friendly.Will Refinishing My Wood Floor Remove All the Scratches and Stains?
Yes. The surface of your current wood floor will be sanded during refinishing. This removes the surface scratches, dents, and stains.Can I DIY Hardwood Floor Refinishing?
No. It is a complicated process that needs experience and professional tools. You can easily damage your wood floor so badly and cause costly repair and replacement.
Call Toll-FreeAdvantages of Refinishing Hardwood Floor
Obviously, professional floor refinishing will bring about a lot of benefits, some of which include- Improving the floor’s overall visual aesthetic: Hardwood flooring, like any other flooring type, is susceptible to scratch, wear, tear, and becoming dull. Refinishing your wood floor can restore its beauty and smoothness.
- Extending the floor’s lifespan: During the refinishing process, all the damage and imperfections are removed. Besides, new coatings protect the wood floor against scratches and stains. All these make your floor stronger and more durable.
- Refinishing is cost-effective: Being one of the most expensive flooring types, hardwood floor complete replacement will cost you a lot more than wood floor refinishing.
- Changing the appearance of your floor without replacing it: One of the great benefits of refinishing hardwood floors is the possibility of customization. You can choose to change the color and/or the finish. This is especially ideal for those who wish to change their home design.
- Easy cleaning and maintenance: It is tricky to clean and maintain a damaged wood floor because dirt gets stuck in the dents and scratches. When the surface is smooth, you can easily and quickly sweep or mop the floor.
- Creating a healthier environment: When there are a lot of particles and dust in the floor’s cracks and scratches, it affects indoor air quality and gives rise to breathing problems, particularly for those suffering from allergies and asthma.
- Increasing the market value of your place: A good-looking floor is a big asset when it comes to selling or renting out the place.