Sand and Finish or Buff and Coat? What do I need?

Individuals with hardwood flooring know that over time wear and tear will cause blemishes and scratches on your hardwood flooring, especially in high-traffic environments like hallways and entryways. However, it becomes tricky determining when your hardwood floors require a sand and finish or a buff and coat.

Sand and Finish

Determining why your flooring requires sand and finish generally comes down to two situations:

1. Hardwood Flooring was Installed Before The 1970s

Before the 70s, wax, old-fashioned varnish, or shellac was used as the finish. This is not an issue for the appearance of your floor. However, a new finish will not adhere to a finish that has had wax applied to it. You can re-wax your floors. However, wax is not as durable as a polyurethane coating. In addition, the wax would need to be renewed every 6 months or so in high-traffic areas. To modernize your hardwood floors, it is best to start fresh with a sand and refinish to ensure your wood floors remain beautiful and the upkeep is manageable.

2. Wood Floors have Been Poorly Maintained

Hardwood floors that are poorly maintained will often sustain scratches, gouges, water damage, and discoloration. If you’re lucky, this damage may be to the topcoat of the flooring; if it has made its way down to the wood, you will need a sand and refinish to regain your original hardwood floors luster.

Buff and Coat

When is this necessary?

Any hardwood flooring requires a healthy amount of upkeep to ensure it maintains its original qualities. If you have a business or home with hardwood flooring, no matter how diligent you are with the maintenance, a buff and coat will be necessary over time.

Why will your hardwood floors need a buff and coat when you are the ideal hardwood floor caretaker?

Almost every hardwood floor installed after 1970 is covered with a polyurethane coating. This coating will protect from everyday wear and tear, but over time, it wears down, leaving the wood vulnerable to damage. This coating can take a good amount of abuse, but once it is worn to a thin layer, it’s time to contact hardwood flooring professionals for a buff and coat to ensure no extensive damage occurs.

When Do I get a Buff and Coat?

The thinning of the polyurethane coating is not necessarily visible to the average person. Therefore, the only way to determine when it’s time for a buff and recoat is to watch closely for signs of evident wear and tear, like scuff marks and mild gauges. It sounds challenging to determine, but it just comes down to the amount of traffic you have in your house or business. For areas with extensive traffic, like kitchens and hallways, you may want to consider a yearly buff and co areas. You can wait it out for 3 for other areas-5 years.

 

In the Market for a Buff & Coat or Sand & Finish?

For over 40 years, Dave’s Floor Sanding & Installing, Inc. has completed numerous hardwood flooring projects throughout the Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota metro area. Our highly skilled technicians complete all work in a timely and professional manner, ensuring floors are taken care of for years of enjoyment. Contact us today for a free in-home estimate today!