How do you recoat a floor?

sanding a wooden floor with an electric sander

How do you recoat a floor?

How do you recoat a floor? 1024 289 Nader Agha

By Nader Agha, Owner of Masters Wood Finishing

Hello, I’m Nader Agha, the owner of Masters Wood Finishing in Toronto and with over 25 years of experience in woodworking and floor finishing, I’ve seen just about every type of floor recoat scenario you can imagine. Today, I’m excited to share insights on how to recoat a floor—a process that can rejuvenate and protect your wood flooring, extending its life and enhancing its beauty.

Recoating a floor is an essential maintenance task that helps keep your wooden surfaces looking fresh and new. There are generally two primary methods to achieve this: basic recoating and full sand and restain. Let’s dive into both approaches so you can determine which one is right for your situation.

Basic Recoating

Basic recoating is often the go-to option for floors that are still in good condition but could use a refresh. Here’s a step-by-step guide to this method:

  1. Clear the Floor: Begin by thoroughly cleaning the floor. This involves removing all furniture and vacuuming or sweeping up dust and debris. A deep clean ensures that there are no particles that could interfere with the new finish.
  2. Clean and Prepare the Surface: After cleaning, use a suitable wood floor cleaner to remove any remaining grime or residue. This step is crucial to ensure that the new clear coat adheres properly.
  3. Apply a Clear Coat: Once the floor is clean and dry, apply a fresh layer of clear finish over the existing surface. This clear coat will bring back the floor’s original shine and provide a new layer of protection. For this, I recommend using a high-quality product that is compatible with the old finish, such as Bona Traffic HD or another reputable brand.
  4. Allow to Dry: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying times and allow the finish to cure completely before moving furniture back in.

Basic recoating is ideal for floors that are generally in good shape but have lost their original luster or have minor wear and tear. This method is quick, cost-effective, and can add several more years of life to your floor.

Full Sand and Restain

For floors that have seen better days, a full sand and restain might be the best option. This process is more involved but can completely transform a floor that’s lost its charm or has significant damage. Here’s how it works:

  1. Sand the Floor: Begin by sanding the floor down to the bare wood. This step removes the old finish, scratches, and stains, providing a clean slate. A professional sander or a rental floor sander is typically used for this task. Sanding requires skill and precision to ensure an even surface, so it’s often best left to experts.
  2. Clean the Dust: After sanding, thoroughly clean the floor to remove all sanding dust. This is crucial for achieving a smooth, flawless finish.
  3. Restain the Wood: Apply a wood stain to the bare wood. Stains come in various colors and can significantly change the appearance of your floor. Apply the stain evenly and allow it to penetrate and dry as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
  4. Apply a Top Coat: Once the stain is dry, apply a protective top coat. For a durable and high-quality finish, I recommend using Bona ClearSeal or a similar top coat. This will seal in the stain, provide a beautiful sheen, and protect the wood from future damage.
  5. Allow to Cure: As with the basic recoating, ensure that the floor has adequate time to cure before placing furniture back in the room.

Full sand and restain is a more comprehensive solution that can revitalize an old or worn floor, making it look as good as new. It’s perfect for floors that have significant wear, deep scratches, or if you want to change the color or finish of the wood.

Which Method is Right for You?

Choosing between basic recoating and full sand and restain depends on the current condition of your floor and your desired outcome. If your floor is in good shape but just needs a refresh, basic recoating might be sufficient. However, if you’re dealing with significant wear or want to change the look entirely, a full sand and restain is the way to go.

At Masters Wood Finishing, we’ve mastered both techniques and are here to help you achieve the perfect finish for your floors. If you have any questions or need professional advice on recoating your wood flooring, don’t hesitate to reach out.

The Challenge and Opportunity in Hardwood Floor Refinishing

hardwood floor refinishing roller

Hardwood floors derive their beauty and longevity primarily from the protective finish, not the wood itself. While proper maintenance can extend the life of this finish for years, eventually, recoating becomes necessary. This process, however, is far from straightforward.

Identifying the existing finish on a floor is crucial for successful recoating. A misdiagnosis can lead to disastrous results, including irreversible damage to the floor. The complexity of the task, coupled with the potential for costly mistakes, creates a significant challenge for those in the flooring industry.

Yet, this also presents a substantial opportunity. With millions of square feet of hardwood floors in need of refinishing or recoating, a deep understanding of the process can open doors to a lucrative market. By mastering the intricacies of floor care and restoration, professionals can position themselves as experts in this field.

Understanding the Unknown: The Challenge of Recoating

Successfully recoating a hardwood floor hinges on accurately identifying the existing finish. Treating a waxed floor with a urethane, for instance, is a recipe for disaster. Incorrectly diagnosing the floor can lead to a cascade of problems, from customer dissatisfaction to potential legal issues.

Without proper knowledge of the floor’s composition, a seemingly simple recoat job can quickly escalate into a costly and time-consuming ordeal. The risk of damaging the floor, coupled with the potential for unhappy clients, underscores the importance of thorough investigation and expertise in this field.

Identifying the Existing Finish: A Crucial First Step

Before recoating a hardwood floor, accurately determining the type of existing finish is paramount. Common culprits that can complicate the recoating process include acrylics, oil soaps, aluminum oxide, ceramic coatings, wax, and oil finishes.

1) Does it have acrylics and/or oil soaps?

These products, often used for floor maintenance, can interfere with the adhesion of new finishes. Identifying their presence requires diligent questioning of homeowners about their cleaning routines and conducting tests like the ammonia test to detect acrylics. Aggressive cleaning methods using professional-grade cleaners may be necessary to remove these contaminants.

 2) Is it aluminum-oxide or ceramic-coated factory-finished?

Increasingly common in factory-finished floors, these coatings enhance scratch resistance but can pose challenges during recoating. Identifying them involves tests like the permanent marker test and abrasive testing to determine the appropriate preparation methods.

3) Has it been waxed?

Waxed floors require specific cleaning and recoating procedures. Tests involving alcohol or mineral spirits can help identify the presence of wax. Recoating typically involves removing the old wax and applying a new coat of wax.

4) Is it an oiled floor?

Oil-based finishes present unique considerations. Identifying the type of oil used can influence the cleaning and recoating process. While some recoating options are available, it’s essential to consult the finish manufacturer for specific guidance.

5) Is it shellac?

Shellac is a natural resin-based finish that was once widely used on floors but has become less common in recent years. While experienced professionals can often identify shellac by its characteristic amber hue and appearance, accurate identification is crucial for successful recoating.

Common indicators of a shellac finish include:

  • Orange or amber color: Shellac often imparts a warm, yellowish tone to the wood.
  • Softness: Shellac is generally softer than modern polyurethane finishes.
  • Wax buildup: Shellac finishes are often topped with wax, requiring additional preparation steps.

Recoating vs. Resanding: Understanding the Options

Recoating and resanding are two distinct methods for restoring hardwood floors. It’s essential to understand the limitations of each to effectively manage customer expectations and deliver optimal results.

Recoating is a more conservative approach, suitable for floors with minor surface damage like light scratches. However, it cannot address deeper issues such as dents, gouges, or significant discoloration.

Resanding, while more invasive, can rejuvenate floors with more substantial damage. However, it requires careful evaluation to ensure the floor’s structural integrity. Engineered floors, for example, have a limited wear layer that must be preserved.

Key considerations when deciding between the two methods include:

  • Floor condition: Assess the extent of damage to determine if recoating or resanding is necessary.
  • Floor type: Engineered floors have limitations in terms of sanding depth due to their wear layer thickness.
  • Customer expectations: Clearly communicate the capabilities and limitations of each method to manage customer expectations.
  • Floor lifespan: Excessive sanding can shorten the floor’s lifespan, so choose this option judiciously.

Wood Species and Floor Durability

Wood, a versatile and enduring material, has been used in construction and design for millennia. Its unique cellular structure allows it to be shaped, molded, and finished in countless ways. Unlike other materials, wood actually becomes denser and harder with time and use.

Just as every stone or marble possesses distinct qualities, each wood species offers unique characteristics in terms of grain, color, and hardness. The way a log is cut into lumber (quartersawn, riftsawn, plainsawn, or livesawn) further influences these characteristics and the wood’s performance in flooring applications.

The durability of a wood floor is significantly influenced by the wood species used. Factors such as the tree’s growth environment and its intended use (e.g., railroad ties versus furniture) have shaped our understanding of which species are best suited for flooring.

To quantify the hardness and resistance to denting of various wood species, the Janka hardness scale was developed. This scale, named after its creator Gabriel Janka, measures the force required to embed a small steel ball into a wood sample. Northern white oak, a commonly used flooring material, serves as a benchmark for medium hardness on this scale.

Wood Species: The Foundation of Floor Durability

The choice of wood species significantly impacts a floor’s durability and performance. While aesthetics often drive initial selections, understanding the inherent properties of different woods is crucial for long-lasting floors.

Hardness and Durability:

The Janka hardness scale provides a quantitative measure of a wood’s resistance to denting and wear. While not the sole determinant of floor performance, it offers valuable insights. For high-traffic areas or homes with pets, harder wood species generally provide better durability.

Lifestyle Considerations:

The intended use of a room should influence wood species selection. For instance, a family room with active children and pets might benefit from a harder wood like oak, while a less frequented bedroom could accommodate a softer wood like cherry.

Balancing Aesthetics and Durability:

If a desired wood species lacks the necessary hardness for a high-traffic area, consider alternative options like staining a harder wood to mimic the desired color or exploring engineered wood flooring, which combines a hardwood veneer with a durable core.

Book Your Hardwood Floor Refinishing Project with Masters Wood Finishing Toronto.

Masters Wood Finishing is transforming hardwood flooring across the GTA with our decades of experience in hardwood refinishing services. Request your flooring refinishing project quote by contacting our team at 416-223-9292 or request a free quote online!

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