Homeowners have a multitude of options for flooring; whether they’re looking forward to renovating their home or just want to change the floors, hardwood flooring is a reliable & attractive choice, which adds a sense of timelessness to the home’s interior.
Making smart investments is the key to saving money and keeping your home classy and appealing. With so many flooring options on the market today, why should you invest in Hardwood Floor Installation, Wheaton?
Well, there are numerous spectacular reasons why hardwood floors are the most sought-after flooring choice for homeowners — it’s versatile; people are using this floor for centuries, it’s often associated with classic architecture & decor. Wood floors fit in seamlessly with the contemporary interior and give it an unmatched sophistication and subtle beauty that is not present in other flooring options. Moreover, hardwood floors are effortless to maintain and can be repaired quite easily. In fact, you can keep these floors in pristine condition for years. Yes! Perhaps you might have heard the phrase ‘screen and recoat’. If not, read on!
Screen and Recoat: A Secret in the Hardwood Flooring World
Screening and recoating describe the process of scuffing or buffing the floor and applying an additional coating of polyurethane. It’s a process where we rejuvenate the floor by applying a fresh coat of finish over the top of the existing one. It prevents the hardwood floors from becoming dull and helps to keep them beautiful always, without breaking the bank or going through the hassle of sanding or installing new floors. During the screening process, only a little fraction of the pre-existing finish is removed, and there is enough texture left for the new polyurethane coating to bond.
Benefits of Screening and Recoating
- Refreshes hardwood floors
- Removes superficial scratches, stains, and imperfections
- Changes sheen of the floor
- Added protection from scratches
- Prevents the need of sanding and refinishing
- Less expensive & disruptive
- Prolongs the life of hardwood flooring
How do Screening and Recoating Work?
Unlike sanding and refinishing processes that create a lot of mess, screening scuffs up the floor more gently and is relatively easy. It is a quick process, and hence less expensive as well.
You can change the gloss level of the finish with screening and recoating. If your floors are too glossy and you want a more subtle look or (vice-versa), opt for such services.
Procedure for a Screen and Recoat
Step:1 Experts will inspect the floor and vacuum it thoroughly. Anything that could damage the screen, such as staples, nails, and loose boards, will be cleared. Also, they scrape down drywall compounds or paint splatter.
Step:2 In the second step, they use special products to remove dirt and ensure immaculately clean premises. The remover product is applied to the floor, and then a buffer is used with a scrubbing pad to deep clean the floor. It is the longest yet critical stage of the procedure as it’s labor-intensive.
Step:3 Allow floors to dry completely.
Step: 4 Use the suitable method to abrade the top layer of finish lightly: Like, For the middle of the floor, you can use a pole sander with a 220-grit screen, or if you have more than 200 sq. ft. to screen, we recommend you to buff the floor using an appropriate sanding screen. The screened floor should appear opaque.
Step: 5 Vacuum the floors thoroughly and then, mop it with a clean, lightly dampened cloth using the suitable solvent to remove any last speck of dust.
Step: 6 In the last stage, apply one or two coats of finish according to the manufacturer’s instructions and your project’s requirements.
This procedure can be seen as a bit complicated but is more cleaner and requires less work as compared to sanding and refinishing.
How Long Does the Screen and Recoat Procedure Take?
When compared to refinishing services (which usually takes 3-4 days), screening and recoating don’t need much time. It only takes three to four hours or sometimes a half-day, depending on the area to be screened. Then, an expert will apply the coat(s) of polyurethane that typically takes 24 hrs of drying time, before you can walk on it. To conclude, we can say it’s generally a 1-day process (or two days if two coats are needed).
Oil-based polyurethane takes more time to dry than water-based. It is advisable to wait for at least 4 days before putting your furniture back on the screened floors in case of oil-based polyurethane and 2 days for water-based ones.
When should you recoat your floors?
Well, it depends on how much traffic your floors are bearing — obviously, hard use can create scratches and shortens the life of a floor finish. As a general rule of thumb, we advise you to screen and recoat your floors every 3 years to maintain the finish and keep them looking at their best, without allowing too much wear.
Can You Screen a Portion of Your Floor?
You can screen a portion of your floor only if the damage has remained along the grain direction of the boards. You can’t sand off the wear across or perpendicular to the grain as it will make the repair visibly ugly. Also, screening just one part of a room is not a good idea as it will make the recoated part look new and the sheen will be distinctively different.
When will screening not work?
There are several reasons where screening does not work. Let’s drive in…
- If you’ve waxed floors, then Screening will not work as it can not adhere properly to the surface.
- If the scratches are deep that they passed the color, then you must opt for sanding and refinishing — screening is not the right procedure here!
- If you want to change the color of your floor, you have to do sanding and then apply the stain of your choice.
- Screening doesn’t work if you have a UV discoloration area in your room.
- If there is water damage or unevenness on your floor, then these won’t be removed with screening.
You must do screening so often, as it helps to maintain the topcoat and keep your floor protected and looking great. However, if your hardwood floors are not eligible for screen and recoat, then you can refinish your floors to bring their luster back.
What is Refinishing Hardwood Floors?
Over the years, the wooden floor starts to look dull; tracked in dirt and rough use of premises cause visible scratches that make the floors look dingy. But fortunately now, restoring drab floors can be relatively straightforward. Although it’s a lengthy and labor-intensive job, the results will surely be going to amaze you.
If you’re planning to DIY, then you must not! Experts are well-trained and know every trick to make your space look brand new. Refinishing involves refurbishing the wooden surfaces to amend wear and tear; it provides you an option to change the color of your stain, and increase or decrease the sheen of your floor. Let’s discuss the refinishing process in brief:
- Prepare the floor for refinishing
Before beginning with your hardwood floor refinishing, you’ve to do some preparations. Read on!
- Move your furniture out of the room
- Find protruding nails and hammer them down
- Check for squeaks and nail down any loose floorboards
- Remove every speck of dust from the floor using a vacuum cleaner or a slightly damp cloth
- Sanding the wooden floor
Sanding involves using a drum sander or belt sander to eliminate scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but it may not be able to clear the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood.
When it comes to refinishing, the biggest concern for homeowners is dust. Well now, it should no longer be part of your hardwood finishing project because many refinishers are using cyclonic vacuum systems that provide your floor with a dust-free finishing process.
Whether you are refinishing existing hardwoods or restoring them, our latest equipment allows us to offer you a cleaner and worry-free contracting service. We always wear a dust mask, safety goggles, and ear protection to ensure our as well as your safety.
- Remove dust and take preventive measures to restrict dust
Sweep your floors rigorously and vacuum them to ensure the space is completely clean. Sand, hair, or small debris will affect your finish and can leave imperfections so use a sticky tack cloth to remove all the particles. Also, sweep down walls to prevent dust from falling to the floor when the finish is drying. Seal air vent covers and use plastic sheets to seal doors to keep dust outside the room.
- Apply the wooden stain
If you are thinking of changing or improving the floor color, apply a stain. We provide professional staining services to make sure your floor looks new and fresh. You can choose the right shade or custom mix color to give a unique look to your home.
- Apply the finish
Now, it’s time to seal the floor; sealing protects the hardwood floor from water damage and scratches and adds gloss to give a new life to floorings. Polyurethane sealer can be your choice for refinishing. This is available in two types viz water-based and oil-based. Each type has its strengths and pros.
Oil-based Polyurethane
Although Oil-based Polyurethane dries slowly, it will turn a light amber color with age. You can’t walk over the floors for 24 hours or more after coating. This type of polyurethane emits noxious fumes so one may require wearing a respirator during application. The plus point is, oil-based products are durable and are perfect for high-traffic areas.
Water-based Polyurethane
Water-based Polyurethane dries quickly and provides good protection to wood floors. It provides a clear yet natural appearance to wood floors and accentuates their character without giving it the amber tone of an oil-based polyester. Also, it smells minimal.
Wood Floor Refinishing Tips
Keep deciding the process well in advance and choose every product considering your home’s interior, quality, and budget. Also, select the right finishing service provider available in the marketplace. Here’s what factors you’ve to consider before hiring anyone:
- Read all of the online reviews present on the website and social media pages carefully. And then, if you have any questions, get your doubts cleared by contacting the professionals at the firm.
- Confirm whether the contractor is bonded, licensed, and insured to work in your area.
- Ask to provide you with a no-obligation quote for Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Wheaton.
- Check the installer and refinisher’s experience.
- View their gallery section on the website to determine their work quality and get an idea of whether they are competent to handle your project or not.
- Take recommendations from people around you who have hired these people any time before.
Most importantly, you must ask them the precautions they are taking during this pandemic time. As COVID cases are increasing at a faster rate, it’s essential to ensure safety by following certain measures, like wearing the mask, maintaining social distancing, and ensuring proper sanitization at the site.
We at Big Bro Hardwood specialize in transforming stained, worn-out floors into bright, cheerful floors that create a wow impression. Our experts ensure transparency in the process, value your time, and deliver top-notch service that can positively impact your home’s market value. We professionally address all your needs related to installation, refinishing, repairing, and staining. When you deal with us, you will never deal with pushy salespeople or sub-contractors. We communicate directly with our clients and get their projects completed by our skilled guys. Sometimes choosing the stain color for your floor may be challenging, but our experts help you pick the right color that perfectly goes with your home’s interior. If you’ve any query(s) or want to know more about our services, feel free to contact us anytime at (630) 418 4139 or email us at [email protected].
We are waiting to collaborate with you to embellish your contemporary homes!