Hardwood Refinishing

An average refinish job (3 rooms or approximately 400 to 500 square feet) usually takes 4 to 5 days to complete.

The basics involved in a refinishing job are as follows: the floor is rough-sanded to remove the old finish, and filler, which approximates the general color of the wood, is toweled over the entire surface of the floor. In the case of top nailed or surface-nailed floors, each nail is set by hand prior to the application of filler, in order to ensure that each nail hole will accept filler. Once the filler is dry, the floor is sanded again with a finer sand paper to remove any excess filler and smooth out rough sanding marks. Next, a very fine sand paper is used for the final sanding pass, to remove any sanding marks left by previous passes. The floor is then screened, a process similar to sanding, but using a milder abrasive screen instead of sand paper. At this stage, the floor is vacuumed, and the first coat of finish is applied. The successive coats of finish are then applied, often with an additional screening between coats.

For finish option view Choosing the Right Finish.

New Floor Installation - Back To Top h

A new installation can take from 1 to 5 days (about 1 day for 200 square feet, an average-sized room)

There are many product choices available for new floor installations, from traditional wood types and board dimensions to numerous prefinished and "engineered" flooring products. While there are products available in a wide price range, budget may be just one determinant in choosing a flooring material. Relative durability, design considerations, and sub floor type may also be important factors. If you are considering installing a new floor, we encourage you to view our installation document, which discusses the installation process in greater detail. Also, we encourage you to make an appointment to visit our showroom to look at samples and speak with an estimator about the specifics of your new floor installation.

Floor Staining - Back To Top h

For customers who have a specific color scheme in mind, Seattle Floor Service can stain oak floors to almost any color. (Staining fir or maple floors is not recommended -- ask one of our estimators for more information.) Brown-tone stains are most common, add cost and require three days of dry time. Pastel, white or "designer" stains also require three days of dry time and are more expensive than brown tone stains.

Seattle Floor Service has extensive experience matching stains to existing wood, but this is not an exact science, and that Seattle Floor Service disclaims liability for slight imperfections in match. Whenever possible, SFS will show our customers stain samples on their floor during the finishing process so customers can see their choosen stain on the existing floor. Careful selection is important; stains cannot be lightened or darkened once it has been applied, and re-sanding to re-stain the floor cannot be performed without an added charge.

For customers that do not have a specific color in mind, it is recommended to forego the added time and cost of staining. Please speak with an estimator if you have any other questions regarding staining.

Floor Repair - Back To Top h

Seattle Floor Service can repair voids or replace damaged boards in your floor. We will provide the same species and grade of wood as your existing flooring, but it is important to note will not always produce an exact match when replacing boards. Seattle Floor Service disclaims liability for any such discrepancies to the existing wood. Smaller imperfections, such as holes and gaps between boards, can be filled. Floors with wide gaps do not hold filler well over time, and customers should expect to do some remedial puttying, especially in high-traffic areas; SFS does not unconditionally guarantee that filler will hold in your floor.

Baseshoe Installation - Back To Top h

It is not mandatory that the customer remove the existing baseshoe (the 'quarter round'), however, Seattle Floor Service does not guarantee that existing baseshoe will not be scuffed or damaged during the sanding process. Seattle Floor Service will install new baseshoe for an additional charge, but does not remove existing baseshoe with the intention of re-installing it.