HARDWOOD FLOOR

REFINISHING GUIDEThis guide will provide a basic understanding of the components of refinishing your hardwood floor.

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Signature Custom Flooring, LLC

CONTENTS

About Me /3/

Introduction /4/

Types of Finish /5/

Types of Sheen /9/

Stain Choices /10/

Lifespan of Your Finish /11/

How to Choose the Best Refinish Professional /13/

Contact Me /14/

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ABOUT MEI am Aaron Schaalma, owner of Signature Custom Flooring, LLC. I am a National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Certified Sand and Finish Professional. I service the following areas for hardwood refinishing, repairs, and installation: • Appleton• Berlin• Fond du Lac• Green Lake• Menasha• Neenah• Omro• Oshkosh• Ripon• Wautoma• Winneconne• Green Bay

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INTRODUCTIONThis guide will cover the factors that affect how often your hardwood floor should be refinished.

The amount of years between refinishing your hardwood floor can vary anywhere from 3-10 years. This large variance is due to the many factors that affect the longevity of your floor, including the type of wood, the finish used, and the amount of wear a floor takes.

Although there may not be a definitive answer as to how often a hardwood floor should be refinished, this guide will point you in the right direction when it comes time to refinish your floor.

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TYPES OF FINISH

Each finish is unique; let’s see how.

The type of finish you choose for your floor will determine how often the floor needs to be maintainanced and refinished.

Listed below are the three types of finish that I recommend and work with when refinishing floors. I will describe the pros and cons of each type of finish and its characteristics.

Three Types:1. Oil-Based Polyurethane Finish2. Water-Based Polyurethane Finish 3. Penetrating Oil Finish

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1. Oil-Based Polyurethane:A great advantage of oil-based polyurethane is that it has a distinct amber tone. Because of this unique color tone, scratches don’t show as prominently.

A few disadvantages of this type of finish are that the full cure time is 4x longer than that of water-based polyurethane finish, so homeowners will be out of the house for longer. Another, is that the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) level of oil-based polyurethane finish is higher than water-based which I will discuss next.

Oil-Based Polyurethane Finish

TYPES OF FINISH

Each finish is unique; let’s see how. 2. Water-Based PolyurethaneThe advantages of water-based polyurethane finishes are that the hardness varies between types. Commercial water-based finishes are more durable, in order to take the increase in foot traffic of public areas. A commercial water-based finish is also more scratch resistant as well as chemical resistant. Water-based commercial finishes are also 3x harder than oil-based finishes and have a lower VOC level.

As a disadvantage, water-based polyurethane is about 2-3x more expensive than oil-based. This type of finish is also prone to what is known as “White Line Syndrome,” where white lines appear in the finish when it contracts and expands with the seasons.

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3. Penetrating Oil FinishAs the name implies, penetrating oil finishes penetrate into the wood leaving a hand-rubbed look to the floor. Because of this, the floor shows fewer scratches. If scratches do occur, spot touch ups are easy to do. Most oil penetrating finishes are all-natural, with no VOCs, making it a great sustainable finish choice. Another advantage is that it has the shortest turn around time, so furnishings can be moved onto the floor within 12-24 hours after application. Another great thing about this finish type is that it comes in more than 30 colors, making it a great option if you are looking for unique colors!

This type of finish is more expensive than water-based, but the coverage rate is good, making a small amount go a long way. Homeowners have to do more maintenance as well with this type of finish.

Water- based PolyFinish. Pall-X 96 /

98

Rubio MonocoatPenetrating Oil

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EXAMPLES OF EACH FINISH

Water-Based Polyurethane

Penetrating Oil Finish

Oil-Based Polyurethane

“All wood floors will require routine maintenance, such as

sweeping or dust mopping, to keep them looking beautiful and new, but different wood flooring finishes will have a big impact on

how you care for your floor long-term, as well as how your floor

will look in the years to come.” - NWFA

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Before

After

TYPES OF SHEENSheen refers to the amount of luster the floor

gives off. There are four types of sheen a finish can have. • Matte• Satin

MatteMatte finishes give off the lowest luster and reflect the least amount of light. This finish doesn’t bring the most color out of the wood as well as the other types of finishes, but because of this, it is good at hiding imperfections.

SatinSatin finishes are half-way between a matte finish, and a semi-gloss finish. The color of the wood will be brought out better with a satin finish versus a matte finish, and more light will reflect off satin finishes as well. Satin finishes are very popular.

Semi-gloss and GlossSemi-gloss and gloss finishes are not a very popular finish in homes because of the high level of light reflected off of them. A gloss finish reflects the most light. I recommend against using either of these finishes in your home.

For perspective, a semi-gloss finish is equivalent to that of a gymnasium floor. Both of these finishes also show more imperfections because of the high level of reflections, and each is more expensive than matte or satin. The sanding process has to be more precise because imperfections in the sanding will show up.

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• Semi-gloss• Gloss

STAIN CHOICES

Your choice of stain matters.

Here is some advice when it comes to choosing the stain color for your hardwood floor:

• If you have a lot of foot traffic and are not up to par with maintenance, a dark stain is not a wise choice. Dark stains show more dirt, scratches, and imperfections. A lighter choice of stain will do better at hiding these imperfections.

• Darker stains will have a higher sheen, even if the sheen stays the same from one color stain to the next. Your eyes will deceive you with a dark floor because of the depth and darkness of it.

• Your stain choice matters because the number of imperfections seen in the stain may influence when a floor needs to be refinished.

Hardwood Floor Refinish MythMyth: Having your floors refinished means dust gets everywhere in your house. Truth: That is not true when the professional refinishing the floor is using the correct equipment. There is actually very little dust then!

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LIFESPAN OF

YOUR FINISHYour lifestyle affects how often your floor needs to

be refinished. Depending on your lifestyle, your hardwood floor may take a beating! There is a lot that happens in your life that affects your hardwood floor’s finish as well as how often your floors will have to be refinished.

Here are the major culprits in the downfall of your finish:• Kids and pets• Foot traffic• Rugs• Shoe wear • Types of shoes worn (ex: high heels)• Spills/water• Maintenance• Cleaning products used

The more people and pets on your floor, the faster the floor will wear and the sooner your floor will need to be refinished. Rugs can be a problem too, because they will eventually wear in the area they rest on, leaving dull areas.

I advise that shoes, especially high heels, not be worn on the floor in order to avoid scratches, wear patterns and dents. If spills occur or there is build up of condensation (often under appliances), wipe it up as soon as possible to avoid damage from moisture.

The type of cleaning products you use on your floor also affect how often they need to be refinished as well. Only use a PH neutral cleaner on your floor to make it last longer, and avoid harsh chemicals that can break down the finish.

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“Surface finishes are very popular because they are durable,

water-resistant, and require minimal maintenance. Surface finishes are blends of synthetic resins. These finishes most often

are referred to as urethanes or polyurethanes, and remain on

the surface of the wood to form a protective coating.” -NWFA

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Before

After

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST

REFINISH PROFESSIONAL

Let’s take a look at the qualifications a refinisher should have before choosing them.

Here is what you should look for when choosing a wood flooring professional to refinish your hardwood floors.

• They are a member of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA)• Those who are members of the NWFA show they care about the

craft and are always seeking to learn more and better their profession.

• They are a NWFA Certified Sand and Finish Professional• The criteria needed to become certified are : two years of

experience sanding floors, pass a hands-on test given by the NWFA, and continue with educational credits required to keep certification.

• They have positive reviews online• Look at what others have said about their craftsmanship.

• Ask for pictures of previous work, especially dark floors• Looking at the past work they are able to provide will give you a

sense of their craftsmanship. Dark floors are tricky, so ask for pictures of them and assess the work done.

• Ask about dust containment equipment• Look at what they use for equipment and ask about how it works at

keeping the dust contained. • Other things to look for include

• Are they dressed professionally and act appropriate?• Do they have clients’ best interests at heart or are they only there

for the paycheck?• What types of informational materials will they leave with you? i.e.

cleaning supplies, maintenance information. 13

Thank You! Signature Custom Flooring, LLC

137 E Scott Street

Omro, Wisconsin, 54963

(920) 279-7871

Hours: M-F 7:30 am – 6:00 pm

www.signaturecustomflooring.com

Connect with me for more pictures, tips and information:

Contact Me!

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