About Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Napa

Napa and the entire Napa and Sonoma Valley have many beautiful homes with hardwood floors that are treasured by the homeowners. But even the best cared for hardwood floors over time lose their luster. Water stains, scratches, dullness, and areas worn bare by foot traffic are signs that it’s time to look for a local hardwood floor refinishing specialist.  Read on to learn about hardwood floor refinishing in Napa and what you need to know.

Sanding

Before the floor can be repaired and refinished the top surface needs to be sanded down. This will create a lot of dust and fine particles that can be harmful to people with allergies and other problems. Performing this work with the right equipment dust can be contained and keep to an absolute minimum.

West Coast Floor Company in Napa has acquired the top-of-the-line vacuum system for dust control. Our trailer-mounted dust vacuum includes a 27hp water-cooled motor. We have a trailer vacuum system because it’s the best on the market but also because it quickly removed the dust from your home to ensure dust doesn’t linger in your home. Bagging dust in the home leaves you open to increased dust exposure. Our dustless system is a must for homeowners and is truly cutting edge.

Repairs

Wood continuously expands in months where high moisture is prevalent and compresses in colder temperatures. The result will be gaps between the boards. It is essential to repair them because it can worsen if you don’t. In addition, foot traffic, moisture, pets, and kids will create scratches, nicks, dents, and stains that will need to be remediated before a new topcoat can be applied. Here is what you can expect.

• Minor and most major scratches are removed
• Pet stains may be gone but cannot be guaranteed
• Fill is applied to cracks
• Dirt and grime are gone

Topcoat Finishes

Whether you’re protecting brand-new wood floors or refinishing ones that are decades old, the task starts with selecting the right topcoat. Get to know the differences between eight popular finishes to decide which one works best for your project. Choosing the right topcoat, however, can be a little intimidating. Hardwood floor finishes have varying levels of ease, durability, and glossiness.  Here are the 8 most popular types of hardwood floor finishes to choose from:

1. Water-Based Polyurethane

Best for: Floors in need of a clear finish that dries quickly
Pros: Easy application and cleanup; low odor and low VOCs; very smooth and shiny finish; no yellowing
Cons: High-gloss water-based polyurethane magnifies every scratch and scrape

2. Oil-Based Polyurethane

Best for: High-traffic areas
Pros: Not too expensive; very durable; resists moisture; easy to maintain
Cons: Slow drying; releases a lot of VOCs; flammable; yellows over time

3. Moisture-Cure Urethane

Best for: Situations requiring the toughest floor finish
Pros: Extremely durable
Cons: Very high VOCs; difficult to apply

4. Wax

Best for: Areas where you want a low-sheen finish
Pros: Easy to apply and touch up;  penetrates into the wood and can be combined with stain; dries quickly and can be walked on within hours of application, little odor or VOCs;
Cons: Application is labor-intensive; not very durable; yellows or darkens over time

5. Shellac

Best for: Floors where you want a natural product that doesn’t emit a lot of VOCs and dries quickly
Pros: Natural, sustainable product; easy to repair or touch up; adheres well to oily tropical woods
Cons: Very flammable; not easy to apply evenly; far less durable than many other options; needs to be freshly mixed before application

6. Penetrating Oil Sealer

Best for: Creating a low-shine finish that highlights the grain of the wood.
Pros: Natural product; fairly easy to apply; brings out wood’s beauty
Cons: Not very durable; requires recoating every couple of years; expensive

7. Acid-Cured Finish

Best for: Exotic wood floors or those with elaborate patterns, such as parquet flooring
Pros: Extremely durable; dries quickly
Cons: Very high VOCs; highly flammable; expensive; pro-only application

8. Aluminum Oxide

Best for: High-traffic areas or anywhere you want supreme protection from wear and tear
Pros: The hardest, most long-lasting type of finish; low maintenance; available in several levels of glossiness
Cons: Difficult to touch up or refinish; only available on prefinished wood planks

How Long Will it Take?

Hardwood floor refinishing in Napa can be done and the transformation is really astounding. The process generally takes two days but the timeline varies based on the scope of the project.

Budget

Like most home improvement projects it is possible to refinish your hardwood floor in Napa by yourself.  However, it is best left to a professional who knows what he is doing and has access to the right equipment and materials. So look at your budget and be sure to include equipment rental and material expenses. Chances are, once everything is considered you will find it beneficial to hire an experienced contractor instead.

Consider Hiring an Experienced Professional

If you hate sanding, and cleaning, and are not good at repairing your floor, you should seek professional help. The experts will examine the type of flooring, assess the damage, come up with a plan of action, and recommend the appropriate finish. Getting the best result requires experience, so be sure to find a local service provider that can bring lots of hardwood floor refinishing experience to the job.

The Bottom Line

Hardwood floor sanding and refinishing is unforgiving work. As a result, make a mistake and it will show. However, a refinished floor can restore the floor back to its former glory and bring beauty back to the room. To hire a pro to sand, seal, stain, and apply several finish coats of an oil-based poly will cost $4 per square foot or more. Doing it yourself may save you some money but are you up for it?