Fir Floor Transformation
We have said it many times before, but one of our favorite things to do is bring old floors back to life and to showcase their natural and undying beauty. We recently had a sanding + refinishing job on some fir floors that had been painted.
Before
Here is what they looked like before we got started:
During
Our customer wanted us to restore the natural look of these floors. While some people might have looked at these original floors and said “Tear them out!”, we know that no floor is too far gone, so we put our expertise to work. Here are some images of the sanding process.
After
We put care and hard work into every job we complete, and this one was no exception. The end results speak for themselves. These floors truly went through a transformation!
Contact us today to schedule your sanding and refinishing job! You can also call Neva directly to schedule your estimate at 763-428-8601.
Oil Based vs. Water Based
Learn the key differences between these two types of polyurethane finishes.
When it comes to these two types of polyurethane finishes, a lot of consumers are unsure what the difference is between them. While they are both intended to protect your floor from everyday wear-and-tear, they have many distinct characteristics.
The Look
Water based finishes have a more natural look and the clear finish really highlights the natural beauty of hardwood. Whereas oil based finishes have an amber hue that darkens the appearance of the wood and continues to deepen in color over time.
The Protection
Water based poly provides a harder finish but it is more likely to scratch. Oil based poly is a softer finish that makes it scratch resistant but it is more prone to denting than its water based counterpart.
The Cost
Water based poly is the more expensive option.
The Best Choice?
There really is no better finish here; the best choice comes down to your personal preference. Here’s some help from the Home Flooring Pro’s to inform your decision:
“Water based polyurethane: If you want your floor to stay the same color, choose water-based polyurethane. Wood that is gray, white or light looks better with a clear coat, i.e., a water based finish. Woods with a hint of yellow in them already, such as pine, fir and ash, become even yellower with an oil-based finish. Go with water based poly if that’s a look you want to avoid, or choose an oil based finish to enhance it.
Oil based polyurethane: Darker wood tones are enriched by an amber hue and an oily sheen. Oil based polyurethane can bring out the vibrant color in red oak, cherry or exotic woods like teak.”
Contact us today if you would like some more information on which finish will be best for your home, or visit our showroom to see the two finishes in-person - we are happy to help you make this important decision!
Giving Floors an Espresso Boost
Get a glimpse of one of our recent hardwood refinishing jobs that feature a stunning espresso stain.
A recent hardwood flooring job we completed featured a popular and beautiful finish: espresso stain. We sand and refinished the floors in this home and the final look is rustic elegance at its finest! Keep reading for floor images and information on wood and finish type.
Red Oak with Espresso Stain
Hickory with Espresso + Coffee Brown Stain
Birch Steps with Special Walnut Stain
First three images are before. Next two images are during. Last three images are the final product. How cool are these stairs!
The Right Time for Your Hardwood Job
Here are a few of the best times to schedule your hardwood flooring job.
When will it be the perfect time to schedule your hardwood flooring job? The answer varies for every family based on your personal schedules, finances, etc. However, there are opportune times for us as a construction company to get your job done. A few of these opportune times include before the holidays and during Spring Break.
We often get customers calling us in mid-November to schedule a buff & coat or sand & refinish project to get their floors looking good as new before the holidays. The problem with calling so close to the install date is that you may not get your job completed before the date you would like. If you are looking for a holiday face-lift for your hardwood floors, we recommend getting your job on the books now, even if we schedule it out a few months.
Another great time to schedule your hardwood flooring job is when you are gone for the holidays or on Spring Break with your family. Buffing or sanding a floor creates a mess and reapplying finish is a smelly job, so why not have it all done when you aren’t home! We work closely with our customers to make them comfortable with our team being in their home when they are on vacation and always protect your belongings as if they were our own.
So what are you waiting for?! Give us a call today to schedule your late Fall, early Winter flooring project! Or easily submit an estimate request form on our website. We cannot wait to gift you with beautiful floors for the holiday season!
Buffing vs. Sanding
Learn the difference between the buff-and-coat and the sand-and-refinish.
It’s in the nature of all hardwood floors to be susceptible to signs of wear-and-tear like scratches, grooves, sun discoloration, and other damages. It is also in the nature of hardwood floors to bounce back from these things!
There are two methods that hardwood flooring professionals use to restore hardwood floors: buffing and sanding. Many people don’t know they have these restoration options, or don’t understand the difference between the two, so let’s clarify!
A buff and coat is more of a maintenance procedure that should be done about every 5-years to extend the life of your floors. In this process, the hardwood flooring specialist buffs down the finish of your floor down to the last coat of polyurethane - it does not go down to the bare wood or remove your stain. This process allows you to remove superficial scratches and discoloration from your floor’s finish and gives your floors a fresh new coat of finish.
The sanding and refinishing process goes deeper - it takes off the floor’s finish as well as the surface of the damaged wood. This process reveals a new layer of your hardwood floors, and allows you to stain it a completely different color if you want to! For severely damaged hardwood, this is the process you want to select.
Breaking it all down to conclude: “Sanding takes care of deep imperfections and allows homeowners to change the color of their hardwood floors. Buffing is simpler, faster, less disruptive, costs less and extends the life of wood boards” (Royal Wood Floor).
Is your floor in need of a buff and coat or sand and refinish? Contact us today to schedule a free estimate and we will tell you which process your floor needs to look as good as new!
Job Spotlight: Minneapolis Makeover
This job spotlight features recovered birch floors with a custom stain.
In late 2018, we had the pleasure of refinishing the birch floors in an old Minneapolis home. Like many aged homes, these wood floors were hidden under carpet. This is a trend that started in the mid-twentieth century – covering your hardwood with carpet - and now many homeowners are pleasantly surprised when they pull back their old carpet and discover beautiful wood floors!
The birch floors in this home had seen better days, but the beauty of hardwood floors is that they are very rarely beyond repair. We sanded the floors and refinished them with a custom stain. The end product… incredible! Schedule your sand and refinish today.
