The finish is the clear layer that takes the scratches so the wood doesn’t. When it dulls, we can add a new top coat without sanding to bare wood. Once it’s worn through, the floor needs a full refinish. We apply finish coats, polish dull floors and know how to wax a waxed floor. The photos are from jobs on our Google listing.
Recoat, polish or refinish?
| What you see | Usual answer |
|---|---|
| Dull, cloudy, fine scratches only in the clear layer | Screen and recoat: scuff the old finish and add a new top coat |
| Dull but sound finish, no bare spots | Polish or a maintenance coat |
| Gray or dark bare wood, deep scratches, water marks in the wood | Sand to bare wood and refinish. See refinishing |
| A waxed floor that has dried out | Clean and re-wax, by someone who works with wax |
What a top coat does
Each coat goes on thin and even, along the boards, and several coats build the depth. You walk on the last one, so that’s the one that gets the most care. The refinishing guide compares oil-based and water-based polyurethane, and the care guide says when to recoat.
The finishes we use
The finish lines we work with, most used first:
- Bona
- DuraSeal
- Pallmann
- Berger-Seidle
- Ciranova
- Loba
- Rubio Monocoat
- WOCA
That runs from waterborne polyurethane systems to penetrating hardwax oils like Rubio Monocoat and WOCA, so we can pick the finish for the floor and the household. The jug below, DuraSeal DuraClear Max, is from one of our jobs.
Waxed floors
Some older floors were never sealed with polyurethane. They were waxed, and they need wax again as they dry out. That takes a different skill.
“TONATIUH is such a pleasure to do business with. He takes a lot of pride in his work, and wanted to make sure I was pleased with their work before they left. I have waxed hardwood floors, and even though they are gorgeous, the dry out over time and finding someone that knows how to wax wood floors is next to impossible. Fortunately, LA CUMBRE FLOOR COVERING & DESIGN does fabulous work!”Heriberto L. · Google review
Sheen
Finish comes in matte, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Lower sheen hides scratches and dust better. Higher sheen shows more depth and more wear. Some of the glossy floors in the work photos may have been shot while the finish was still wet, and wet finish looks glossier than a cured floor.
Questions
Can my dull floor be brought back without sanding?
If the finish is worn but not worn through, yes. We scuff the old finish and apply a new coat. Once bare wood shows, it needs a full refinish.
How long before I can walk on a new coat?
It depends on the finish. The refinishing guide gives the published cure times for each type. On our jobs, furniture goes back three days after the last coat and rugs after 30.
Do you wax floors?
Yes, we take calls for waxing. Customers with waxed floors tell us it’s hard to find someone who knows how to wax wood.