Sanding & Finishing

The Sanding/Finishing Process

After the hardwood flooring has been installed and acclimated for the proper amount of time, the sanding and finishing process begins which includes sanding, staining, and applying finish to the floors. Depending on the amount of hardwood flooring being sanded and finished, this process normally takes 3 to 5 days to complete.

During the sanding process, the floors are sanded with a professional full size sanding machine which requires a 220 volt outlet(usually we will use the dryer or stove outlet). This machine will make serveral passes across the floor and does the bulk of the sanding along with an edge sander to get up close to walls, and in tight places where the full size sanding machine cannot access. The edge sander operates with normal 110 volts.

The sanding of hardwood flooring creates a large amount of dust, unless you upgrade the sanding process using the Bona Atomic Dust Containment System. If the regular sanding system is used, we will install a dust barrier between work and non-work areas.

After the sanding is complete, the floors are vacuumed and prepared for stain. The stain is applied and left overnight to dry unless a very dark stain is used, then the drying time is increased by a day. After the stain dries, the finishing process begins.

During the finishing process three coats of floor finish are applied to the floor. There are several finish options - Oil based urethane, Water based urethane, etc.Typical oil base finishes require that each coat cure overnight prior to the next coat being applied. Between the second and final coat, any trim will be installed to be finished with the final coat.

The final coat is where you select the sheen of your hardwood floor. The normal choices are satin, semi-gloss, and gloss or high gloss. Satin has the least amount of sheen, giving the floors a matte appearance. This finish shows the least amount of dust and surface scratches. Semi-gloss has a slight sheen and is the most popular choice. Semi-gloss will show wear a bit more than satin. Gloss or High-gloss is a mirror like sheen. This finish will reveal dust and scratches much more than the satin or semi-gloss.