Look for scratches that go into the wood grain, worn areas where the finish has rubbed off, or boards that feel rough to the touch. If the scratches are only surface-level and your boards are structurally sound without warping or deep gouges, refinishing will save you thousands. Most solid hardwood floors can be refinished 3-7 times during their lifetime. If you can see the natural wood color coming through in high-traffic areas, that's your floor asking for a refresh, not a full replacement.

Screen and recoat is like giving your floors a facial instead of plastic surgery. We lightly sand the existing finish with a buffer and screen, then apply new polyurethane on top. This works when your floors look dull but the wood underneath is still protected. Full refinishing means sanding down to bare wood and starting fresh. Screen and recoat costs about 30-40% less than full refinishing and takes 1-2 days instead of 4-5 days.

Sandless refinishing uses specialized chemical etching and abrasion techniques instead of traditional drum sanders. We apply a bonding agent that opens up the existing finish, then use diamond-embedded pads to create the right surface texture for the new finish to stick. This process works great when your floors have minor scratches and dullness but the existing finish is still mostly intact. It's faster, creates almost no dust, and you can walk on your floors the same day.

Absolutely. Wax is like a barrier that prevents new finish from bonding properly. If your floors were waxed years ago, we need to remove every trace before refinishing. This usually requires special solvents and extra prep work. Many DIY refinishing failures happen because people skip this step. Professional floor contractors have the right products and experience to strip old wax completely, which is why this job is better left to pros.

The math is pretty straightforward. Refinishing typically costs $3-5 per square foot, while replacement runs $8-15 per square foot. You're keeping your existing wood, subfloor, and avoiding demolition costs. Plus, if you have older hardwood, you're probably sitting on higher-quality wood than what's available today at reasonable prices. Those old-growth boards with tight grain patterns would cost a fortune to replace with comparable material.

Surface stains usually sand out completely during refinishing. Deeper stains that have penetrated into the wood subfloor are trickier and might need special treatment or board replacement. Pet odors are often trapped in the finish layer, so refinishing eliminates most smell issues. However, if urine has soaked through to the subfloor, you might need additional odor-sealing products. A good contractor will assess the damage honestly before starting work.

Most homes need refinishing every 7-10 years, but this depends on your lifestyle and traffic patterns. Families with kids and pets might need it every 5-7 years, while empty nesters could go 12-15 years. The key is acting before the finish completely wears through to the wood. Once water and dirt reach the bare wood, you've waited too long and created more expensive problems.

Sandless refinishing works best when your floor finish is worn but not completely gone, and when you want minimal disruption to your daily life. If you can still see the shine in protected areas but high-traffic zones look dull and lightly scratched, you're a perfect candidate. This method doesn't work if you have deep scratches into the wood, pet stains that have penetrated the finish, or if you want to change your floor color. The biggest advantage is you can have beautiful floors in one day instead of a week-long project.

You can stay, but it's not comfortable. The sanding process creates fine dust that gets everywhere, even with good containment systems. The finish fumes require ventilation and can be overwhelming. Many families choose to stay elsewhere for 2-3 days during the heaviest work, then return for the final coats. If you do stay, plan to seal off the work area and use air purifiers in your living spaces.

Oil-based finishes give you that classic amber glow and tend to be more durable in high-traffic areas. They take longer to dry and have stronger fumes during application. Water-based finishes dry faster, have less odor, and maintain the wood's natural color without yellowing over time. They're also more environmentally friendly. Your choice often comes down to the look you want and how much downtime you can handle. Both options will protect your floors well when applied properly.