Prep Work
All preparatory work
is evaluated and negotiated before
starting the job. Any repair work is
first accomplished prior to the
refinish.
If the floor is a
stable hardwood with gapping or excess
cracks, we fill them with a matching
hardwood filler so that the final floor
is a smooth unified surface without nail
holes, gouges, or excess seams.
Unfortunately, pine
floors are not a candidate for filler
due to the high expansion and
contraction this soft wood has even in
fairly well climate controlled homes.
Refinish
For a
wood floor in solid condition, we "cut",
or pass over the floor with our 220 volt
sanding machine, and edger machine, 3
times with progressively finer sandpaper
to a 100-120 grit finish. Some
refinishers do not go that high, but we
have always experienced superior results
ending at a higher grit than at a lower
one.
We
thoroughly clean and vacuum the entire
space including ceiling and walls so
that during drying time no debris lodges
in the finish.
At this point, if
staining is necessary, it is applied and
left to dry for the appropriate time.
For a water base finish, we coat the
floor with an alcohol based sealer which
amberizes the wood and protects it from
the water finish which has been know to
raise the grain of the wood and look
rough. After the appropriate dry time
usually 2-4 hours, we fine abrade the
floor with our buffing machine.
The floor is thoroughly cleaned again
and we continue coating 3 more times
until finishing, usually within the same
day.
For an oil base finish, the dry time
is 24 hours, in which we come back the
next day and fine abrade the first coat,
clean the floor, and reapply the finish.
Abrading, cleaning, and recoating is
done for a total of 3 times over 3 days
with oil. We also apply oil based
finishes with a very specific technique
that results in stellar texture and
smoothness.
Curing
Recommended dry time
for water is 1 hour in socked feet, and
to move back onto the floor is 24 hours;
a fantastic turn around. Floor
coverings such as rugs are not
recommended for at least 7 days.
Dry time for oil is 24
hours in socked feet, and 48-72 hours to
move back objects. Rugs are not
recommended for a month.
|
