Residential Hardwood Floor Refinishing

See how we fixed a mis-matched eyesore, bad sun fade and scratches on hardwood floors.

Couple lives with existing mis-matched hardwood floors for 13 years. Finally as a gift Kim gets her hardwood floors fixed and refinished. When we were done the floor’s problems were fixed. She now has a harmonious, calm living space. Eliminated was severe sun fade, scratches and starkly different stained wood floors separating the front from the back of the house.

So before we started she looked forward to a cohesively looking wood floor throughout. Choosing beachy tones they’d reflect her vibrant personality and the tranquility of the seaside. But we had an unexpected obstacle to overcome first! There was some color confusion to straighten out. Click here to read about how we overcame our color confusion hurdle. >When Color Messes with Your Mind.

The Appearance Problems

The foyer- The house faces west with lovely beaming natural light filling the foyer with its 15 foot high cathedral window. A center hall colonial with a modest balcony, it begs of warmth and friendliness.

However, the UV did a real job on the wood, the damage was severe. In fact the UV light annihilated the finish. Then combined with active family traffic, well that foyer was doomed.

Eventually the finish gave up. It disintegrated. So raw areas of wood appeared, which even blistered like a sunburn. Moreover, raw patches of dark grain developed as water absorbed into the cells of the exposed wood. Hence you saw a floor filled with all kinds of wear and damage.

The ugly transition- While walking from the foyer to the back of the house there was a distinct disruption in the flow of the wood. It began with typical gunstock stained wood. But when the previous owners continued the hardwood into the back of the house they stained them darker.

Bad Advice

Years ago Kim had someone in to quote getting the floors done. One of her requests was to match the front and back so it was a continuous look. But her heart sank. She was incorrectly told that because they were different wood species, if refinished it would never match.

Yes, many times that’s true. But the refinisher didn’t verify the wood, he guessed. Again different species wood like oak vs pine vs cherry, etc, will never look the same. The same is true with red oak vs white oak. My guess is he assumed she had one color oak in the front of the house, and the other in the back.

Wrong. Conversely our hunch was that they were both red oak. To always be sure we have a policy of doing a chemical test ID to confirm the answer. Stars were in the right place, they were both red oak. Kim, well she was over the moon thrilled we could grant her her wish after all. She could get rid of the distinctly and annoying dissimilar wood tones.

The Work

Part 1: Installation- Installing the new hardwood in the living room and dining room. The carpets came out. After the new wood acclimated it went in seamlessly. No issues with the install. The floor was flat, the wood installed correctly, nice and tight, yet room to expand and contract. The installation would get peer approval from any seasoned ‘wood craftsman.’

Part2: Sanding and Staining- The sanding was professionally and thoroughly done. Not the fast, rip-off sanding that shaves 20-50 years off your floor, it was ‘by the book’ sanding. In fact, they were meticulously sanded. First we did our rough cuts. They we let our Trio™ at it, the world’s best finish sander bar none. The floors were flawlessly prepared. So after the above referenced hiccup we surfed right along.

Part 3: Finish Coats- Marvin hand applied the stain. It went on beautifully. The richness and variation of the grain was brought out by the gray based color she chose.

The Results

Now the hardwood floors have a soft weather beaten vibe. It is relaxing just like a breath of the sweet salt air! And, it is exactly what Kim had envisioned. Her ecstatic response upon seeing the finished product assured us we had successfully transformed her space according to her dreams.

The success of this project resonated with Kim and positioned us as a trusted partner and friend for future projects and referrals. And we are glad to report we’ve already finished her friends’ mother’s floors (a real funny project that will make you laugh!) To get a chuckle click here>When wood and weed mixed!

Conclusion

Our journey with Kim exemplified how dedication, creativity, and expertise can transform challenges into triumphs. By addressing unexpected setbacks, (again referencing the “Color Confusion,”)  mentioned above, we dealt with it head-on.  And prioritizing our client’s vision, we were able to create beautiful, beach-themed hardwood floors that aligned perfectly with her dreams.

This case study serves as a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional craftsmanship and ensuring client satisfaction, even in the face of unexpected obstacles.

Even simple wood refinishing can blow up into challenge. Mother Nature has her way! That’s why it matters hiring seasoned professionals who capably can ride it out and still deliver beautiful results! For questions answered and to discuss your project call us at 609.953.0472. Or Contact Us online!