Hardwood floors are known for their timeless beauty and durability. But over time, even the toughest wood can lose its luster. At Ron’s Hardwood Floors in Chehalis, WA, we specialize in bringing old floors back to life. Whether your floors are dull, scratched, or discolored, the hardwood refinishing process can completely transform their appearance. Here's a step-by-step guide to what you can expect—from hardwood sanding to hardwood staining.
Why refinish hardwood floors?
Before diving into the process, let’s talk about why hardwood refinishing matters. Over the years, daily foot traffic, sunlight, furniture movement, and spills can leave floors looking worn and damaged. Refinishing helps remove surface imperfections, restore the natural wood grain, and protect your floors with a fresh new finish. It’s also a cost-effective alternative to replacing your floors entirely.
Step 1: Preparation and inspection
Every great refinishing job starts with preparation. Our team begins by inspecting the floors to assess their current condition. We check for deep scratches, water damage, squeaky boards, and previous finishes. Furniture must be removed from the area, and we recommend sealing off adjoining rooms to contain dust.
Depending on the thickness of your floorboards and past refinishing work, we’ll determine how much sanding can be safely done. Solid hardwood floors can typically be refinished several times, while engineered wood has a more limited number of sanding cycles.
Step 2: Hardwood sanding
Hardwood sanding is the most critical and labor-intensive step in the refinishing process. Using industrial-grade sanders, we remove the old finish and the top layer of damaged wood. This step also smooths out dents, scratches, and uneven wear.
Sanding is done in multiple stages with increasingly finer grits of sandpaper. The goal is to create a smooth, clean surface that’s ready to accept stain and finish. Proper sanding also helps ensure an even color during the hardwood staining stage. We finish this step with edge sanding and a thorough vacuuming to eliminate all dust.
Step 3: Hardwood staining (optional)
Once your floors are sanded, you have the option to change their color with hardwood staining. This is a great opportunity to match new design preferences or give your floors a bold, refreshed look.
We offer a wide variety of stain colors, from light naturals to deep espresso tones. Before applying any stain, we test samples directly on your floor so you can see how different shades will look with your specific wood species and lighting. Once a color is chosen, we apply the stain evenly and allow it to fully penetrate the wood before sealing.
If you prefer a natural look, we can skip staining and move straight to the finishing step.
Step 4: Sealing and finishing
After staining (or after sanding, if no stain is used), the floors are sealed with a protective finish. At Ron’s Hardwood Floors, we offer both oil-based and water-based polyurethane finishes. Each has its pros: oil-based finishes have a warm amber tone and are very durable, while water-based finishes dry faster and offer a clear, non-yellowing appearance.
We typically apply multiple coats of finish, allowing each to dry thoroughly before the next. Between coats, we lightly buff the floor to ensure a smooth, even result. This finish layer is what shields your hardwood from future damage and makes maintenance easier.
Step 5: Final inspection and curing
Once the final coat is applied, we do a detailed inspection to ensure every inch meets our high-quality standards. We recommend staying off the floors for at least 24 hours and avoiding heavy furniture placement or rugs for 7 days, depending on the finish type. This curing time is essential to achieving long-term durability.
Trust Ron’s Hardwood Floors with your refinishing project
Hardwood refinishing is both a science and an art—and it’s one we’ve perfected here in Chehalis, WA. Whether you need hardwood sanding to remove years of wear or are ready to refresh your space with a new hardwood staining color, Ron’s Hardwood Floors delivers exceptional results. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and bring your wood floors back to life.
