Hardwood Refinishing

If your hardwood floor has lost its beauty through age, damage or even just wear and tear, it can be brought back to its original beauty. We offer a dustless refinishing system that can help restore the color and durability to your floor.

Oil vs. Water

The main differences between water based and oil based polyurethane is drying time, odor, price, and color, not durability. Most of the existing site finished wood floors are oil based finishes. Prefinished wood can be water or oil based. If you have site finished wood in your home, it is probably oil based. Be aware that if you change to water based, it will look different. Below you will come across VOC compliant which means that the product has passed all local State and Federal regulatory limits of the emission of chemicals into the atmosphere.

Oil Modified Polyurethane (OMU)

Is a solvent based polyurethane, contains mineral spirit.
Much higher in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Ambers (yellow, brownish-orange tones) over time.
Odor (can linger for several days or even weeks).
Oil interacts with the wood for warmer tones. Gives the wood more depth and color. This is because it is absorbed into the wood and the oil accentuates the wood grain, giving the grain more
presence. The natural oils in the sealer also give the wood a muted shine.
Only option for dark stains.
Drying time per coat is at least 8 hours (high humidity, low temperature, lack of air movement cause this to vary—sometimes 24 hours plus is needed!) Need to wait overnight between coats.
Curing— allow finish to cure for 24 hours from final coat before foot traffic and 30 days before placing area rugs. The floor may be walked on (light foot traffic only!) and after about 12 hours after second coat, but remains susceptible to scuffing and marring until completely cured. Use only a dry microfiber mop or cloth for cleaning during the first week or two—no liquid cleaners!

Water Based/Water Borne Polyurethane

You can conceivably do a coat every 2--4 hours. This takes 1—2 days off the job versus oil based poly which allows the homeowner to get back to their routine/life sooner.
Any given coat will dry enough in a few hours so that the owners can walk on it.
Cost is more expensive (additional charge to use).
Curing--70% cured after 1 day, 90% cured after 3 days, fully cured in approximately 7 days so area rugs can be placed down after 7days. Do not replace area rugs until floor is fully cured. The floor may be walked on and furniture replaced after 24 hours, but remains susceptible to scuffing and marring until completely cured. Use only a dry microfiber mop or cloth for cleaning during the first week or two—no liquid cleaners! .Slight fumes/odors. The day after the final coat most people smell nothing.
VOC compliant.
Best for natural and light to medium stains, not dark stains.
Because it sets up so fast, there is little penetration into the wood.
Feels/looks more “plastic”; tends to have greater reflection and shine.

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