Repairing or replacing even a small section of a hardwood floor can be tricky business. As a result, many flooring professionals might choose to stay out of the business altogether, especially if the original floor is site-sanded rather than prefinished.
In the case of prefinished floors, the homeowner might have a box of the original flooring left over from the installation, but newly installed boards might still stand out from its older neighbors because of wear, tear, and fading from the sun.
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According to both local and national flooring experts, including the National Wood Flooring Association, the repair and replacement process is highly variable depending on the type of flooring and the extent of the damage. At the end of the day, each job requires a site visit and individualized approach. And, since hardwood repairs aren’t hidden behind a layer of drywall or a coat of paint, a homeowner’s best bet might be to refinish the floor after any repairs are made.
That process also starts with a site evaluation from a professional to determine the scope of the work, including whether or not the floor can be sanded, what type of products should be used, and whether the floor requires any repairs or board patching before standing starts, says Kim Russ, general manager at Champion Floor Co. in Maryland Heights.
The remainder of the refinishing process typically starts with stain selection. “The technician will sand a portion of the floor and apply multiple shades of stain, combining the colors requested by the homeowner to create a custom-mixed color to the customer’s liking,” Russ says.
A flooring technician will then make multiple passes with a drum sander and edger, increasing the sandpaper grit as they go. “This is to first remove the existing finish and stain, as well as scratches in the floor, and end with smooth bare wood ready for new stain,” she says.
Once the floor is completely sanded, refinishers stain, then seal the floor. Applying sealer is an important step because it creates a barrier for the urethane finish and also prevents streaking.
Finishing the floor and, specifically, the type of finish used, can make a big difference in how long the homeowners will need to stay out of the house. Typically, Russ says, two coats of finish are applied. Oil-based finish has a much longer cure time and higher concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), says Ruff, some of which may have adverse health effects, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
As a result, if floors are finished with an oil-based product, the home needs to be vacant for most of the time that it takes the finish to reach full cure, she says.
“Water-based finishes continue to rise in popularity as they are more scratch-resistant, have low VOC content, and cure quickly, vastly reducing the inconvenience to the homeowner,” says Russ. “Not all finishes are created equal, however, and the homeowner should ensure that the flooring company [they hired] is using high-quality finishes. It makes a difference.”
