MYTH 1 — I Can Probably Refinish My Own Floors…

You probably can. What outcome are you expecting though? How much time do you have on your hands? Do you value your marriage?

Seriously though, your first challenge is going to be with the rental equipment. Rental store floor sanding equipment is just nowhere near the same level as the heavy duty, industrial tools that a professional floor sander has at his disposal. Our equipment is balanced and meticulously maintained which is more than one can say for most rental equipment.

If you called up a dozen seasoned professionals and asked them to refinish a floor with rental equipment, I guarantee most, if not all, would refuse. Our skill level would be negated in part by the performance of the rental equipment.

In the hands of a ‘newbie’ or someone inexperienced, you could just imagine what the results would be. One almost invariably ends up damaging the floor and greatly reducing the wear layer and life of it. Some courageous souls do go ahead and attempt to sand their floors. Some do have 'fair results' , often not knowing that they have significantly reduced the life of the floor by removing more than they should have. Would you call that a 'saving'? Often we are called in to “save a marriage” by a frustrated and fearful husband who thought he could rent some equipment and do his own floor. Believe us, you don’t want to be in that position!

The next challenge, even if you do succeed in sanding your floors to the bare wood and you’re satisfied with the results, is the application of the finish. Most store bought finishes are relatively easy to apply. An industrial finish that will guarantee long lasting results is simply unavailable to the public. These finishes cannot be bought in retail stores. They’re far too challenging to apply to let the public have access to them without training. Can you imagine the call-backs and angry customers they’d have to deal with because they’ve ruined their floors!

On top of that, how long do you want to inconvenience your family? Without the right tools – which can cost us professionals up to $60,000.00 – it could take from days to weeks to complete and still you’d end up with an unsatisfactory finish that you’ll be reminded of every time you glance down at the floor. In addition rental equipment does not come with a full dustless system. There are often ‘clouds’ of dust to be reckoned with. Is the following account convincing enough?

We went out to save a floor that a chartered accountant -a ‘weekend carpenter’ - had tried to tackle. His wife was fed up with the inconvenience and mess he’d subjected her to over the period of 3 weekends. He’d even taken four days off from his business to ‘finish’ the project. Finally he gave in and sheepishly called us. We came out to see the damage.

Unfortunately, he’d sanded so much of the wear layer off his floors that there was nothing we could do to help, there was no way they could be saved. He HAD to have a brand new floor installed which was going to cost him thousands of dollars more, not to mention the time and labor for removing them, then installing new flooring and having us come back and finish them.

His wife was horrified! We felt awful. He mustered up the boldness to ask us how much it would have cost if they had called us originally. We measured it up for him and told him about $3,500.00.

Being an accountant, you could see his built in calculator working overtime. He’d spent over $1,200.00 on rental equipment, sanding and finish supplies. The worst part was he’d lost more than $5,000.00 worth of business because of the time he took off!

I often wonder if he’s still sleeping on the couch.

So yes, you can finish your own floors, BUT… you can’t say we haven’t warned you!

You will find very informative and amusing the detailed account with pictures of a courageous homeowner who documented his attempt at refinishing his own hardwood floors here. Read to the end, you will end up not only liking this fellow but maybe even feeling sorry for him.

Back to top

MYTH 2 — Finishes On Pre-Finished Flooring Are Harder Than Site-Applied Finishes…

Most pre-finished hardwood flooring comes with a factory applied finish that is cured by ultra violet light in controlled environments. Most of the higher end pre-finished flooring manufacturers will apply up to seven coats, some with additives for extra durability such as aluminum oxides etc. These extremely fine coatings are most often sprayed on. Following the applications they are cured with UV lighting.

The end result is an extremely hard finish often guaranteed for anywhere from 15-30 years of normal use (with of course all the small print included that limits the real-life terms of the guarantee).

The vast majority of site-applied finish systems cannot compete with these pre-finished systems. To do so, we would need to duplicate the controlled environments found in these factories. Not only that, we would also need to bring in huge ultra violet lights to cure the finish applied throughout the floors in your home. Obviously this would be impossible.

The only finish that matches the durability and strength of these pre-finished floor finishes is the WearMax Advanced Ceramic Finish System which is, at present the most durable site-applied finish on the market. In fact it often surpasses factory applied UV cured aluminum oxide finishes in wear quality.

Over the years we’ve had to refinish many solid prefinished floors with factory UV cured finish. Yes they still wear despite what their marketing may say. But on the other hand, we have refinished only one single floor coated with the WearMax Advanced Ceramic Finish System. Why was that?

About six years ago we were called in to refinish a floor — and we were given a challenge. That was to provide the most wear resistant finish available anywhere. The reason being that the homeowner was disabled and moved about with the aid of two crutches and never took his shoes off. Despite the handicap he remains extremely able and active.

Recently the floor suffered water damage due to a faulty dishwasher water line — not because of any wear in the floors. A decision was made that the entire floor area needed to be refinished. Upon learning that the floor was coated with a ceramic application, three other hardwood floor companies when approached simply refused to touch the floor. We were called in as we were the ones that applied the finish six years prior. Upon inspection, after six years the floor showed virtually no wear at all. Even we were amazed! We weren't even sure how we were going to remove this finish from the floor surface. We didn’t know anyone who had needed to resand a floor coated with ceramic finish nor who had even attempted it.

We accepted the task and went ahead. This was far more challenging and time consuming than sanding any “30 Year Guarantee” UV cured pre-finished floor surface. The highest quality industrial sanding equipment combined with the best quality abrasives available at the professional level “barely” scratched the surface of this amazing finish. We have never encountered a 'site applied' floor finish so incredibly resistant. And we believe we never will. How can one not recommend such a quality product? The WearMax Advanced Ceramic Finish System is “head and shoulders above” any other site-applied finish you can find.

You will find more information by reading the article: WearMax Ceramic — The Ultimate Finish System?

Back to top

MYTH 3 — The Best Quality Finish Will Prevent My Floors From Denting…

Floor finishes, no matter how strong, will not prevent a hardwood floor from denting because they simply are not designed to. One must understand the difference between “impact resistance” and “wear resistance”.

Floor finishes are formulated to resist wear. Even the WearMax Advanced Ceramic Finish, if applied over a piece of Styrofoam, cannot resist the impact of a carving knife dropped onto it from a height of five feet… but try to wear it out by heavy and prolonged foot traffic... now that’s a different matter!

The density of the wood itself is the key to a dent resistant floor. For example, maple, oak, fir and Brazilian cherry to name a few, all resist impact to different degrees. Given the fact that virtually all wood used for flooring can and will dent, you want to use a high quality floor finish that will yield and flex when subjected to impact, still retaining a “seal” of finish where the impact occurs. Let's face it, we all drop something on our floors sometime or another.

Back to top

MYTH 4 — A High Quality Finish Will Not Scratch…

This myth is common because of the ‘smart’ marketing of some pre-finished flooring companies. They found out that if they guarantee this, they’ll sell more product and not many consumers will bother with their very limited, qualified (abundant fine print) guarantee. Smart for them? Maybe.

Realistically though… dragging a sharp metal tipped object while applying significant weight across a floor surface will scratch any given finish, no matter how hard the finish. Even a porcelain floor tile will scratch subjected to such pressure. This though is not what floors are normally subjected to.

A professionally refinished hardwood floor though should hold up very well under normal foot traffic – even if you’re an active family with pets. Over the years the “high traffic” areas may show a change of sheen but this does not necessarily mean that the finish is near to being worn through.

One will always see in direct sunlight over time what we call ‘micro abrasion’. These are very fine abrasions to the top surface of the finish. Virtually all floors will show signs of this as we live and walk on them no matter the quality of the finish. This is to be expected.

Lifestyles vary. There are home settings where large energetic dogs have free reign to run around.

Maybe your family is like this. Others may have a family member who is wheel chair bound or one who uses a walker or crutches. Or maybe your family doesn’t take their shoes off inside your home – and this is fine. Your hardwood floor contractor should query you on your lifestyle prior to recommending a finish so he can match one to properly suit your needs. This is a sure sign of a professional.

In the cases mentioned above wherein a floor is subjected to heavy foot traffic, you would definitely want more than a standard oil based finish. We would strongly recommend investing in either our commercial grade catalyzed waterborne finish system or ultimately our WearMax Advanced Ceramic Finish System ensuring maximum durability and longevity of your floors.

Back to top

MYTH 5 — Applying as Many Heavy Coats of Finish as Possible Is Best…

This is a common misconception. The number of finish coats that it is recommended to apply is approximately three to four. This includes most often a “sealer” coat and three to four finish coats. All coatings should be evenly applied in thin coats. This will ensure proper drying and lifelong adhesion between coats.

Excessive top coatings tend to give the floor a look as if it were plastic or artificial. It also must be said that in the case of solvent based finishes which yellow over time that the appearance of the wood grain becomes obliterated. Many times we have difficulty determining a wood species given the fact that the numerous coatings applied to it years prior have taken on the look of a painted surface.

The real secret is to choose from among the highest quality floor finishes available. These are offered only through your professional floor restorer. They will remain clear and show the rich grain patterns of the natural wood flooring. Then have these professionally applied by him in a controlled setting. Our WearMax Advanced Ceramic Finish system is a four coat system that is guaranteed for the lifetime of your floors. You should never have to refinish your floor again.

Back to top

MYTH 6 — Water Based Finish Is Not as Durable as Oil Based Finish…

This is definitely not correct anymore. Years ago, when we were starting in the business, this was the case for a number of water base finishes.

Homeowners and contractors alike wanted finishes that were less offensive to the environment and the home contexts. Basically they didn’t want to have to live with the offensive oil based smells and fumes. Floor refinishers too led the crusade for the quest for a finish that was less hazardous to their health.

Responding to market demand lines of ‘finish systems’ were introduced at the retail level that were what we call ‘waterborne’ coatings. This means that traditional finishes were modified so that the vehicles carrying the resins were not solvents and alcohols but in this case, simply water. But… the quality and durability of these ‘new’ finishes offered at the retail level just couldn’t compare with the traditional and extremely durable, “Glitsa” Swedish finishes nor the “moisture cure” lines applied at the professional level.

Makers of professional floor finishes too turned their attention to producing “waterborne” coatings that would match and exceed traditional applications. Well, jump forward a decade or so and now floor finish companies have made amazing advancements in their water based formulas. Companies such as ‘Bona Kemi’ and their ‘Traffic’ line and ‘Basic Coatings’ with their ‘Streetshoe’ finish systems have formulated top-of-the-line two-component finishes that by far surpass your basic oil modified polyurethanes in terms of wear resistance.

If you’re looking for the most durable hardwood floor finishes on the market today AND want the advantage of minimal fumes and smell, then these new finish systems are what you’re looking for.

Back to top

MYTH 7 — Gloss Finish Is Harder Than Satin…

This may have been true many years ago near the turn of the century. The science of formulating floor finishes has made great advances in recent decades and the difference now is so minute that it’s no longer true.

Again, what makes the difference is making sure you use industrial quality finishes on your floor. If you’re investing all that time and money into your floors, you want to make sure you’ll get many, many years of enjoyment out of them. Ideally if properly chosen a floor finish should last at very least a minimum of 20 years.

What you need to steer clear of are the finishes often offered in the larger retail stores. These are specially formulated to be applied by virtually any one with little or no experience and still turn out quite good looking. Their durability in the long run though is what you sacrifice for ease application. These retail finishes cannot be compared to the finishes your professional hardwood floor restorer will apply.

We must take courses offered by the finish companies, and are at times tested before we can become “certified appliers” of that given finish. Finishing techniques and tools at the “professional level” are also very different from what you may commonly see in big box stores and they can take many years of use to master them in order to consistently produce professional, quality results. These finishes and tools cannot be purchased at the retail level.

Back to top

MYTH 8 — I Should Regularly Wax My Hardwood Floors…

Wow, it’s hard to believe this one’s still out there making the rounds. This was the case a long, long time ago.

Quality floor finishes applied by a professional do not need waxing. Doing so can be hazardous because it can make the floor slippery. And if you do wax your floors, you’ll never be able to re-coat them if you wish or need to at a future date. The existing wax will prevent the newly applied finish from adhering properly. Removing years of old wax entirely from off a floor surface is virtually impossible short of sanding the floor down to the bare wood.

Back to top

MYTH 9 — A Stain Can Be Put In the Finish to Give Color to the Floor…

Not successfully. You may have seen products in your local large retail store that boast this capability. In fact, such is the confusion that your average homeowner will often refer to the finish as “stain”. Many believe that you choose the color of floor finish to apply. This is not so. All floor finishes are clear and dry clear. “Stain” on the other hand is a wood dye, or coloring.

Mixing the two is not the recommended way to stain a floor. A floor is properly sanded down to the bare wood, meticulously prepared and then a color of choice is applied. After that dries and cures, clear top coats seal and protect the floor. This is the recommended and approved method of “staining” a floor.

Many years ago products were introduced that enabled one to combine two steps in one, that of staining a floor and top-coating it. An attempt near 12 years back was made by a major industrial finish line to provide a top coat that resembled the look of an aged finish. This was in response to consumer demand who didn’t want to refinish and entire area of the home. Many were looking to fix local damaged areas, possibly only a room or portion that would be adjacent to existing floor areas that were possibly refinished many years prior. The attempt was to duplicate the look of 50 year old floors, an old hazy yellow and aged appearance. It was not successful.

We tried it without success and the line was discontinued. Mixing stain into the finish compromises the integrity of the finish itself and this will most often void the warranty provided by the supplier.

From time to time we still see this attempted even by some professionals. Doing so tends to obliterate the beautiful wood grain, “masking” somewhat its natural beauty. Most often we have found that this becomes a desperate last minute solution for some to mask a poorly refinished hardwood floor.

You may have heard though that this is a common practice in the “cabinetry” industry. Yes it is, and it’s very successfully and produces beautiful results. The purposes are different as are the application methods. BUT… remember, you do not walk on cabinetry! Often an inferior grading of wood can be masked to look “high end”. For example maple (which takes stain poorly) can be made to look like “cherry”. “Hevia” or commonly called “rubber wood” can be stained to resemble mahogany.

Back to top

CONCLUSION

Being well informed is not only a protection but is refreshing. Embracing the multitude of ideas and opinions that are only partially true, or maybe not at all can be to our undoing.

Your hardwood floors are very valuable and deserve the attention of competent tradesmen and the finest finishes available anywhere. This is the only way to truly preserve them. Rest assured, we remain committed to the lifetime preservation of your hardwood floors.