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Passive Refinishing

Developed exclusively by The Rosebud Co., Passive Refinishing® is redefining how old floors are restored. Passive Refinishing® is the safe and environmentally responsible way of removing all surface accumulations on an old wood floor without any aggressive sanding or the loss of any wood. Developed in 1990 by The Rosebud Co. it has been used to restore more than 70,000 square feet of some of our nation’s most historic properties including the original wood floors of James and Dolley Madison’s Montpelier in Orange, Va.

Frequently Asked Questions

Aren’t you just using chemical stripping products?
Mention chemical strippers to anyone and toxic vapors, caustic chemicals, hazardous materials and work conditions usually come to mind. The products we work with do remove old finishes and paint, do not contain Methylene Chloride and don’t have to be neutralized. They are environmentally responsible and biodegradable. We have been using them in museum work and the public is allowed to walk right up to the areas where we work. For that reason, we call them chemical cleaners, not stripping products.

Explain the difference between Passive Refinishing® and traditional refinishing options.
Passive Refinishing® differs from all other refinishing options in that it removes all the finishes on the surface of the wood without sanding it off. You get the same results, the loss of the old finishes, without the loss of wood. You also have the same finishing options as if you sanded the floors.

Why would you want to use Passive Refinishing® instead of the traditional approach?
Most of our work has been on historic properties where the loss of wood is not allowed. The floors in these historic properties have already lost too much wood or there is significant historic value and sanding is to be avoided. This is also true of a growing number of private residences built before 1950. The wood floors have been sanded so many times that there isn’t enough wood left for a successful refinishing. It may be necessary to completely replace the floors to have an attractive surface.

How does the price of Passive Refinishing® compare with traditional sanding?
It is more expensive if you are comparing it to traditional refinishing but if the option is to replace the floors, then it can be very competitively priced. The prices will vary depending upon how much finish has to be removed, its age and a few other variables. Most prices for Passive Refinishing® start in the $8.00 per square foot range.

How much experience do you have using Passive Refinishing®?
I developed Passive Refinishing® in 1991. Since that time, I have used it to restore about 70,000 square feet of floors. The majority of the floors have been in historic properties but I am now starting to see a demand in older private residences.

Is dust an issue?
No. As a matter of fact, this is one of the cleanest forms of refinishing and restoring a wood floor you will ever find.

Do you sell products or educational material to other interested parties?
Not at this time. Passive Refinishing® is a process that is original to the Rosebud Co. only.