Home / Our Services / Recoating / Where the Smart Money Is Going

Recoating in the 21st Century:
Where the Smart Money Is Going

Recoating wood floors is arguably the best value in the wood floor industry today. Tired, lifeless and worn floors get a new lease on life for a fraction of what it would take to refinish them. It is particularly appealing to homeowners who are preparing their house to sale and new buyers who see a chance to make improvements prior to moving in. Here is a short tutorial to make sure you know what you’re getting and how to avoid a very expensive mistake.

For years, the term “screen and recoat” was used to describe recoating and this was a mistake. The “screen” was a screenback disc that was used with a buffer to rough up the old finish. When used to recoat old floors it was less reliable, had a higher failure rate and often filled the air with dust – note picture to the right. Screenbacks were never designed to clean dirt and grime off a floor. If the surface isn’t clean, the new coating will not adhere to the surface and you end up with a very expensive disaster. The higher failure rate has created doubt and confusion among consumers and caused a major headache for a lot of wood flooring contractors. We have had an uphill battle promoting this option.

This changed dramatically when some major coatings manufacturers got involved. They understood that removing dirt, grime and other surface contaminants involved liquid cleaners and scrubbing pads. They developed environmentally responsible cleaners, auto-scrubbers, synthetic scrubbing pads and suddenly the risk factors in recoating a wood floor evaporated. What had once sent clouds of dust throughout the home became a spotlessly clean procedure. Their training also showed contractors how to detect waxes and other products that could throw a monkey wrench into the works. They took it one step further and introduced bonding agents that helped insure proper adhesion to the old finish. The haphazard nature of “screen and recoat” has been replaced by a reliable, clean and sound option for refurbishing old worn wood floors. This is 21st century recoating as it should be!

Ok, you now have the information to make an informed decision. Done correctly, recoating restores color, adds protection, is fast, clean, environmentally responsible and saves your old floors from a total re-sanding. Whether you’re getting the house ready to sell, purchasing an older home, empty-nesters with the chance to upgrade the house or just tired of your dull lifeless floors, recoating is probably the answer. Leave “screen and recoat” to the Vegas crowd and put your money into a sound investment. If you need to know more, call or email me for quick answers.