An Effective Way to Maintain Your Hardwood Floors

Even the most beautiful hardwood floors begin to show signs of wear over time. Everyday foot traffic, pet claws and furniture movement can lead to scratches, dull finishes, and a general loss of luster. Fortunately, you don’t need to replace or refinish your floors to restore their original shine—a process called “screen and recoat” can make them look new again.

What is screen and recoat?
Screen and recoat (sometimes called “buff and coat”) is a professional maintenance process that’s designed to refresh the surface of hardwood floors without removing the existing finish. A flooring specialist lightly sands (or “screens”) the top layer of the finish to remove minor imperfections before applying one or two new coats of protective finish.

Is it worthwhile?
Floor manufacturers typically recommend a screen and recoat every five to 10 years, depending on your lifestyle and the amount of foot traffic in your home. If you have kids, pets or heavy furniture, you may need to do it sooner. The process is far less invasive than a full sanding and refinishing because the wood surface of the floor doesn’t have to be removed. It’s also cleaner, as dustless vacuums and buffing equipment are used to minimize mess.