When the hardwood floor is safely refinished and the work is completed, your hardwood floor company is required to give you a written invoice. This must include:

• The name and physical address of the wood floor company
• A list of all work performed, including the warranty
• An itemized list of all merchandise purchased or included
• The total wood floor refinishing cost, including the amount charged for labor, if any

Before leaving the hardwood floor refinishing company, confirm any warranties offered by the hardwood floor shop in Santa Clara County, including the larger cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Milpitas. The written warranty document must detail the following:

• The hardwood floor company's name and physical address
• What the warranty covers. Any exclusions must be explicitly stated. Some of these exclusions might include:
  • Debris or pimples in the finish coats that are less than two particles per 100 square feet
  • Discoloration in the wood, stain or finish due to damages from UV light
  • Any expansion, shrinkage, cupping, buckling, or other reaction of wood to dryness or moisture
  • Indentations, scratches or damage caused outside means such as water, sand, abuse, pets, everyday wear, or loss of sheen on the surface of the hardwood floor
  • Insect infestation
  • Popping or squeaking in the sub-floor or hardwood
• Your responsibility in the case of hardwood floor refinishing problems and what you need to do in order to redeem the warranty.
• If the hardwood floor refinishing warranty coverage is transferrable to the new owner in the event that you sell the home or building in which the wood floors have been refinished.
• How long the warranty is valid, and whether it expires on a specific day or if it is prorated.

Hardwood floor refinishing companies in Santa Clara County, including the larger cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Milpitas, provide all types of refinishing for floorings. Following is a list of the most popular refinishing requests.

Swedish Finishes
Swedish finishes are high performing but expensive. This type of finish provides excellent durability, it dries quickly, and it is recoatable. The disadvantages of a Swedish finish are that it is very difficult to apply and requires a carefully sanded floor.

Wood Floor Waxes
Waxing is not as common as it was in the past as it requires a stain or grain sealer prior to waxing. However, a wax finish does protect and extend the life of oil finishes. It is easy to apply, dries quickly, and is very durable. The disadvantages to waxing include that it requires maintenance such as touch-ups, buffing, and periodic removal and then rewaxing. It can become brittle and yellow the wood flooring. It can also be slippery when it's wet.

Oil Finishes for Wood Flooring
Oil finishes often have wax added them which provides additional protection against spills and abrasion. A hardwood floor with a new oil finish will dry quickly. The disadvantage of an oil finish is that it is not as durable as other finishes and it can take a long time to completely cure. Sometimes a finished wood floor with an oil finish will require waxing. It can also water-spot and collect dust. Oil-based finishes are amber in color.

Moisture-Cured Finishes
Moisture-cured finishes react with the moisture in the air in order to dry. Moisture-cured finishes have outstanding durability and provide the hardest wearing surfaces. This finish dries rapidly in a moist environment. The disadvantages of a moisture-cured finish include that it is difficult to apply and available only in a glossy finish. If the humidity changes significantly, it can lead to blistering or other defects. When dry this finish appears clear to amber in color.

Hardwood Floor Bleaching Services
Most hardwood floors can be bleached for the purpose of complementing a d/(c)cor. Darker hardwoods such as red oak, hickory, and ash are well-suited for bleaching. Unfortunately, bleaching can weaken the wood fibers making the floors more susceptible to the wear of regular foot traffic.

Water-Based Finishes
Water-based finishes are typically combinations of urethanes and acrylics with a catalyst mixed application. The rule of thumb is the higher the percentage of urethane, the more expensive yet durable the finish. Water-based finishes appear clear and will resist turning yellow over time. They have a good durability, dry quickly, and are non-flammable. However, water-based urethane finishes require more coats than solvent-based urethanes, and new coats of finish may not adhere as well to old coats of finish.

Coloring Hardwood Floors
Coloring refers to applying varying degrees of pigmented stains to lighter-hued wood in order to highlight the grain of the wood and add color.

Pickling Wood Floors
Pickling adds a stain to the pores and crevices of hardwood floors that contrasts with a bleached finish.

Antiquing Hardwood Floors
Antiquing refers to the process of making hardwood look "aged" by distressing the edges, crevices, and cracks of the wood.

Acid-Cured Finishes for Hardwood Floors
Acid-cured finishes dry quickly and are highly durable. They appear clear to lightly amber in color.

Below are key hardwood floor refinishing company terms and descriptions that will help you navigate your way through your wood floor refinishing from beginning to end.

bamboo hardwood floor refinishing
Bamboo hardwood floor refinishing refers to refinishing a hardwood floor made from bamboo. Bamboo is a wood from the bamboo tree that is environmentally friendly and durable.

Also known as: bamboo hardwood, bamboo floor refinishing, hardwood floor, hardwood floor restoration, wood floor refinishing

Brazilian cherry hardwood refinishing
Brazilian cherry hardwood refinishing refers to refinishing a floor made out of Brazilian cherry hardwood. Brazilian cherry hardwood is an exotic hardwood flooring that has a natural reddish brown color and superior hardness.

Also known as: Brazilian cherry wood, cherry hardwood, Brazilian cherry, Brazilian cherry lumber, Brazilian cherry hardwood, Brazilian walnut

cherry hardwood flooring refinishing services

Cherry hardwood flooring refinishing refers to refinishing a cherry hardwood floor. Cherry hardwood floors have rich, lustrous hues that deepen as the floor ages. Because it is a soft wood, it isn't usually used for a whole floor. It does make an excellent accent or decorative wood.

commercial hardwood floor refinishing
Commercial hardwood floor refinishing refers to refinishing a commercial hardwood floor.

Also known as: hardwood floor restoration, hardwood floors sanding, hardwood floor installation, woodfloor refinishing, sanding hardwood floors, hardwood floor repairs, hardwood floor refinishing

damaged hardwood floor restoration
Damaged hardwood floor restoration refers to the act of restoring a hardwood floor that has been damaged. Hardwood floors can be damaged from a variety of factors that include too much moisture, too much dryness, pets, etc.

Also known as: wood floor restore, hardwood floor restoration, wood floor restoration, sanding hardwood floors, hard wood floor drying

exotic hardwood flooring refinishing
Exotic hardwood flooring refinishing refers to the act of refinishing an exotic hardwood flooring. Exotic hardwood flooring is composed of exotic hardwoods from Brazil, Asia, and Africa. The woods come from managed forests and beautifully transform any room. Exotic hardwood flooring never needs to be stained as the color will always remain true to the original.

hand refinishing wood floors
Hand refinishing wood floors refers to the process of refinishing a wood floor in order to bring back its original shine and preserve the quality of the wood.

Also known as: wood flooring, refinish wood floors, how to refinish hardwood floors, wood flooring installation, reclaimed wood flooring, old wood floor, wood floor installers

hardwood floor refinishing
Hardwood floor refinishing refers to the process of refinishing a wood floor in order to bring back its original shine and preserve the quality of the wood.

Also known as: how to refinish hardwood floors, refinishing hardwood floors, refinish hardwood floors, hardwood floor refinishing costs, wood floor refinishing

hardwood floor resealing
Hardwood floor resealing refers to the process of resealing a wood floor in order to preserve the shine and quality of the wood.

Also known as: sealing hardwood floors, refinishing hardwood floors, sanding hardwood floors, resealing hardwood floors, hardwood floor wax, hardwood floor refinishing

hickory wood flooring refinishing
Hickory wood flooring refinishing refers to the act of refinishing a hardwood floor made out of hickory. Hickory is made out of hickory wood and has a reputation for durability. It is one of the hardest wood floorings available.

Also known as: hickory wood floors, hickory hardwood flooring, wood floor restoration

home hardwood flooring refinishing
Home hardwood flooring refinishing refers to the act of refinishing a hardwood floor that is in a home. Home hardwood flooring is a reference to purchasing and installing a hardwood floor for the home. Hardwood floors increase the value of your home and if properly maintained, should last the lifetime of your home.

Also known as: wood floor refinishing, flooring refinishing, hard wood floors refinishing, hardwood floor installation, wood flooring refinishing, hardwood floor restoration

oak hardwood flooring refinishing
Oak hardwood flooring refinishing refers to the act of refinishing a hardwood floor made out of oak. Oak hardwood flooring comes in red oak, which is the most popular flooring option, and white oak. Red oak is reddish in color and is a stiff, dense wood that resists wear. White oak is brown in color with a grayish cast and has more burls and swirls. It is harder and more resists wear better than red oak.

Also known as: hardwood floor refinishing, wood flooring refinishing, hard wood floor refinishing, hardwood floors refinishing, hardwood floor refinishing cost, hardwood flooring refinishing

old wood floor refinishing services
Old wood floor refinishing services refers to the service of refinishing an old wood floor and bringing back its original shine while preserving the quality of the wood.

Also known as: wood refinishing, old wood, wood floor refinishing, wood refinisher, old wood floor, sandless wood refinishing, old wood floor restoration, hardwood finishing, wood furniture refinishing, wood flooring refinishing, furniture refinishing, hardwood floor installation

parquet wood flooring refinishing
Parquet wood flooring refinishing refers to the act of refinishing a parquet wood floor. Parquet wood floors have an original look from regular hardwood floors. They are made up of geometrical patterns composed of individual wood slats held in place by either mechanical fastening or adhesive.

pine floor refinishing
Pine floor refinishing refers to the act of refinishing a hardwood floor made out of pine. Pine flooring is made from pine which is a yellowish brown color and contains a lot of swirls and knots. It is almost as hard as red oak and has a natural resistance to insects.

Also known as: wood floor refinishing, wood floor refinishing cost, refinishing pine floors, floor refinishing cost, refinishing pine floor

plank hardwood flooring refinish
Plank hardwood flooring refinish refers to the act of refinishing a hardwood floor that is a plank style. Plank flooring has the appearance of very wide planks of wood.

Also known as: hardwood floor refinishing, how to refinish hardwood floors, hardwood floors refinishing, hardwood flooring refinishing, wood floor refinishing, plank hardwood

refinish birch wood flooring
Refinish birch wood flooring refers to the act of refinishing a hardwood floor made out of birch. Birch flooring has the benefits of a hardwood floor such as hardness and durability, color variation, natural highlights in the wood, and comparable pricing to hardwoods. Birch flooring comes in paper birch, yellow birch, and sweet birch.

Also known as: how to refinish a wood floor, refinishing wood floors, wood floor refinishing, refinish wood floors, birch wood flooring, birch wood finish

refinish distressed wood flooring
Refinish distressed wood flooring refers to the act of refinishing distressed wood flooring. Distressed wood flooring is a recent trend in wood flooring that is rooted in history. The wood floor is scraped on site to make the floors flat, add texture, richness, and uniqueness. Though distressing a hardwood floor can and should be done by hand in order to maintain the natural look of the wood with wormholes, splits and other character markings, it is often done by machine which causes repetition of the pattern.

Also known as: how to refinish a wood floor, refinish wood flooring, refinishing wood flooring, distressed wood flooring, wood floor restoration, distressed wood floors

refinish natural wood flooring
Refinish natural wood flooring refers to the act of refinishing a natural wood flooring. Natural wood flooring refers to a hardwood floor that preserves the natural beauty, color and characteristics of wood, including wormholes, splits and other character markings.

Also known as: refinish wood floors, prefinished wood floor, how to sand wood floors, refinishing wood floors, wood floors sanding, natural wood floor finish, natural wood flooring

refinish oak hardwood flooring
Refinish oak hardwood flooring refers to the act of refinishing a hardwood floor composed of oak. Oak hardwood flooring comes in red oak, which is the most popular flooring option, and white oak. Red oak is reddish in color and is a stiff, dense wood that resists wear. White oak is brown in color with a grayish cast and has more burls and swirls. It is harder and more resists wear better than red oak.

Also known as: sanding hardwood floors, hardwood floor repair, oak hardwood, oak hardwood floors

refinish reclaimed wood flooring
Refinish reclaimed wood flooring refers to the act of refinishing reclaimed wood flooring. Reclaimed wood flooring is created from wood that is taken for re-use. This reclaimed wood usually comes from timbers and decking that is stripped from old barns, factories and warehouses.

Also known as: recycled wood flooring, reclaimed wood flooring, reclaimed wood floors, reclaimed antique wood flooring

refinish solid hardwood flooring
Refinish solid hardwood flooring refers to the act of refinishing a solid hardwood floor. Solid hardwood flooring is a solid hardwood floor that has been installed using solid wood rather than an engineered hardwood floor which has the look and appearance of solid wood but is not.

Also known as: hardwood floor installation, sanding hardwood floors, hardwood floor repair

refinish wide plank hardwood flooring
Refinish wide plank hardwood flooring refers to the act of refinishing a plank hardwood floor. Plank hardwood flooring is a style that has the appearance of very wide planks of wood.

Also known as: wide plank wood, wide plank, plank flooring, wide plank flooring, plank hardwood, wide plank pine, wide plank hardwood, wood flooring installation

refinished engineered wood flooring
Refinished engineered wood flooring refers to the act of refinishing an engineered wood flooring. Engineered wood floors are built with 3-12 multiple ply layers that are cross layered, glued and pressed together. The inner layers are generally built up with either a hardwood or a soft plywood type of material. The top veneer wear layer is glued and pressed on the top surface. Engineered wood flooring is available in most all wood species. It is more resistant to higher moisture levels than solid wood flooring and it can be directly glued down over concrete slabs.

Also known as: engineered wood flooring, refinish engineered wood flooring, refinishing hard wood floors, engineered wood floors, refinish hard wood floors, engineered wood floor, refinishing engineered wood floors

refinishing floating wood floors
Refinishing floating wood floors refers to the act of refinishing floating wood floors. Floating wood floors are a form of an engineered wood floor that is installed using a floating method. The wood floor is not secured to any subfloor but is suspended above the floor while resting on a cushioned underlayment.

Also known as: floating wood floor installation, refinishing wood floor, floating wood floors, refinishing wood floors, floating wood floor, floating wood flooring

rustic hardwood flooring refinishing
Rustic hardwood flooring refinishing refers to refinishing a rustic hardwood floor. Rustic hardwood flooring is a wood flooring created from wood that is taken for re-use. This reclaimed wood usually comes from timbers and decking that is stripped from old barns, factories and warehouses.

Also known as: rustic hardwood flooring, rustic hardwood floors, hardwood floor restoration

teak wood floor refinishing
Teak wood floor refinishing refers to the act of refinishing a teak wood floor. Teak flooring is made out of the teak tree and is a highly durable, though very expensive, wood. The teak tree does not grow in rainforests and can withstand a lot of abuse which makes it the perfect choice for an active family.

Also known as: teak wood flooring, Brazilian teak wood floors, teak wood floors

walnut hardwood floor refinishing
Walnut hardwood floor refinishing refers to the act of refinishing a walnut hardwood floor. Walnut hardwood flooring is made up of two groups: heartwood and sapwood. The walnut heartwood group varies in color from a deep, rich brown to a purplish black color. Walnut sapwood ranges from nearly white to a tan color. Sapwood is the outer part of the tree so it is less durable and more permeable. It is also the smoother of the two options which means that it warps more easily. The heartwood is the older, stronger part of the wood so it is a great choice for flooring.

wooden floors
Wooden floors are floors made out of wood or materials that have the appearance of wood.

Also known as: reclaimed wooden flooring, wooden flooring, wooden floor, painting wooden floors, discount wooden flooring, solid wooden floors, oak wooden flooring, bamboo wooden flooring, reclaimed wooden floors, solid wooden floor

Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified hardwood floor refinishing company?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a hardwood floor refinishing company with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country's most in-depth rating process. Only wood floor companies rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can't pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you'll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified wood floor refinishing company.

Q: How long does it take to refinish a hardwood floor?
A: The average time that it takes to refinish a 1000 square foot area takes four to give days. Most buildings or homes have central heating that allows a refinishing company to keep the humidity under control which allows for the project to be completed faster.

Q: Will I have to move out of my house while the floors are being refinished?
A: It actually depends on the floor plan of your home. If you have a downstairs unit, you can stay there. However, if you have children, it is advisable that you stay elsewhere as the fumes from the refinishing can be slightly toxic as they are first drying. It is preferable that you are not living in the home during the last two days of finishing.

Q: What about dust control while refinishing my hardwood floors?
A: Most hardwood floor refinishing companies have dust control vacuum systems on their machines.

Q: How extensive is preparation for refinishing a hardwood floor?
A: Preparing to refinish a hardwood floor is not as extensive as painting a house. Basically the work area is contained which includes masking off any doorways to rooms that aren't being worked in such as kitchens and baths.

Q: When I removed my carpet so that I could sand and refinish my hardwood floors, I noticed several pet stains and water stains. Can they be sanded out or repaired?
A: Deep stains will rarely sand out of the floor. The darker the stain, the deeper it is in the wood. The only solution is to replace the damaged wood. Sometimes you can replace a section of the hardwood floor if the bad stain is in a small, hidden area, such as a closet. But often when you replace a section with new wood, it may not perfectly match the existing floor. The best solution for multiple problems such as pet or water stains is to replace the entire floor.

Q: What will screening my floor accomplish? Is it as effective as sanding and refinishing?
A. Screening the floor will only remove light marks caused by normal wear and tear. Once the floor is lightly sanded, otherwise known as screening, it will typically be coated with one coat of finish. It usually only takes one day to screen and recoat a hardwood floor. However, screening will not remove deeper scratches and indentations. Also, screening will not help a floor that has been worn down to the stain. In these cases, the floor should be completely sanded and refinished.

Q: How long do I have to wait before I can walk on my newly finished hardwood floors?
A: A newly finished floor can be walked on as quickly as 2-3 hours after finishing. You will want to wait at least two days before you move furniture back on the floors. You should wait at least a week before putting down an area rug.

Q: What is the best way to speed up the drying process?
A: After the floor has been refinished, leave the air conditioning or heat on at 70 degrees. Turn on fans and set them up so that they move the air away from the newly finished floors.