Refinishing is a restoration process that helps reset hardwood floors and extend their longevity. Although it can be costly, the benefits of refinishing are that you are able to restore uneven coloring from daily wear, repair scratches and dents, and even completely change the color of your wood floors, like a reset. Refinishing is also a great way to extend the life of your flooring and is incredibly cheaper than a full replacement.
The process to refinish begins with taking a large, heavy sanding machine to remove the topmost layer, also known as the existing finish, from the floors. This finish is a defensive layer that protects the actual wood from damage. The exposed wood is then sanded down to even out the surface and remove dents, scratches, and discolorations.
Once sanding is completed, the next step is to put down a new layer of finish by staining the planks first and then applying three coats of finish, which must be dried in between each coat. This is the step in the process where homeowners can restore their floors to their original color or change colors completely.