Hardwood floors are an expensive but worthwhile investment. Few flooring surfaces can compete with the timeless elegance of classic wood—or add as much value to your home. It’s important to take proper care of your hardwood floors so they remain in good condition for decades to come. Part of proper care involves refinishing. 

What Is Refinishing?

A finish is a protective layer on a wood surface, meant to protect against wear and tear, water damage, and other environmental factors. Over time, it is important to reapply this protective layer, or refinish your wood surface. 

What Type of Finish Do I Use? 

• Wax. The tried-and-true old-fashioned way of finishing hardwood floors, before polyurethane products became available on the market. Apply 2-3 coats, working small areas at a time by hand. Although labor-intensive, it’s easy to touch up by hand. 

• Polyurethane. Generally more durable than wax, it has become today’s standard floor finish. Water-based polys are eco-friendly and can be applied over a previous oil-based finish. Do not apply an oil-based poly over a water-based one.        

How Do I Know It’s Time to Refinish? 

Depending on how much wear and tear your floors experience, you’ll need to sand and refinish your floors only once every several years, or sooner if your floors are in highly trafficked areas. You might want to consider steps to mitigate damage in high-traffic areas, such as sweeping more frequently and using protective throw rugs.  

Here at The Steam Team, we can help you refinish your hardwood floors using dust-free technology developed by Bridgepoint. This system will keep your floors looking good as new, with maintenance required only every 1-3 years. Call us for more info or about our carpet cleaning service ! 512-451-8326.