Factory-Finished or On-Site Finished Hardwood Flooring?

Factory-Finished or On-Site Finished Hardwood Flooring -What Would You Prefer? 

In order to make the best choice for you, we should talk about the benefits of each option.

Here are the Benefits of On-Site Finished Hardwood Flooring:

• Best for New Construction and Large Renovations: 

Many contractors prefer to wait until the end of the job to finish the floor. That way, a dropped tool or a mortar pebble under a work boot can’t mar the finished floor—and ruin customer relations.

• Greater choice of finishes.

There is no question that the site-finished route opens up a greater variety of choices with respect to color and shade. Prefinished products, however, come in more species and stains than ever before.

• Unlike prefinished floorboards, unfinished boards have no bevels.

Prefinished floorboards usually have micro-bevels on all edges. These bevels hide slight discrepancies between board depths and widths. Inevitably, some homeowners will prefer the flush look of site-sanded floors, as they feature no such grooves and can be finished to a mirror-like surface.

Now For the Benefits of Factory-Finished Hardwood Flooring:

• Immediate access to your new floor.

This is probably the major reason. Solid hardwood floors need to be finished with a durable top coating to protect the wood and withstand foot traffic. Floorboards that are finished on-site with oil-based or water-based polyurethane require time to dry. Sometimes, a homeowner may have to wait for days before furniture can be moved back into the room even though the floor may feel dry to the touch. Unless the top finish has totally cured it can still be vulnerable to scraping.

• Factory-finished hardwood floors have fewer VOCs to affect your family’s health.

For days after applying an oil-based polyurethane, you will smell and breathe in vapors from polyurethane resins and solvents. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been shown to be carcinogenic. Some waterborne polyurethanes produce them, too. On the other hand, when you buy prefinished, the curing process takes place in a factory, not in your living room.

• No worries about dust with prefinished flooring.

On-site staining and varnishing require a clean environment and dust and errant hairs are the enemies. Pre-finished hardwood flooring is varnished in a sterile environment so that these annoyances won’t occur. You will, however, still need to protect prefinished floors from scrapes caused by moving furniture, pet claws, and such.

• Installation of prefinished flooring can be done in one session.

A crew of two can get a 300-square-foot pre-finished wood floor installed, with underlayment, in about two hours. No need to plan for days of not being able to use the space.

• Factory-applied finishes are nearly flawless

Not only are they better than what contractors or DIYers can apply on-site, but these factory-applied finishes are also incredibly durable and often come with a lifetime warranty.

• Prefinished floors are less expensive.

Prefinished solid wood floors initially cost more than unfinished wood flooring. But once you factor in finishing costs, prefinished ends up being less expensive.

As you can see, there are good arguments for both types of wood flooring. If you like the idea for more stain and top finish customization on-site finishing may be the ticket for you. On the other hand, if the speed of installation and use is what is important to you, factory-finished is what you want. Either way, we can help you make the choice that works the best for you. Just give us a call at (707) 864-2199 to arrange for a visit to our showroom or a Covid-safe in-home consultation.

Tips For Hardwood Floors Refinishing

The floor of a residence is what sustains the structure, adds a protective barrier from the ground, and adds aesthetic values to the interior. Hardwood flooring can last for centuries. But much like any other type of flooring hardwood can be prone to problems, as time proceeds. Apart from its beauty, the most important value proposition of hardwood flooring is that it can be refinished many times over and made to look almost like new again. This procedure includes eliminating used slabs and exchange them with brand-new ones if they are beyond repair. Such jobs can recover a floor to its former magnificence and add to its lifetime value, in addition to structural solidity.

When to Consider a Refinishing

Scrapes: The first and also most evident indication of a harmed flooring are scrapes. This usually is triggered by heavy foot traffic, pets, dragging heavy items across the floor, along with some various other perilous tasks.

Water Damage:  Wood does not like a lot of moisture. Moisture will cause the wood to expand, buckle, and eventually rot if exposure continues over a long period of time. 

Discoloration: This kind of damage can be caused by UV rays. The beam from the sunlight can affect the wood's natural shade; thus, creating it to transform black or look unhealthy. 

What Steps are Necessary for a Successful Refinish?

Preparation is the very first and most essential step when it comes to refinishing. Every solid timber flooring is covered by a protectant, most often by polyurethane. If the imperfections are of minimal nature and only on the surface level, one can simply eliminate the old coating, do some sanding to remove the scrapes, and then reapply the new top coating.  If the damages are of more serious nature a more detailed repair and a refinish are in order.

What are the Tools Required for the Job?

Typically what is needed are a drum sander, a belt sander, a detail sander, an assortment of sandpaper, a hammer, and a pry bar, wood stain and finishing material. In addition, one will also need a dust mask, safety goggles, and ear protection, especially when using the drum sander. 

Required for Expert Assistance

Employing a wood flooring refinishing specialist in Napa is beneficial on numerous levels. They will expertly manage all the preparations required for repair work as well as refinishing. Wood floor professionals have the know-how to buff out scratches and also dents, replace pieces that are irreparable, and find coordinating wood items or tarnish the pieces to match the existing floor. Professionals likewise have the best tools available for this process. They will certainly have everything from a respirator, barriers, and sanders. This will eliminate the need of having to purchase all of those tools needed for the job. Established contractors have a team of experienced workers and also are licensed, bonded and insured to protect the homeowner in the event of a mishap. 

Think about the Best

West Coast Floor Company is a 2-nd generation family-owned, leading refinishing service firm. We concentrate on supplying superior quality and also exemplary workmanship in every job.

How to find the best professional hardwood refinisher near me

Solid hardwood flooring is priceless, beautiful, and can last a lifetime. But, like every other flooring, they do need maintenance and care. Probably one of the best features of hardwood flooring is that they can be lightly sanded and refinished every 3-5 years and a deep sanding and refinishing every 8-10 years to make them look like new again. Although one could tackle that job oneself, it is probably best to hire the best professional hardwood flooring contractor near you. 

If you live in the East Bay areas of San Francisco, West Coast Floor Company, located in Vallejo and Napa has developed a proprietary hardwood floors refinishing process that will make most floors look absolutely perfect unless there is extensive damage. Floors that have signs of significant wear and tear will look much better, although not quite perfect.  Which is quite ok, because the latest in flooring fashion is distressed flooring. The final outcome does depend on the amount and type of damage it has sustained over time.  We do great work but are not miracle workers :)

How to Find the Best Professional Hardwood Floor Refinishing Contractor Near You

Searching the Internet has made this process quite easy. Read reviews and pick a contractor that has been in business for many years and has a crew that has the experience. Contractors that have been around for a while have long-standing relationships with materials suppliers and can find replacement planks if needed. Seasoned experts can finish the project on time and on budget.

The Refinishing Process

Our expert craftsmen are highly skilled and experienced with the finer aspects of floor sanding. We have invested in state-of-the-art dustless sanding equipment. This allows us to sand the floors layer by layer, uniformly and virtually dust-free. Our Dustless Floor Sanding system can collect up to 98% of the dust from the sanding process, while the remaining 2% is circulated around the working area. So, instead of spending a day or 2 masking all areas for dust protection and then spending a day on clean-up we can focus on spending more time and applying stain and the top-finish. For the best result, we routinely perform three grades of sanding: rough, medium, and fine. While sanding we also continuously check for cracks, countersink nails, etc to get you the best Hardwood Floor Refinishing results.

Once the wood planks are stripped of the old finish and necessary repairs are made, we can start to apply the stain. At this point, the customer can select the hue to suit his style and interior decor.

Now it's time to apply the top finish to protect the floor from wear and tear.  There are several options to choose from. Our recommendations are tailored to the customer's lifestyle.  It is important to know the cure times of each finish to avoid premature usage and damage to the newly refinished flooring.

Hardwood Floor Professionals and Industry Standards

No doubt, hardwood floor refinishing is a service that should be performed by trained professionals to guarantee it is done according to industry standards. If you fail to have your wood floors inspected periodically, you could end up needing a full hardwood floor install due to neglected maintenance. A trained professional can identify problem areas such as mold and other health-threatening conditions. 

Professional Hardwood Floor Refinishing Near Me During Covid-19

At West Coast Flooring Company, we are committed to the health and well-being of our customers and staff and appreciate the seriousness of the situation around COVID-19. 

While we remain open and ready to serve our community and customers, we want everyone to feel comfort in knowing that we are adhering to the guidance and recommendations from both our local authorities and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

In addition to our comprehensive safety protocols and best practices, we have implemented additional preventative measures. These measures include:

• Limiting the number of guests allowed in our showrooms at one time - open by appointment only
• Requesting that customers schedule appointments 
• Practicing social distance guidelines when meeting with clients 
• Staff use of personal protective equipment including but not limited to gloves, face masks, shoe covers, and sanitizing equipment
• Frequent hand washing and/or sanitizing and avoidance of touching one’s face.

In Closing

Do not leave your floor renovation project to just anyone. Let only qualified and trusted professionals help you deal with your hardwood floor refinishing. Be sure to contact us as soon as you notice cupping or crowning wood boards.