A little planning makes refinishing day go smoothly. Ask your refinisher about each item below, since the right answer depends on the finish they use and how they work.
Before the crew arrives
- Ask who moves the furniture. Some companies include it; others ask you to clear the rooms.
- Take up rugs and remove items from floors and low shelves.
- Plan a path to bathrooms and the kitchen if you're staying home, and agree on which rooms are off limits.
- Arrange a place for pets and kids to stay away from the work.
- Ask whether to turn off heating, cooling or fans while the finish dries, and whether to keep windows open or closed.
During the work
- Oil-based finishes have a strong smell, and many families stay somewhere else until it fades. Water-based finishes usually smell less. Ask which one is being used.
- Stay off the floor between coats unless the crew says otherwise. Footprints and pet hair get stuck in wet finish.
- Ask for a stain sample on your own floor before the whole room is stained. Color looks different on every type of wood.
After the last coat
- Ask three times: when you can walk on it in socks, when furniture can go back, and when rugs can go down. Rugs usually need to wait the longest, while the finish fully hardens.
- Put felt pads under furniture legs before moving pieces back. Lift furniture instead of dragging it.
- Clean with a dry or barely damp mop and a cleaner made for your type of finish. Avoid steam mops, soaking the floor, and wax or oil soap unless the finish maker says they're safe.
Common questions
Can I stay home while my floors are refinished?
Often yes, if the work is in rooms you can avoid and the finish has a low odor. With oil-based finishes or a whole-house job, many people stay elsewhere. Ask your refinisher.
How soon can I walk on refinished floors?
It depends on the finish and the number of coats. Your refinisher will give you times for walking in socks, moving furniture back and putting rugs down. Follow those times.
Do I need to move my furniture before the refinishers come?
Ask when you get your estimate. Some companies include moving furniture and some charge extra or ask you to clear the rooms.
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