How to Prepare Your Home for Hardwood Floor Refinishing
A little planning makes the job faster, cleaner and less stressful, and here is a simple checklist.
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Before the crew arrives
- Clear the rooms. Furniture, rugs, curtains and wall hangings out of the work area.
- Handle the closets. Closet floors are often part of the job. Empty them or ask us.
- Plan for pets. Pets need a safe place away from machines and wet finish.
- Protect electronics. Even with dustless sanding, move or cover sensitive items.
- Tell us what is painted. In older homes, see the lead rule page.
During the job
- Machines are loud, so plan work calls elsewhere.
- Keep kids and pets out of the area.
- Do not walk on wet finish, even in socks.
- Open windows only if we say so, because air and humidity affect drying.
After the job
Plan your move-back, and for one waterborne finish, furniture can go back carefully after about three days, and rugs should wait for full cure (Bona anti-slip sheet). Use felt pads, and lift furniture instead of dragging it; skip wet and steam mops (NWFA), and keep humidity near 30 to 50 percent (NWFA). See how long refinishing takes.
Safety notes
Finish rags need care, and sources recommend a sealed metal container with water (Wood Floor Business); see the rag safety page, and for a full list of services, visit the home page.
Preparation Guide: questions answered
Do I have to move all my furniture?
Yes, from the rooms being done, and ask us about heavy pieces before the day.
Can I stay in the house?
Usually, but plan a path that avoids wet floors.
What about pets?
Keep them away from machines and wet finish.
Should I remove baseboards?
Not always, and we discuss trim at the walk-through.
When can I use the room again?
In socks after the finish dries, and with furniture after the cure window, and see the timeline page.
Does dustless sanding mean I do not need to prepare?
You still need to clear the rooms, and see dustless sanding.
How do I prepare to refinish hardwood floors in Madison WI?
Clear the rooms, plan for pets and tell us what is painted, and the steps are above.
Ready to plan your floor project?
Send the form and we will walk you through the prep for your rooms, and or go back to the home page.