Floor Refinishing in South Dakota
The old oak sanded back to clean wood and sealed again, so the floor that came with the house looks cared for.
Many houses here have oak floors that were put down generations ago and then covered, scratched, waxed or simply walked on until the finish wore through. Under that tired surface there is usually plenty of good wood left. Refinishing takes the floor back to bare wood and builds a new finish on top.
We also offer a lighter refresh for floors whose finish is dull but not worn through. In that case we buff the surface and add a new coat without sanding to bare wood, which takes less time and keeps more wood for the future.
Sanding, stain and finish
A full refinish starts with a large drum or belt sander in the open field of the floor, then an edger along the walls and a hand scraper in the corners and around the radiators. We go through progressively finer grits so the sanding marks disappear. Dust is collected at the machine, doorways are closed off with plastic sheeting, and we vacuum and tack the floor between steps.
If you want a different color, we put stain samples down on your own floor so you can see how the oak takes them in your light. Then the finish goes on in two or three coats, with a light buff between coats for a smooth surface. We help you choose between a satin and a semi-gloss sheen and between a finish that stays clear and pale and one that warms the oak toward amber.
When refinishing makes sense
Refinishing is the right call when the boards are firm and flat and the problem is the surface: scratches in the finish, gray paths where people walk, old stain that looks orange, or a patchwork of past touch ups. If a few boards are cracked or deeply gouged, we replace them first and sand them together with the rest of the floor so the repair disappears.
If the boards have been sanded many times and the wood above the tongue is very thin, a new floor may be the better choice. We check this at the visit by looking at a floor vent or a threshold where the edge of the board shows.
Living with the work
The rooms being refinished are off limits for a few days while the finish goes on and cures. We plan the order of rooms so you can still get through the house, and we tell you when socks are fine, when furniture can come back and when rugs can go down.
Questions about refinishing
How many times can a floor be refinished?
Solid oak floors can usually be sanded several times. We look at the board edges at a vent or threshold to see how much wood is left above the tongue.
How long before furniture goes back?
Light walking in socks is often fine after a day. Furniture usually comes back after a few days and rugs after a couple of weeks, once the finish has cured. We leave written timing for your finish.
Is there a lot of dust?
Our sanders collect most of the dust at the machine, and we seal doorways with plastic. There is some fine dust, which is why we vacuum between every step.
Can you refinish only one room?
Yes. If the floor runs into another room, we stop at a natural break such as a doorway or a threshold so the edge looks deliberate.
Tell us about the floor
Name the rooms and what bothers you about the floor. We call or email back on a weekday to set up a visit and put the plan in writing.