The steps to refinishing hardwood floors by our professionals in the West Island and on the North Shore — and how to get the very best, longest-lasting finish.
The day before, we confirm the time of our arrival and the type of service over the phone — whether it’s sanding followed by varnishing, a hardwood installation, or a repair and maintenance service.
The day before, we confirm our arrival time and the service to be done over the telephone.
Remove furniture from the room where the flooring is to be sanded so we have a clear, ready surface.
On the first day, the sanding is done and 2 coats of varnish are applied.
The last coat is applied the next day if needed. After the third coat it takes 24 hours to dry — you can walk on it the next morning and place your furniture back.
Our sander runs on a 220-volt supply, so you’ll need to free the socket of the stove or the dryer (for the stove, the bottom receptacle needs to be removed). The work lasts approximately two days. When putting furniture back, check that there are felt protective pads under your furniture and chairs, or replace them with new ones, to keep the finish looking its best for as long as possible.
Switch off any type of aeration system during the varnishing — the furnace fan, the humidifier and the dehumidifier — to prevent the varnish from drying up too quickly.
It’s very important to lift your furniture and carry it to where it will be placed. Do not slide, roll or drag it on a rug or piece of cloth, as this will remove the glossiness of your flooring. Move around as little as possible, and don’t allow your dog to walk on the freshly varnished flooring for the first 7 days while the product is still drying — and remember to regularly trim your dog’s claws.
Do not place a carpet on the flooring for one month; let it dry 100% first, otherwise it will stick to the carpet. Because we can’t sterilise the whole house, you may find a fine layer of dust on the surface, and if you have a pet it’s not unusual to find some animal hair on the floor. A few vacuum sessions will clear the dust.
The three questions we hear most about how the work goes.
About two days for a typical sand-and-varnish. On the first day we do the sanding and apply two coats of varnish; the final coat goes on the next day if it can’t be completed the same day.
After the final coat it takes about 24 hours to dry — you can walk on it the next morning (in socks) and put your furniture back. Lift furniture into place rather than dragging it, so you don’t mar the finish, and wait about a month before laying down carpets so the varnish can fully cure.
Empty the room of furniture beforehand, and ideally paint the room before we sand so the fresh varnish doesn’t get scratched afterwards. Our sander runs on a 220-volt supply, so we’ll need access to the stove or dryer outlet. And during varnishing, switch off the furnace fan, humidifier and dehumidifier so the finish doesn’t dry too quickly.
Ask for an estimate of your hardwood needs and we’ll walk you through every step.