Pet stains in a wood floor typically require full board replacement.
The Floor Restoration
The floor we started with had not been refinished in more than thirty years. The original finish was worn away completely in high traffic sections.
To begin the process, the floor was coarse sanded to remove all finish and flatten the floor. The process was a bit more involved because of wax buildup and the years of settling.
Following the initial sanding, the floor was trowel filled with a matching wood filler. After drying, a second round of sanding was done to remove the excess filler from the surface of the floor.
A final round of fine sanding was done to ensure the floor surface was consistently flat and smooth to the touch.
Pet Stains
After First Sanding
Excising the Issues
After new boards
How to fix
With enough time a finish can amber and change color and obscure the pet stained boards underneath. After our initial sanding we noticed three affected boards.
A misconception is that if you simply keep sanding a pet stain aggressively that you can sand it away. This is not true in all cases. Pet stains that are one dark shade will have to be removed and replaced with new boards that are matched for grade and species.
Wax Free
Wax is not ideal for maintenance and will trap dirt and particulates in the layers over time. Removing all of the wax improved the optical clarity of the floor.
Durable Beauty
We applied a conversion varnish finish to the floor in successive layers. The final finish sheen was a satin Glitsa Multi-Kote.
Restored Right
The pet stained boards of the floor were identified after the initial sanding. Three boards were replaced in order to remove the dark stains.
The magic underneath
Many people who live in homes that pre-date the late 1960’s may be living on top of a beautiful wood floor like this one.
One of the lending rules for homes purchased under an FHA loan required building materials with a service lifespan equal to or greater than the 30 year loan term. The only viable option at the time was wood flooring or tile.
If your home was built prior to approximately 1968 there is a likely chance underneath the carpet will be wood flooring.
Unfortunately, the carpet manufacturers lobbied congress to remove the FHA materials requirement. The requirement was removed and many homes built after this rule change were supplied with carpet instead.
Before Refinishing
After Refinishing
How can we help?
If you have questions about floor restoration processes or need services, then we are here to help.
We operate dustless sanding equipment on all of our projects. We can restore your hardwood floors within 3-5 days on average.