Hardwood Floor Recoat in Greater Victoria
If your floors look dull or lightly scratched but the wood underneath is sound, a recoat is usually all you need, and it is the cheapest way to make them look new again.
What a recoat actually is
A recoat, sometimes called a screen and recoat, is a light job. We lightly scuff the existing finish so a fresh coat will grip, clean everything, and roll on one or two new coats of finish. The wood itself is never sanded down to bare timber, which is why it is faster, cheaper, and far less dusty than a full refinish.
The catch is that a recoat only refreshes the finish on top. If the wear has gone through the old finish and into the wood, or there are dark stains and gouges in the timber, new coats will just seal those in. That is when you need a full sand-back instead.
How to tell if a recoat is enough
Look for dullness, fine surface scratches, and traffic paths that have lost their sheen but not their colour. If the floor still has an even tone and no bare wood showing, a recoat will likely do the job. A drop of water on a worn spot is a quick test: if it beads, the finish is still protecting the wood and a recoat will hold; if it soaks in and darkens the wood, the finish is gone and you are into a full refinish.
On old-growth Douglas fir, which is common in Greater Victoria character homes and is softer and thinner than modern oak, a recoat is often the smarter choice because it does not spend any of the wood you have left. Because we have worked on fir, we will tell you honestly which one your floor needs.
Have us look at your floors in person.