Hardwood floors carry a home’s history underfoot. Every scratch tells a story, but there comes a point when character turns into fatigue. That is where a professional refinish changes everything. If you are considering trusting your floors to Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC, understanding the process ahead of time will help you plan, budget, and avoid anxiety. I have overseen hundreds of refinishing projects across homes from historic bungalows to busy family spaces, and the best results always start with clear expectations.
This guide walks you through the steps, options, and choices you will face, along with practical details many quotes leave out. From the first walkthrough to the final coat cure, you will know what happens, why it matters, and how to set your space up for success.
What counts as a refinish
A true refinish removes the old finish, levels the floor, addresses wear, and applies new protective coats. It is a full reset for solid hardwoods and many engineered floors with thick enough wear layers. A clean and buff or a screen and recoat, while useful in the right circumstances, are not the same thing and do not fix deep scratches or color changes. If your floors have gray wear patches, dark water spots, visible cupping, or an uneven sheen from room to room, refinishing is likely the correct path.
Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC specializes in full refinishing as well as restoration prep for tricky species like red oak and pine, which can blotch if rushed. They also handle repairs that keep the floor’s lines consistent, rather than leaving telltale patches. Expect a frank conversation about what can be saved and what should be replaced.
The initial visit and estimate, done right
A professional refinish starts with a thorough assessment, not just a square-foot number. During the initial consultation the technician will inspect:
- Species and age of the wood, grain pattern, and milling width, which influence sanding approach and stain behavior.
They will also examine how the floor transitions to tile or carpet, whether there are pet stains that have penetrated to the tongue, and if old oil soap or wax is present. Wax is a big one. New finishes will not bond to a wax-contaminated surface, and it takes extra work to remove.
You will be asked about your lifestyle and goals. A family with big dogs and a sun-filled living room has different needs than a quiet couple in a shaded condo. Expectations for gloss level, color, and maintenance schedule matter. This conversation is where the crew learns how you live, which helps them recommend the right finish system.
Finally, you should receive a written estimate that details the sanding system, number of finish coats, stain or natural, any repairs, moving furniture, baseboard work, and dust control method. Vague proposals lead to surprises. Clear scope prevents them.
Preparing your home for work
The day before the crew arrives, plan for a short disruption that will be worth the payoff. Floors take center stage, but the room around them matters.
Move furniture, rugs, drapes that drag on the floor, and anything fragile off the walls. Some companies offer moving services. If Truman’s team is handling it, they will note it in your estimate. Clear kitchen countertops if the adjacent floor runs under an island or dishwasher. If appliances sit on the floor, decide whether they come out or the crew will edge around them. Pulling a refrigerator for a uniform result often pays off, but watch the water line and make sure someone caps it.
Dust containment systems on modern sanding machines capture most of the dust at the source, and Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC balances tool capture with proper masking and cleanup. Still, plan to remove or cover open shelves and sensitive electronics in nearby rooms. Close HVAC registers in work zones, and replace filters after the job. If you have an alarm or pets, coordinate access. Crated or boarded animals avoid stress and potential exposure to residue, even with low-VOC finishes.
Temperature and humidity shape finish behavior. The crew will discuss your thermostat settings. In Georgia, summer humidity swings can affect dry times. Keep the home within a stable range, typically 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity near 35 to 55 percent.
Day one: sanding begins
Refinishing starts with the loud part. Good crews are methodical about noise, dust, and sequence. Here is how the first day typically unfolds.
They walk the space one more time. Loose boards are fastened, high nails are set, and squeaks are addressed where access permits. Vents are removed, and transitions are marked so patterns line up.
Machines then come out. The first pass is the most abrasive, designed to cut through old finish and flatten the floor. Professional sanders use a belt or drum sander on the field, an edger at the perimeter, and detail sanders for tight spots under radiators or toe kicks. The team sands with the grain and, where needed, on a slight angle to reduce cupping. Each pass moves to a finer grit, gradually removing lines from the prior pass and revealing clean wood.
At this stage, you see what the floor truly looks like. Old water marks lighten, pet stains either fade or show their depth, and repaired areas become visible. If pet stains run deep, the technician will point them out. Some can be blended with stain or toned coats. Others require board replacement to avoid permanent dark rings. Expect honest guidance rather than pushy upsells.
After the field sanding, edges are blended, and corners hand-scraped. The floor is then vacuumed thoroughly between grits. Proper vacuuming is not a courtesy, it is how you keep abrasive debris from creating swirl marks.
By the end of day one, most floors are fully leveled and through the final sanding grit. If you walk the site with the crew, do it in socks and avoid stepping into areas that are being treated. You will see the raw wood tonality. People often fall in love with this natural look and change their minds about staining. Talk through that option now, not after the first coat goes down.
Color decisions: natural or stained
Stain is a design choice, and it is also a technical choice. Some wood species, like white oak, accept a wide range of tones and look excellent in natural finish. Others, like red oak or pine, can show pink or yellow undertones unless carefully toned.
Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC will create sample boards on your actual floor in an inconspicuous area or on removable boards that match your wood. This is critical. Lighting changes everything. What looks pale gray in a store sample can lean taupe in your living room by afternoon.
Discuss the tolerance for variation. On mixed-width planks or floors with boards from different lots, you will get natural tonal differences. Dark stains mask grain but show dust and pet hair. Light colors show fewer footprints but highlight gaps. Mid-tones hide wear best in busy homes. Satin sheens are forgiving and modern, while semi-gloss suits formal rooms but amplifies surface imperfections.
If your floor has been previously stained and you want to go much lighter, expect a bit more sanding time to reach the exact tone. Some floors that have lived under oil-based poly for decades retain ambering in the wood fibers. That warmth can be toned using waterborne finishes with color systems or sealer choices that cool or warm the final look.
Sealing and coating: the protection you live on
Once the color choice is set, sealing and finishing begin. In most residential projects today, a high-quality waterborne polyurethane system is used for its clarity, low odor, and dependable cure times. Oil-modified polyurethanes are still viable and deliver a warm, amber tone with excellent flow, but they bring longer dry times and stronger odor. On white oak or maple, a waterborne finish avoids ambering and keeps the grain clean. On red oak or hickory, a carefully selected sealer can enhance definition without tipping too yellow.
The typical system includes a sealer coat and two to three finish coats. Between coats, the crew performs a light abrasion using a buffer and fine screens or pads to promote adhesion and level minor nibs. Vacuum and tack remove dust before the next coat. Each coat application is a moment for precision: clean shoes, controlled lighting, and steady workflow. The edges are cut first, then the field is rolled or t-bar applied in smooth, overlapping lines.
Dry times vary with humidity and product. Many waterborne coats are dry to walk in socks within two to three hours, but recoat windows and cure time are different. A common schedule is sealer day one late afternoon, first finish coat same day or next morning, second finish coat later that day, and a third coat on day three for high-traffic spaces. The crew will advise how their system stacks, and they will not rush if conditions do not cooperate.
Living around the work
Most clients can stay in their homes during refinishing if the layout allows access to bedrooms and bathrooms without crossing wet finish. If the project area blocks critical pathways or spans the entire main floor, a two-zone approach helps. The crew can finish half the area, let it set, then flip. This adds labor and time but may keep you comfortable at home.
Odor with modern waterborne products is minimal, but sensitive individuals might still prefer a night away. Pets should remain out until the final coat is fully dry. Air out the home with gentle cross ventilation, not strong fans blasting dust. The goal is a clean, stable environment while the finish knits together.
After the last coat: cure, move-in, and early care
The finish is dry enough for light foot traffic in socks after a few hours, but it is not cured. Curing is the chemical hardening that takes several days for waterborne and roughly a week or more for oil-modified finishes. The team will give you a timeline with practical steps:
- Walk in socks after the stated dry time, then soft-soled shoes the next day. Delay placing felted furniture for 24 to 48 hours, and area rugs for 7 to 14 days depending on finish chemistry.
Slide nothing. Lift tables and couches into place. Install fresh felt pads on every leg. Plastic or rubber feet can imprint uncured finishes, while natural rubber-backed rugs can trap off-gassing. Use breathable rug pads designed for polyurethane floors.
For the first week, avoid wet mopping. A lightly damp microfiber is acceptable after the finish has cured, but keep water exposure minimal. Place entry mats and a shoe rack by doors. Sand is your floor’s enemy, and Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC little changes like this pay dividends.
What quality looks like when the crew leaves
At the final walkthrough you are checking for even sheen, uniform coverage, clean edges by baseboards, and smooth transitions at thresholds. Expect minor dust nibs, especially in rooms with active HVAC. A professional result looks level, with straight lines along walls and no swirl marks in reflected light.
Expect honest talk about any irreparable character that remains. Antique heart pine that spent a century under a radiator will have darker boards. https://www.trumanhardwoodrefinishing.com/#:~:text=BEST-,HARDWOOD%20FLOOR%20REFINISHING,-COMPANY%20IN%0A2019 Old pet urine that penetrated fully into the tongue may show a faint halo, even with board replacement. A pro sets these expectations early, not during the final meeting.
You should receive product information on the finish system, maintenance recommendations, and a suggested schedule for recoating. Many homeowners wait too long to recoat, which forces another full resand. In busy homes, consider a screening and topcoat after 3 to 5 years to keep the protective film healthy.
Common pitfalls and how Truman’s process avoids them
Three issues lead to most refinishing disappointments: over-sanding edges, poor dust management, and rushed dry times.
Edge over-sanding creates a concave dip around the room. This shows up in morning light as a wavy border. Skilled techs blend edge work with higher grits and use a buffer with interface pads to feather the transition. They constantly check the floor under raking light.
Poor dust management leaves particles buried under the finish. Even with top-tier dust containment, airborne dust exists. Good crews stage their coating sequence to match airflow, close returns when needed, and tack thoroughly between coats. They also manage foot traffic in the home so a teenager does not run across a fresh coat to reach the fridge. It happens.
Rushed dry times can cause adhesion failures or witness lines. Stacking coats too fast in humid conditions traps solvent or water. A patient schedule beats a one-day promise that looks shiny but fails early. Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC builds the timeline around conditions, not marketing slogans.
Repairs that disappear, and those that should not
Board repairs are part of many refinishes. A skilled installer can lace in new boards along the grain so the repair reads as original once sanded. Matching species and milling is critical. Red oak from different mills can vary in grain and color. On wide-plank floors, use reclaimed wood if possible to align with the patina. You can also embrace the narrative. In historic homes, a well-done repair that shows subtle age is often more appropriate than a perfect match that looks too new.
For gaps, seasonal movement is natural. Avoid filling every line with rigid fillers that will crack in winter. Professional-grade trowel fillers are used during sanding to address nail holes and tight checks. Larger gaps may be left to move, especially on older floors that breathe. The crew should explain where filler is wise and where restraint is smarter.
Finish choices and how they wear
There is no single best finish for every home. Consider three realities: how you live, how you clean, and how much patina you like.
Waterborne polyurethane in satin or matte has become the go-to for families with kids and pets. It resists yellowing, looks modern, and allows quicker re-entry. High-quality two-component waterborne systems raise chemical resistance and scuff durability but require precise mixing and timing. They are excellent for kitchens and entryways.
Oil-modified polyurethane remains a favorite for deeper warmth and traditional character. It ambers over time, which suits rustic interiors. It flows beautifully but needs more cure time and stronger ventilation. If you plan to place area rugs quickly, factor this in.
Hardwax oils deliver a close-to-wood feel and easy spot repair. They demand more frequent maintenance and careful cleaning products. In high-traffic commercial spaces they excel because you can refresh selectively without sanding, but residential users must embrace periodic care.
Gloss levels are as much about maintenance as they are about style. High-gloss shows everything. Semi-gloss brightens formal rooms but shows traffic lanes sooner. Satin and matte keep the floor elegant and forgiving. Most homeowners who regret their sheen chose too glossy a look for their household activity.
How long the project takes, realistically
Timelines depend on size, layout, repairs, and finish chemistry. For a typical 800 to 1,200 square foot main level with minimal repairs, expect two to four working days onsite and a cure period that restricts heavy furniture or rugs for several more days. If rooms must be done in phases to allow living access, add a day. Board replacements, stair treads, and handrails add variable time. In humid summer weeks, schedules stretch to respect dry times. The point is less about speed than about sequencing and conditions. Ask your estimator for a window, not a single date, and build a cushion into your plans.
Budget ranges and what drives cost
Costs vary by market, floor condition, species, and finish system. In the Lawrenceville area, full sanding and finishing typically lands in a per-square-foot range that reflects professional equipment, trained labor, and multi-coat systems. Repairs, custom stains, staircases, complex layouts, or wax removal add to the total. Waterborne two-component finishes cost more than single-component options, but they often pay back in durability and lower odor. Ask for the price difference line by line so you can make informed trade-offs.
A caution on bargain quotes: if a price seems far below others, the scope is likely thinner. Fewer coats, minimal prep, or cheap materials do not show on day one, but they reveal themselves within months as premature wear, peeling in kitchens, or uneven sheen. Refinishing a second time to fix a rushed job costs more than doing it right once.
How to care for your floors after refinishing
The right maintenance keeps your investment looking new. The first step is simple: keep grit outside. Use quality mats at entry points and runners in hallways. Trade harsh cleaners for a pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner recommended by your finisher. Avoid vinegar solutions and steam mops. They erode finishes and force moisture into joints.
Furniture pads are non-negotiable. Replace them when they compress or collect grit. Office chairs need soft casters or a protective mat. Pet nails should be kept trimmed. If you see micro-scratches accumulating, especially in kitchens, talk with your refinisher about a maintenance recoat before the film wears through. Recoating is fast and economical compared to a full refinish, and it keeps the wood protected.
A short checklist for the week of your refinish
- Confirm furniture moving plan, pet arrangements, and thermostat settings. Approve color samples on your floor under day and evening light. Plan pathways that avoid stepping on wet finish, and arrange meals accordingly. Stock felt pads, rugs with breathable pads, and a neutral cleaner for after cure. Schedule a follow-up call to discuss maintenance and recoat timing.
What sets Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC apart
Experience shows in the little things: the way an edger blends into the field so you cannot spot the transition, how samples are tested in your lighting, and how the crew sequences coats with your family’s schedule in mind. A good refinisher communicates throughout, does not rush dry times to meet a promise that weather will not allow, and treats every room like a showcase even if it is a mudroom.
Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC invests in dust containment and trains crews to read the floor, not just run machines. They know when to angle sand to flatten cupping, when to replace a board instead of trying to bleach a deep pet stain, and how to select a sealer that prevents tannin pull on oak. These choices add up to a result you will be proud to live on.
When to pick up the phone
If your floors have worn through to gray, show cloudy areas that never clean, creak in spots where nails lifted, or simply look tired next to freshly painted walls, it is time to talk. Season matters too. Many clients schedule refinishing before moving into a new home or during school breaks when the house can go quiet for a few days. If you are planning a kitchen remodel, sequence flooring before cabinet installation when possible, or coordinate with toe-kick removal to reach under edges. Good planning between trades prevents puzzle pieces from fighting each other.
Contact Us
Truman Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Refinishing LLC
Address: 485 Buford Dr, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, United States
Phone: (770) 896-8876
Website: https://www.trumanhardwoodrefinishing.com/
A refinished floor changes a room the way natural light changes a painting. It sharpens edges, deepens tones, and makes everything else feel intentional. The process is noisy for a moment and worth it for years. With clear expectations and the right team, you will step back onto a surface that looks new and lives even better.