Hardwood floor refinishing
Hardwood floor refinishing in Atlanta homes
Most worn hardwood doesn't need replacing. Sanding back to bare wood and refinishing brings it back; floors with only surface wear can get a lighter screen and recoat.
Calls answered 24/7. Crews staged from the Atlanta service office.
- Answered 24/7
- Dust-controlled sanding
- Stain samples on your floor
Quick answer
Hardwood floor refinishing in Atlanta comes in two levels. A full sand and refinish takes the floor back to bare wood, removes scratches and old finish, and allows a stain color change, followed by several coats of finish. A screen and recoat lightly abrades the existing finish and adds a fresh coat, which suits floors with surface wear but no deep damage.
Updated September 2026
The job
Choosing the right level of refinishing
The deciding question is whether the damage is in the finish or in the wood. Scuffs and dullness in the topcoat can be screened and recoated; scratches into the wood, gray worn paths and water marks need a full sand.
We finish with products from Bona, DuraSeal or Minwax, or a hardwax oil such as Rubio Monocoat where a natural look is wanted, and test stain colors on your own floor first.
What moves the price
What moves the price of floor refinishing
- Floor area
Square footage sets sanding and finishing time.
- Full sand or recoat
A screen and recoat costs far less than a full refinish.
- Stain color
Staining and color samples add a step.
- Board repairs
Replacing damaged boards comes before sanding.
- Stairs
Treads and risers are sanded and finished by hand.
- Finish type
Water-based, oil-based and hardwax oils differ in coats and cure.
What we handle
Floor work we do
Sand and refinish
A full refinish sands the floor through several grits down to bare, flat wood, removing scratches, old finish and most stains. Edges and corners are sanded separately, and the whole floor is vacuumed and tacked before any finish. Then we apply stain if wanted and several coats of finish, lightly abrading between coats for adhesion. Solid hardwood can be sanded many times over its life; engineered floors have a thinner wear layer, so we check how much is left before recommending a full sand.
Screen and recoat
Floors with light scuffs, dull traffic paths and no deep scratches can often be screened and recoated instead of sanded. The existing finish is buffed with an abrasive screen to dull it so the new coat bonds, then cleaned thoroughly and given a fresh coat of finish. It's faster, creates far less dust and costs less than a full sand. It won't remove deep scratches, gray worn areas or a color you no longer like, and floors with wax on them need a different approach.
Stain color change
Changing a floor's color means sanding to bare wood so the new stain soaks in evenly. We put several stain samples down on a sanded section so you can see them in your own light before choosing; colors look very different on red oak, white oak and pine. Dark stains show dust and scratches more; very light and natural looks show wear less. Water-popping the grain before staining helps darker colors go on evenly. The stain is sealed under the finish coats you choose.
Board repair and replacement
Boards with deep pet stains, water damage, cracks or gaps are cut out and replaced with matching species and width before refinishing, so the patch blends once sanded and finished with the rest. Loose or squeaking boards are refastened. Where water has cupped a section of floor, the source is found and the wood allowed to dry before deciding whether it needs replacing. Transitions to tile or carpet are fitted so the refinished floor meets them cleanly. Baseboard shoe molding is reset after sanding.
Your options
Recoat, refinish or replace
Three ways to deal with worn hardwood, depending on the damage.
| Option | Fixes | Doesn't fix |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and recoat | Dull finish, light scuffs | Deep scratches, gray wear, color |
| Sand and refinish | Scratches, wear, stains, color | Structural damage, very thin engineered wear layers |
| Replace boards or floor | Water damage, rot, worn-through wood | Nothing, but costs the most |
Around Atlanta
Hardwood floors and Atlanta's climate
Wood floors in Atlanta homes swell a little through humid summers and shrink back in drier winter months, which is why small seasonal gaps between boards come and go. We refinish with that movement in mind: floors are checked for moisture before sanding, finishes are chosen to flex with the wood, and we point out cupping near exterior doors or over crawl spaces, since that usually means moisture coming from underneath.
Coatings and materials we work with
Do it yourself or call
Renting a sander vs having it done
Floor sanders are easy to rent and easy to gouge a floor with. The common problems:
| Step | Common DIY result | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Sanding | Chatter marks and dips in the wood | Even passes through the grits |
| Edges | Swirl marks along the walls | Edges sanded and blended |
| Finish | Bubbles, lap marks, dust in the coat | Clean surface, even coats |
Step by step
How a floor refinishing job runs
- 1
Inspect
Wood species, wear layer, damage and moisture checked.
- 2
Prepare
Rooms emptied, repairs made, area sealed for dust.
- 3
Sand or screen
Full sand through several grits, or a screen of the finish.
- 4
Stain and finish
Color applied if chosen, then finish coats.
- 5
Cure
Light use first; furniture and rugs return after cure time.
Questions
Hardwood floor refinishing questions
Scratches into the wood, gray worn paths and color changes need sanding. Surface scuffs can usually be recoated.
Often, depending on how thick the wear layer is. We check before recommending it.
Modern sanders with dust extraction reduce it a lot, and we seal off the work area.
Yes, with a full sand to bare wood and stain samples tested first.
After the finish has cured enough, which depends on the product; we'll give you the timing.
Also in Remodeling
Related work from the same crews
- Walk-in closet systems
- Tub to shower conversion
- Kitchen remodeling in Atlanta
- Hardwood floor installation
- Kitchen backsplash tile
Before you book, read our prep guide.
Bring the floors back instead of replacing them
Tell us the rooms and what the floors look like now, and we'll set up a visit.
Call (470) 887-8741Answered 24/7 from 565 Tift St SW Ste b, Atlanta.
Where we start from