Screen & Recoat in Rochester, NY

A screen and recoat, sometimes called a buff and coat, renews the finish on a hardwood floor without sanding into the wood. We abrade the existing finish with a fine screen or pad so the new coat can bond, vacuum and tack the dust, and apply a fresh coat of finish. It suits floors that look dull, hazy or covered in fine scratches, as long as the finish has not worn through to bare wood anywhere.

Is your floor a candidate?

A quick check: where the floor gets the most traffic, is the wood still protected by finish, or has it turned gray and rough? Gray, worn-through spots, deep gouges, and stains in the wood itself all need a full sanding. Fixr also notes that buffing and recoating works only on floors with a non-waxed polyurethane finish and undamaged wood.

The wax problem

Older floors that have been waxed, or cleaned with oil soaps or shine-restoring products, can stop a new coat from bonding; the finish can peel off in sheets later. We ask what has been used on the floor and do a bond test in an out-of-the-way spot before recoating. If the test fails, a full sanding is the safe route.

Why it pays in a snowy city

Salt, sand and grit from winter boots act like fine sandpaper on a finish. If you recoat before that wear cuts through to the wood, the wood is never sanded and the floor keeps all its thickness. Today's Homeowner notes a recoat may be needed a few years after refinishing; on a busy entry and hallway here, recoating every few years can put off the next full sanding for a long time.

What a recoat cannot do

A recoat does not change color, remove stains in the wood, or level out cupped or uneven boards. It does not fill gaps. On prefinished floors with factory finishes, the bond can be harder to get, and some manufacturers name specific products or methods; we check the product information if you have it.

Short disruption

Because there is no heavy sanding, a recoat is quick: usually one coat and one day of work for a typical set of rooms, with furniture back once the product's drying time has passed. Your quote lists the finish and the times.