Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Hardwood floors are a beautiful feature to have in any home-they are attractive and sturdy, making them perfect for many tastes and lifestyles. Over time, hardwood floors can loose their luster-either from wear and tear or even dirt. That's when it's time to call in professionals to restore the home's hardwood floors and make them shine again. 


Courtesy Care restores hardwood floors to look shiny and new again. Our technicians clean and refinish hardwood floors using a process that does not require sanding. The no-sanding wood floor refinishing technique makes the process go much faster and less messy than the old-fashioned sanding and varnishing methods.

HOW IT WORKS....

Courtesy Care uses a safe chemical product called Rx for Wood Floors that removes the old finish in preparation for a new topcoat finish. Rx for Wood Floors is a unique water-borne catalyzed urethane coating that provides the optimal protection for wood floors. 

For Rx for Wood Floors to work at its best, all debris, dirt or wax must be removed. If these are not removed, the Rx for Wood Floors can't stick correctly to the floor, meaning it can't refinish the floors properly. Even the cleanest of homes will potentially have some dirt worn into the hardwood floors. 

The technician will then use a three-step process to refinish the hardwood floors-and remember, one of those steps is not sanding! 

1. Rx For Wood Floors no-sanding formula chemically "sands the floor" by removing the old topcoat and preparing the floor to receive its new topcoat. This process is what makes sanding unnecessary, thus saving hours of time and lots of money. 
2. Rx For Wood Floors repair products are used to make any necessary repairs to the floor's surface before applying the final finish.
3. Rx For Wood Floors unique catalyzed wood finish is applied and permanently locks with the original finish for an attractive, clear finish that lasts.

Unlike traditional wood floor refinishing methods that use sanding and varnish, this process allows the homeowner to enjoy the newly restored floors-without having spent large amounts of money. Courtesy Care promises a protected finish that is as tough as it is durable.

Want to know more? The complete, step-by-step process: 

Some homeowners enjoy knowing more details about what is being done to refinish their hardwood floors. The following detailed process tells each individual step Courtesy Care technicians use to make hardwood floors beautiful and shiny again. 

1. Surface preparation for previously finished polyurethane surfaces:
2. For best adhesion, surfaces must be clean, dry and free from wax, grease, oil, shellac, lacquer, mildew and polishes.
3. Carefully remove all furniture.
4. Move all drapery up and out of the way.
5. Sweep the floor first, and then vacuum thoroughly. All dirt and grit must be removed so it does not get ground into the floor by the buffer.
6. Dust mop all surfaces to be refinished. Use a quality microfiber flat dust mop and slowly remove all dust and dry particulates. Care should be taken not to agitate the dust into the air as this will cause dust to settle on the finish as it dries.
7. Mask off any flooring that is not going to be treated, and where appropriate, protect any wallpaper at or near the floor level to protect it from damage. Do not apply tape onto wallpaper.
8. If the floor requires screening: first remove all sanding dust using a vacuum, second use a tack cloth after the dust has settled to remove the sanding dust, then dry mop the floor using a micro fiber dust mop. Do not used steel wool as rust may develop after the finish as been applied. Warning: Sanding dust can be a spontaneous combustion hazard. Avoid open flames and turn off heat sources
9. Waxes must be removed with Wood-Solv Step 1 Wood Prep as sanding does not remove wax.
10. If staining is required, use alcohol-based wood stain before applying the finish. Stain must be thoroughly dry, preferably overnight. Use of oil-based stains will prevent proper adhesion.
11. Clean the floor using Wood-Solv Wood Floor Cleaner to remove all spills and surface oils. Do not avoid this step; do not over wet
12. Repair the floor if necessary using Wood-Solv Floor Putty and Fill Sticks.
13. Prepare the old polyurethane finish using Wood-Solv Step 1 Wood Prep. This process etches the old polyurethane finish providing tooth for the new finish. See Wood-Solv Step 1 Wood Prep label instructions for detailed application instructions.
14. Begin by working around the edges, lightly pouring Step 1 directly onto the floor. of the room with the scrub block. A wet scrubbing must occur for Step 1 to be effective. Avoid all unnecessary contact with baseboards, appliances, cabinetry and other surfaces not meant to be coated. All areas requiring precision or areas that cannot be accessed with a low-speed scrubbing buffer should have Step 1 applied by hand to avoid mishaps.
15. Allow the floor to completely dry before applying finish coats.
16. For best adhesion, surfaces must be clean, dry and free from dust, wax, grease, oil,shellac, lacquer, mildew and polishes.
17. Add 4 oz. of Wood-Solv Catalyst to1 gallon Wood-Solv Wood Floor Finish.
18. Add the catalyst and stir gently for 10 minutes. DO NOT shake!
19. The catalyst is the "turbo charging" of the topcoat. It boosts the performance and protection of the finish.
20. Add 8 ounces of water and stir gently for another 5 minutes. Wait 10 minutes before applying.
21. Do not use on a later job!
22. You can do your repairs while this is setting up.
23. If using only part of semi-gloss or satin, stir well before pouring out!
24. Pour a portion of the catalyzed Step 3 into a paint tray.
25. Apply around the edges first with the Foam Block Edger.
26. Pre moisten applicator in water. Wrap masking tape around hand, sticky side out and pat applicator to remove loose fibers.
27. Pour Step 3 in an "S" pattern with the wood grain or use a paint tray.
28. Dip the applicator into an applicator tray and apply coating to the floor in 4-foot sections. Pull in the direction of the grain. Be sure to "feather" at end of stroke. Apply in PAPER-THIN layers!
29. Avoid bubbles!
30. Start with Microfiber Finish Applicator System.
31. Allow to dry 75 minutes between coats.
32. Allow each layer to dry completely before recoating .
33. Draw the applicator toward you in smooth even THIN strokes with the wood grain.
34. Apply some pressure while applying. Too little pressure will allow too much topcoat to "puddle" which will increase dry time. Topcoat will naturally level to some degree.
35. Apply diagonally on Parquet wood floors.
36. Allow finish to dry a minimum of 1 hour and then re-coat. Lower temperatures (below 55°F) and/or higher humidly (above 50% Rh) may cause slower dry times. Re-coat only when previous coat has dried clear and feels hard to the hand. If any coat has dried morethen 24 hours, lightly Prep the coat before re-coating to avoid potential problems.
37. A maximum of 2 coats is recommended. No more than three coats should be applied.
38. Wear shoe booties to avoid contaminating the floor!
39. Allow to dry about 8 hours before submitting to light use and 72 hours before returning to normal use.
40. Wear stocking feet first 4 hours!
41. If there is some contaminant in the topcoat, when you add the catalyst you will note some lumps in the mixture.
42. Have a paint strainer with elastic (or cheesecloth) ready to strain out the contaminants before usage.
43. Two people should complete the edging of a single room at one time, then work together to complete the room before moving on to the next.
44. Immediately after application, wash applicator pad with warm, soapy water. Follow with a warm water rinse. Cover remaining Step 3 until ready for next coat, if needed.