National Floors specializes in hardwood floor refinishing, restoration, repair, staining and installation throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For 30 years, we have helped homeowners restore worn and damaged hardwood floors rather than replace wood that still has decades of life remaining.
Hardwood floor refinishing accounts for more than 90% of our flooring projects. National Floors sands and refinishes more than 100 hardwood floors each year, giving us the experience to evaluate solid hardwood, engineered flooring, stairs, damaged boards and floors that have been refinished before.
National Floors is a licensed, bonded and insured California C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering contractor. License #903508.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing and Restoration
Scratches, worn traffic areas, fading and an outdated finish can make a hardwood floor look as though it needs to be replaced. In many cases, professional hardwood floor refinishing can remove the damaged surface and reveal clean wood underneath.
The floor can remain natural or be stained to create a different color. A professional finish is then applied to protect the newly sanded hardwood and provide the desired sheen.
Refinishing an existing hardwood floor generally costs considerably less than removing it and installing a replacement. It also preserves the character and value of genuine wood flooring.
Our Hardwood Floor Refinishing Process
1. Inspect the Floor
We evaluate the hardwood species, existing finish, wear, stains, damaged boards and previous sanding. If the floor is engineered hardwood, we determine whether the wear layer contains enough usable wood for safe sanding.
2. Complete Necessary Repairs
Loose, damaged, water-stained or termite-damaged boards can often be repaired or replaced before sanding begins. Completing repairs first helps the restored areas blend with the surrounding floor.
3. Sand the Hardwood
Professional sanding equipment removes the old finish, surface damage and a small amount of wood. The floor is sanded through progressively finer stages to produce a clean and even surface.
4. Select the Color
After sanding, the hardwood can remain natural or be stained. When a color change is requested, stain samples can be viewed on the actual floor before the final selection is made.
5. Apply the Finish
Professional-grade finish is applied to protect the hardwood. We explain the drying time, when the floor can be walked on and when furniture and rugs can safely return.
Hardwood Floor Repairs
A damaged section does not necessarily mean the entire floor needs replacement. National Floors provides hardwood floor repair for individual boards and localized areas.
Repair work may include:
- Water-damaged hardwood
- Termite-damaged flooring after the infestation has been treated
- Pet-stained boards
- Broken or deeply damaged boards
- Previous repairs that do not match the surrounding floor
- Hardwood additions after walls, cabinets or fireplace hearths are removed
When appropriate, repaired boards and the surrounding hardwood can be sanded and refinished together to produce a more consistent color and sheen.
Hardwood Floor Staining and Color Changes
Refinishing provides an opportunity to change the appearance of the entire floor. An older golden or orange finish can be removed, allowing the hardwood to remain natural or receive a completely different stain color.
Different species accept stain differently. Oak offers a broad range of color choices, while maple and some other species require additional preparation and care. Our hardwood floor staining service includes practical guidance about which colors are realistic for the wood in your home.
Solid and Engineered Hardwood Floors
Solid hardwood consists of genuine wood throughout the usable portion of the board and can often be refinished several times during its life.
Engineered hardwood has a genuine wood surface over a layered base. Whether it can be refinished depends on the thickness of its upper wood layer, known as the wear layer. Some engineered floors can be safely sanded, while others contain too little usable wood.
If you have a leftover board, place a nickel against its edge and take a clear photograph of the flooring profile. The nickel provides a reference that can help us estimate the wear-layer thickness. If no loose board is available, the flooring profile may sometimes be visible at a floor vent or register.
Never assume an engineered hardwood floor can be sanded. It should be evaluated first.
Hardwood Floor Installation
National Floors installs solid and engineered hardwood flooring. The appropriate material and installation method depend on the subfloor, hardwood species, board dimensions, room conditions and the homeowner's long-term expectations.
Solid hardwood is often an excellent choice over a wood subfloor because it can provide generations of service and may be refinished multiple times. Engineered hardwood can be appropriate over concrete and in other situations where its layered construction offers practical advantages.
Quality matters. A hardwood floor with a substantial amount of usable wood generally provides better long-term value than a product with a very thin surface layer that cannot be restored after it becomes worn.
Why Homeowners Choose National Floors
- 30 years serving the Bay Area
- California C-15 License #903508
- Licensed, bonded and insured
- More than 100 hardwood floors refinished annually
- No labor deposit on residential projects
- One project at a time
- A real person answers the phone
Our no-deposit policy is straightforward. For residential labor, payment is not required before the work begins. When the project is completed and you have inspected the work, payment is due.
We also follow a one-project-at-a-time policy. Once your project begins, we remain focused on it until the agreed work is completed. Our goal is to provide careful craftsmanship while returning your home to normal use as quickly as the refinishing process allows.
Before hiring any flooring contractor, verify the license through the California Contractors State License Board. Our guide on how to find a qualified contractor explains what homeowners should check, including license status, trade classification, bond and insurance information.
Request a Free In-Home Estimate
If your hardwood floor is scratched, worn, stained or damaged, do not assume that replacement is the only option. An in-home evaluation can determine whether the floor can be resurfaced, sanded, repaired or restored.
Call National Floors at (408) 309-1880 to speak directly with a hardwood flooring specialist or request a free in-home estimate.
When you call National Floors, a real person answers the phone and talks with you.
