You probably don’t need new hardwood.

Installation time varies by job depending on the square footage, the type of flooring being installed, and whether existing flooring needs to be removed first. After we see the space and understand the full scope of work, we can provide a more accurate timeline.

Yes. Our sanders use dust containment systems that capture 95%+ of fine dust at the source. You’ll still want to cover art and electronics as a precaution, but you won’t have a house coated in sawdust for weeks after.

Sometimes. It depends on the wear-layer thickness. 4mm or thicker veneers refinish cleanly once or twice. Thinner veneers we don’t recommend. Bring in a sample of your floor and we’ll tell you whether it’s a candidate.

Yes. We stain to any of the standard colors (natural, golden oak, provincial, dark walnut, jacobean, ebony) and can mix custom colors. Samples applied to your actual boards before committing.

Almost always. Refinished hardwood is the single highest-return improvement before a listing photo shoot. Photos and showings register new-looking floors immediately.

If the finish fails, peels, or shows application defects within the first year, we come back and fix it. Regular wear-and-tear from furniture, water damage, or pet scratching falls outside that warranty, but we'll always quote a spot refinish if you need one.

Yes. We are licensed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Refinishing crews work throughout Montgomery County every day, including Olney, Potomac, Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Damascus, Clarksburg, and Gaithersburg.

Clear the rooms being refinished completely. That means furniture, rugs, and curtains that touch the floor. Remove art and electronics from adjacent walls, since dust still travels even with containment. Plan to sleep in a different part of the house while the finish coats cure. Pets go to a sitter or a closed-off area. If the job runs into mealtime, have a plan that doesn’t require walking across a fresh finish.

Two to four weeks before the first showing is the sweet spot. Enough time for the topcoat to cure and the house to air out, but recent enough that nothing gets scuffed before buyers see it. If you’re listing in spring, refinish in early spring. Refinished floors consistently photograph better and show better in person than worn floors, which moves the needle on buyer perception.

Water-based finishes dry faster, have lower odor, and keep the wood closer to its natural color. Oil-based finishes amber over time, which gives oak that warm traditional look. Water-based is the modern default. Oil-based still wins if you want the classic yellow-gold tone on red oak or the depth it adds to walnut.

Most of them, yes. Sanding reaches below the finish layer into the wood itself, so surface scratches disappear completely. Gouges deeper than about an eighth of an inch stay visible as shallow dents, which some homeowners like for the character. If the dog lived on one spot for a decade, that corner may need a board replacement before refinishing.

Water-based finishes smell mild on the day they’re applied and dissipate within 24 hours. Oil-based finishes have a stronger solvent smell that lingers for three to seven days. Open windows, run fans, and the smell clears faster. Water-based is the choice when the house will be occupied during the cure.