FAQ
Frequently Asked (Hardwood Refinishing) Questions
Do you install new hardwood floors?
How does your dustless system handle dust created during the sanding process?
Do we charge extra for our dustless system?
Do you guarantee your workmanship?
Do you take on commercial projects?
What health-dangers do mold in carpets or rotting wood pose?
Is it cost-effective for homeowners and renovators to select wood flooring instead of less-costly materials?
Can you sand and refinish engineered floors?
Can my floors be recoated without sanding them?
What kind of finish should I choose?
I’m interested in staining my floors. What’s involved?
Do you have stain samples I can look at?
Do you refinish stairs?
Can hardwood floors with water damage be fixed?
How do you repair extremely deep scratches and dents in my hardwood?
Why have gaps developed between boards in my hardwood floors and can you fix this?
How long does it take to complete a typical floor refinishing project?
Can I stay in my home during the refinishing process?
Should I be concerned about odours or fumes?
How should I handle removal of my carpet?
What furniture do I need to move before you begin?
Will you move my furniture before refinishing my hardwood floors?
Do I have to remove my base shoe and baseboards?
Do you install base shoe and baseboards?
How long should I wait before moving back my furniture and area rugs?
What is the best way for me to maintain and clean my hardwood floors?
Do you work weekends?
What forms of payment do you accept?
What type of insurance do you carry?
What areas of the Lower Mainland do you work in?
Do you install new hardwood floors?
Yes. We install all sorts of hardwood floors utilizing a host of methods appropriate to your environment. Read more about our custom installation services and have a look at some recent projects to see how Woodsmith Hardwood Floors is your one-stop-shop for your hardwood flooring needs.
How does your dustless system handle dust created during the sanding process?
Our primary sanding system utilizes industrial-grade cyclone technology that effectively quarantines dust created at the source and directs it into a portable, sealed drum. Secondary systems such as buffers and edgers use similar systems and allow virtually no dust to become airborne.
Do we charge extra for our dustless system?
No. Woodsmith utilizes the dustless refinishing process on all of our work at no extra charge. Although some of our competitors charge a fee for providing a dustless service, Woodsmith Hardwood Floors does not.
Do you guarantee your workmanship?
Yes. Delivering the highest level of customer service has served as the foundation of Woodsmith Hardwood Floors’ business for over 23 years. Our top-ranked A+ BBB (Better Business Bureau) accreditation testifies to this fact. Find out more about our unwavering commitment to our customers by reading about our service guarantee in full.
Do you take on commercial projects?
Yes. We have extensive experience servicing commercial projects that require work after traditional store hours. We have worked within retail shops, restaurants, ballrooms and other commercially-based locations.
What health-dangers do mold in carpets or rotting wood pose?
According to the CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) molds growing inside homes release chemicals and spores. Health experts indicate that molds can cause allergic reactions and illness. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with respiratory disease or a weakened immune system are more at risk when exposed to mold. In many cases, removing carpet and/or repairing areas of rotting wood may be the only way a homeowner can guarantee the elimination of interior mold.
Is it cost-effective for homeowners and renovators to select wood flooring instead of less-costly materials?
Yes. According to a recent nationwide survey, residential real estate agents say homes with wood floors sell faster and fetch higher prices. (National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) survey). By a four-to-one margin, real estate agents said that a house with wood floors would sell faster than a house without wood floors. Some 90 percent said a home with wood floors would bring a higher price.
Can you sand and refinish engineered floors?
Yes. Please review our section on engineered hardwood floors for useful information on the topic.
Can my floors be recoated without sanding them?
Yes. Recoating your floors every few years before the finish wears through is a smart and cost-effective method of preserving the value of your floors. The recoating process will remove light scratches in the existing finish however, only sanding and refinishing will remove dents or scratches in the wood itself. Our free consultation will help you determine what viable options are available to you.
What kind of finish should I choose?
Please refer to the section “Hardwood Floor Finishes ” for a more detailed answer to this question.
I’m interested in staining my floors. What’s involved?
Staining your hardwood floors is an ideal way to personalize the look and feel of your home. Please refer to our section on “Staining Your Hardwood Floors” for a more detailed explanation.
Do you have stain samples I can look at?
Yes. You can check out DriFast stain samples here on our site. Additionally, we bring real wood stain samples for you to look at during our free consultation.
Do you refinish stairs
Yes we do. Please see our section on Stair Refinishing for more information.
Can hardwood floors with water damage be fixed?
Yes. Depending on the extent of the water damage, various repair options will be open to you ranging from sanding to replacement of damaged boards with matching reclaimed wood of the same era of your existing floors. Contact us for a free consultation that will diagnose the extent of the water damage and provide you with the most cost-effective solution.
How do you repair extremely deep scratches and dents in my hardwood?
Preserving the thickness of your hardwood floors and therefore the life of your floors is always our priority. Sanding too aggressively to eliminate deep scratches and dents can take years of useful life off of your floors.
In many cases, our initial sanding will minimize the depth of scratches or dents allowing us to fill such areas effectively with colour-matched wood filler. In other cases, replacing the damaged boards with matching reclaimed hardwood from the same era of your floors is the best option.
Why have gaps developed between boards in my hardwood floors and can you fix this?
Humidity and the nature of wood are the culprits. Wood naturally expands and contracts seasonally with changes in the humidity of your home creating gaps between individual boards.
In some cases, a poor initial installation can exacerbate the problem.
Colour-matched wood filler is typically applied to the floor during the refinishing process effectively filling the gaps. Whether the filler will adhere is dependent upon a number of factors including the amount of wax and dirt that has built-up in the gaps over the years and/or the degree to which your floors expand and contract seasonally.
Our free consultation process will help clarify what the reasonable expectations are for your unique hardwood floors.
How long does it take to complete a typical floor refinishing project?
Depending on the size of home, many jobs can be completed within approximately 3 days if extensive repairs or staining are not required.
A typical project requires a full day of dustless sanding followed by the first application of your chosen finish. Additional finish coats are applied on the second and third day and within 8 hours (water-based finish) or 24 hours (oil-based finish) of the final coat one can walk on the refinished floor.
Staining, repairs, stairs and carpet-removal and other factors will influence the time and scope of your project. Our free consultation service will provide you with a more definitive answer to this question of course.
Can I stay in my home during the refinishing process?
The answer to this question will depend upon several factors. The scope of your project is usually the primary factor. If your entire home’s hardwood floors are to be refinished, including the connecting hallways and stairs, it may be practical to schedule time away from home during the project timeframe. On the other hand, if your project is limited only to select areas of your home, remaining in your home may be possible. Sensitivity to your choice of finish or stain may also influence your decision. During our free consultation and at any point during your planning process, these factors can be discussed in greater detail to help you decide what is most practical.
Should I be concerned about odours or fumes?
An increasing number of our customers are choosing water-based finishes not only because they deliver superior durability but also because they emit very little odour at all. As a water-based finish dries an almost neutral smelling water-vapour is released.
If an oil-based finish is selected, we will provide a low-VOC (solvent) option. As this type of finish dries, it will emit an odour similar to that of an oil-based paint. Adequate ventilation will accelerate the drying process and minimize the impact of odours. This also applies to stain which is oil-based.
How should I handle removal of my carpet?
The choice is yours – if you wish us to, we will be happy to handle the hassle of carpet removal and disposal and will include this in our quotation.
If you wish to remove your own carpets, please review our section on removing carpet without damaging your hardwood floors for useful advice.
What furniture do I need to move before you begin?
All furniture and other items on floor spaces that will be refinished need to be moved before we begin our work. Window furnishings, breakables on shelves and the like should also be moved. During our free consultation we will provide specific guidance on the movement of your belongings.
Will you move my furniture before refinishing my hardwood floors?
Unfortunately we are not licensed or insured as professional movers. We can however recommend movers or creative storage-solutions to aid you during your project preparation.
Do I have to remove my base shoe and baseboards?
No, not unless you are planning on having new base shoe or baseboards installed. We use specialized equipment that will literally sand to within a hair’s-breadth of your walls and baseboards or base shoe.
Do you install base shoe and baseboards?
We can install brand new solid-wood base shoe that will match the natural colour of your hardwood floors. We will also stain your new base shoe if desired. We also have the expertise to install baseboards.
How long should I wait before moving back my furniture and area rugs?
Most finishes will significantly cure (harden) within 24-48 hours. In every case, after we have refinished your floors, we will provide you with specific guidance before you plan to move back your furniture.
Given that area rugs cover larger sections of floor, we recommend that area rugs remain off the still-curing floors for 2-4 weeks.
What is the best way for me to maintain and clean my hardwood floors?
Making sure your hardwood floors enjoy a long life is our goal at Woodsmith Hardwood Floors. Please refer to our section on “Maintaining your Hardwood Floors” for useful instructions.
Do you work weekends?
We occasionally work weekends but only to perform finish coatings. Most local municipal noise bylaws prohibit the use of loud machinery like our sanders during the weekend.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all forms of payment including Visa and MasterCard credit card payments.
What type of insurance do you carry?
We have full liability insurance coverage for $2 million and are always in full compliance with WorkSafe BC (WCB).
What areas of the Lower Mainland do you work in?
Our primary service area includes most of the Lower Mainland from West Vancouver to the Maple Ridge and Langley areas. We also service the Sea-to-Sky corridor including Whistler and Squamish.
