Bringing Worn Wood Back to Usable Condition

Hardwood Refinishing in Lewiston for floors with deep scratches, faded stain, or finish that no longer protects the wood

Imperial Flooring refinishes solid hardwood floors in homes and commercial buildings where the surface is scratched, discolored, or worn through to bare wood. The process removes the old finish, sands the planks smooth, and applies fresh stain and polyurethane to restore the floor's appearance and protection. You avoid the cost and disruption of replacement while extending the life of the existing wood by decades.

Refinishing begins with a coarse-grit drum sander that strips the old finish and flattens surface irregularities, followed by progressively finer grits that smooth the grain and prepare the wood for stain. The sanding generates fine dust that travels through the house, so doorways are sealed and air scrubbers are used to limit spread. Once the wood is bare and level, stain is applied to match your chosen color, then sealed with two to three coats of water-based or oil-based polyurethane. The final coat cures hard enough to resist foot traffic and furniture scratches for years.

If your hardwood floor shows wear in high-traffic lanes or around doorways, request a refinishing estimate from Imperial Flooring to determine if the wood is thick enough to sand.

Your crew starts by removing furniture and checking for loose planks, protruding nails, or gaps that need filling before sanding begins. A drum sander runs parallel to the grain, cutting through the finish and removing surface scratches. Edges and corners are addressed with a handheld edger that reaches tight spaces the drum cannot.

After sanding, you see bare wood with a consistent tone and no visible finish residue. The stain goes on evenly because the sanding opened the grain and removed old wax or oils. Each polyurethane coat dries to a hard, clear film that resists water and abrasion. Imperial Flooring allows cure time between coats, typically 24 hours for water-based and longer for oil-based products, so the floor is ready for furniture in three to five days.

Refinishing is only possible when the planks retain enough thickness above the tongue-and-groove joint, usually after no more than four to six sandings over the floor's lifetime. Engineered hardwood with a thin veneer cannot be refinished more than once, if at all. The process works best on red oak, white oak, and maple, which are dense enough to withstand multiple sandings. Commercial floors in retail or office spaces benefit from the same restoration, with higher-gloss finishes available for durability and ease of cleaning.

Questions About Refinishing Hardwood

Property owners want to know how long the process takes, what the house will smell like, and whether their floors are good candidates.

What determines if a floor can be refinished?

The planks must have at least three-quarters of an inch of solid wood above the subfloor, with no structural damage or rot that would prevent sanding.

How long does refinishing take?

Most residential floors are sanded, stained, and sealed over three to five days, with cure time adding another few days before furniture can be returned.

When should you choose water-based over oil-based polyurethane?

Water-based finishes dry faster and have less odor, but oil-based products tend to be more durable and amber over time, warming the wood tone.

Why does the stain color look different in each room?

Lighting, wood species, and grain density all affect how stain absorbs, so samples are tested on your actual floor before the full application in Lewiston homes.

How often can hardwood be refinished?

Solid wood floors can typically be sanded four to six times over their lifespan, depending on plank thickness and how much material is removed each time.

Imperial Flooring inspects your floor and measures plank thickness before committing to a refinishing schedule. Call to arrange a walkthrough and review stain options in your space.