Refinish Hardwood Floors (Screening)
Why It Matters
Screening and recoating extends the life of your hardwood floors for a fraction of the cost of full refinishing.
Quick Guide
- 1
Gather your tools and materials
You'll need: Floor buffer with screen pad, Vacuum, Paint applicator. Materials required: Polyurethane floor finish, Screening pads.
- 2
Perform the refinish hardwood floors (screening)
Screen (lightly sand) and recoat hardwood floors to refresh the finish without a full sanding. Safety note: Ensure excellent ventilation.
- 3
Verify and clean up
Check that the work was completed correctly and clean up your workspace. If if floors have deep scratches or damage requiring full sanding, consider calling a professional.
Tools & Materials
Tools
- Floor buffer with screen pad
- Vacuum
- Paint applicator
Materials
- Polyurethane floor finish
- Screening pads
Community Tips
Screening pads come in progressive grits (80, 120, 150), and skipping directly to 150-grit leaves old finish residue trapped under new coats, causing premature peeling within 12-18 months—always start with 80-grit even if the floor appears smooth to the eye.
Rent a commercial-grade floor buffer with variable speed control (available at Home Depot or Sunbelt Rentals for $40-60/day) rather than purchasing; the weight distribution and orbital action on these machines prevent the gouging and uneven screening that handheld buffers cause on long runs.
Polyurethane dust generated during screening is flammable and accumulates rapidly in corners and baseboards—failure to vacuum thoroughly between each grit application creates a fire hazard when polyurethane fumes (from products like Varathane ($25-35 per quart)) are introduced during the final finish coats. ---