My floors were refinished last year and are peeling already?

Floor finish peeling after just one year indicates a preparation or application issue during the refinishing process. This is not normal wear and should be addressed under warranty if the work was done professionally.

The most common causes of premature peeling include inadequate surface preparation before applying the new finish. If the floors weren't properly cleaned of all dust, residue, or previous finish remnants, the new coating can't bond properly and will start lifting. Moisture issues are another major culprit - applying finish when humidity is too high, or if there's moisture in the wood from inadequate drying time between sanding and finishing.

Application problems can also cause peeling, such as applying coats too thick, not allowing proper drying time between coats, or using incompatible products (like applying oil-based finish over water-based residue). Temperature extremes during application or curing can prevent proper adhesion as well.

In Ottawa's climate, seasonal moisture changes can exacerbate bonding issues if the initial prep work wasn't done correctly. Our winters create very dry indoor conditions while summers bring higher humidity, causing wood movement that can break poorly bonded finishes.

Check your warranty immediately - reputable contractors typically warranty refinishing work for 1-3 years and should address this issue at no cost. Document the peeling with photos and contact the original contractor first. If they're unresponsive or the work wasn't professionally done, you'll likely need the floors re-sanded and properly refinished. A dustless sanding system and proper prep work should prevent this from happening again.

For professional floor refinishing with proper preparation and warranty coverage, Experienced installers use proven techniques to get lasting results.