What is the difference between a screen and recoat versus a full sand for my floor refinishing project?

Screen and recoat is a light surface refresh that removes only the top layer of finish, while full sanding strips the floor down to bare wood and completely refinishes it. The choice depends on your floor's current condition and how much wear it's showing.

Screen and recoat involves using a buffer with a fine abrasive screen (typically 120-150 grit) to lightly scuff the existing finish, creating adhesion for a new topcoat. This process removes surface scratches, light scuffs, and restores the protective layer without touching the actual wood. It's ideal when your hardwood still looks good but the finish appears dull, has minor surface scratches, or shows light traffic wear patterns. The wood color and any existing stain remain completely unchanged.

Full sanding uses progressively finer grits (starting around 36-40 grit, finishing at 100-120 grit) to remove all existing finish and a thin layer of wood. This process can eliminate deep scratches, water stains, pet damage, and significant wear patterns. Full sanding also allows you to change the wood's color with new stain, repair minor gaps with wood filler, and essentially gives you a brand-new floor appearance. However, it's more invasive and removes about 1/32" of wood thickness.

In Ottawa's climate with seasonal humidity changes, screen and recoat typically costs $1.50 - $3.00 per square foot and takes 1-2 days, while full sanding and refinishing runs $3.00 - $8.00 per square foot and requires 3-5 days including drying time. Most Ottawa homes with well-maintained hardwood can benefit from screen and recoat every 3-5 years, while full refinishing is needed every 7-12 years depending on traffic and maintenance.

The decision often comes down to whether you can live with your current wood color and if the damage penetrates beyond the finish layer. Deep scratches that catch your fingernail, water stains that have penetrated the wood, or floors that haven't been maintained in over a decade typically require full sanding.

For a professional assessment of your specific floors and a free refinishing estimate, Ottawa Floor Install can evaluate whether screen and recoat will achieve your desired results or if full sanding is necessary.

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