Refinished Floors - before and after

Original post by Karen H

Aug 24, 2003 07:39 PM

We finally had our floors refinished and I'm thrilled with the results Here are the before and after pictures. We used a water-based, non-toxic Swedish process so we wouldn't have to throw out the food in our house and it was fast drying so we could walk on it in a few hours. I chose a satin finish which I love!

Before - kitchen into dining room

After - kitchen into dining room

Before - front entry

After - front entry

Karen H Posted: Aug 25, 2003 08:20 PM

Re: Refinished Floors - before and after

Thanks everyone! I still can't believe these are my same old floors when I walk through the rooms.

As for the 'food' questions.... I had heard from a few sources that you have to get rid of any opened foods if you're using the traditional polyurethanes or oil-based processes. I would assume that it's because it's so smelly it taints the foods. Someone on another post mentioned that it got into the foods in their freezer. I'm think it's just that the foods take on the flavor and oder of the polyurethanes.

And to answer the question about how long it lasts - I'm not sure how long the traditional finishes last, but this is supposed to be long lasting and you can spot-treat any areas that get worn in high traffic areas instead of sanding down the whole surface.

This is the manufacturer's page for the stuff that was used on our floors Bona Kemi

michele31 Posted: Aug 25, 2003 11:40 PM

Re: Refinished Floors - before and after

Here is my 'I want wood floors too' face They look great.

Kel Posted: Aug 26, 2003 12:47 PM

Re: Refinished Floors - before and after

Karen H,

I'm just curious who you used to do your floors .. if you already mentioned it .. my apologies .. I missed it. Your floors look awesome .. it's amazing how they can be brought back to life, isn't it??

maybride Posted: Aug 26, 2003 02:48 PM

Re: Refinished Floors - before and after

How do you spot treat wood floors? Would you use sandpaper and smooth out scratches by hand and then top with more polyurethane?

Karen H Posted: Aug 26, 2003 08:58 PM

Re: Refinished Floors - before and after

Hi Maybride - I'm not sure exactly how the spot treat the floors - I think it is a roughing up of the surface and recoating with the water-based finish. We didn't do the finishing ourselves, we hired a company to do the work. From what I've been told, you can't do the resurfacing with the oil-based polyurathanes because they won't blend or match, but the water-based compounds do seamlessly blend so you can treat just the high traffic areas if they are showing wear in 5-6 years.

Claud2001 Posted: Aug 26, 2003 09:20 PM

Re: Refinished Floors - before and after

Karen, I'm shocked that a poly product would cause someome to throw away food from their freezer - that seems a bit extreme, especially when most of the poly products on the market these days are so low odor. But, you live and learn I guess