Hardwood Floor Recoating

Hardwood floor recoating, also called a screen and recoat or buff and coat, is the process of applying a fresh layer of finish over your existing floor without sanding down to bare wood. We lightly abrade the current finish to create adhesion, then apply a new coat of Bona Traffic HD. It is ideal for floors where the wood is in good shape but the finish is dull, worn, or lightly scratched.

A buff and coat is another term for hardwood floor recoating or screen and recoat. The process is the same: we lightly buff (abrade) the existing finish surface to create adhesion, then apply a fresh topcoat. No sanding to bare wood, no stain change. The terms buff and coat, screen and recoat, and recoating all refer to this same service.

Yes. Buff and coat, screen and recoat, and hardwood floor recoating all describe the same process: lightly abrading the existing finish and applying a new topcoat without sanding to bare wood. Different contractors and regions use different terminology for the same service.

Refinishing involves sanding the floor down to bare wood and applying new stain and finish, a full restoration. Recoating (screen and recoat) adds a new topcoat without sanding to bare wood. Recoating is faster and less expensive, but it cannot change the stain color or address damage that has penetrated the wood itself.

No. Recoating works when the existing finish is worn but the wood itself is still in good condition. Floors with deep scratches into the wood, black or gray water stains, peeling or delaminating finish, wax or polish contamination, or pet urine damage typically need full refinishing rather than recoating. Floors treated with consumer wax or oil products cannot bond to a new water-based topcoat without extensive prep. We assess this during the free in-home visit.

Hardwood floor recoating (screen and recoat) in Raleigh and the Triangle starts at $2.00 per square foot, a fraction of the cost of full refinishing. Floors with wax or polish contamination require additional prep and are priced at assessment. We provide written estimates with no hidden fees.

Recoating starts at $2.00 per square foot, a fraction of the cost of a full refinish, because there is no sanding to bare wood and no stain application involved. We provide written estimates after a free assessment.

A screen and recoat with Bona Traffic HD typically extends the life of your floor by 3 to 5 years before the next recoat is needed, depending on traffic, pets, and maintenance habits. Regular recoating every 3 to 5 years significantly extends the overall life of the floor and reduces how often a full refinish is required.

Most screen and recoat jobs are completed within six hours. Your floors are ready for light foot traffic within 24 hours and back to full use within 3 days with Bona Traffic HD.

We use Bona Traffic HD exclusively for recoating, the hardest water-based finish on the market. Your refreshed floor will hold up to daily life far longer than a standard recoat product. GREENGUARD certified for indoor air quality. Cures in 3 days.

12th And Oak Floor Co. provides hardwood floor recoating, screen and recoat, and buff and coat services starting at $2.00 per square foot throughout Clayton, Raleigh, and the Triangle. Most jobs are completed in six hours using Bona Traffic HD, the hardest water-based finish on the market. 5.0 Google rating, 49 verified reviews, five-year warranty. Call 984-400-4OAK or schedule your free assessment online.

Yes. Engineered hardwood floors can be recoated using the same screen and recoat process as solid hardwood, as long as the existing finish is worn but still intact and the wood surface is not damaged. Recoating engineered hardwood is actually a preferred maintenance strategy because engineered boards have a limited wear layer that cannot be sanded as many times as solid wood. A buff and coat preserves that wear layer while restoring the finish.

Hardwood floors can be recoated multiple times over their lifetime. Most floors are candidates for a screen and recoat every 3 to 5 years depending on traffic. The limit on recoating is typically finish buildup or the condition of the underlying wood, not a fixed number. We assess adhesion and finish condition each time to confirm recoating is still the right service rather than a full refinish.

A screen and recoat covers surface-level scratches that are limited to the finish layer and restores a uniform sheen across the floor. Scratches that have cut through the finish into the bare wood will still be visible after recoating because the process does not sand the wood surface. Deep scratches, gouges, and damage that has reached the wood require full refinishing or board-level repair to fully address.

Floors treated with wax, consumer oil products, or wax-based polishes cannot bond to a new water-based topcoat without extensive stripping prep. Floors with peeling or delaminating finish, deep scratches into bare wood, gray or black water stains, or active pet urine damage are not candidates for recoating and need full refinishing or repair instead. We test for contamination and confirm finish adhesion during the free in-home assessment before recommending any service.