Once the initial contact, assessment and scheduling are settled, the actual sanding and refinishing project gets underway. Knowing what a proper process looks like at this stage, from room preparation through to the final coat of finish, helps set realistic expectations and makes it easier to spot corners being cut.
Preparing the room before work starts
Before any sanding begins, the room needs to be completely cleared: furniture, decorations, and anything else that isn't fixed to the walls should be removed entirely. If clearing the space isn't manageable on your own, it's worth asking whether the company offers furniture removal as part of the service, some do at low or no extra cost, or arranging a separate moving and storage service if needed.
Most professional flooring companies now offer dust-free sanding, but even the best extraction equipment doesn't eliminate every particle. A proper setup includes sealing off windows, doors and gaps with plastic sheeting to stop dust escaping into the rest of the house, which makes cleanup considerably easier once the project's finished. Any repairs the floor needs, loose boards, damaged sections, and any gap filling, should be completed before sanding starts, not worked around during it.
The sanding stage itself
Sanding typically works through several passes with progressively finer grit sandpaper, the exact sequence depending on the floor's condition and how much needs to be removed to get an even, level surface. Once sanding is complete, thorough dust removal is essential before any finish goes on, dust trapped under a finish coat shows as a rough, uneven texture and can't be corrected without redoing the work.
If you're planning a colour change, the wood surface is treated with mineral spirits by hand before stain or dye is applied, which helps ensure the colour absorbs consistently across the whole floor rather than in patches.
Choosing and applying the finish
A good specialist should advise on finish type based on your actual circumstances, expected foot traffic, moisture levels in the room, and whether pets or young children are part of the household, rather than defaulting to whatever's easiest to apply. Three coats of finish is the standard recommendation for durable, long-lasting protection, and the timeline varies by product type.
| Finish type | Typical application time |
|---|---|
| Oil-based | Around three days, including drying time between coats |
| Water-based | Around two days, including drying time between coats |
Rushing this stage, applying coats before the previous one has properly dried, is one of the more common causes of a cloudy or uneven final result, so a company quoting an unrealistically fast timeline is worth questioning.
Baseboards and finishing touches
Existing baseboards can often be reused if they're in good condition and their colour and finish can be matched to the newly refinished floor. Alternatively, new baseboards can be fitted, and a reliable contractor should include this installation as part of the overall service rather than as a separate cost that appears unexpectedly.
Getting your room back to normal
Once the final coat is applied, the finish needs several days to fully cure before furniture goes back and the room returns to normal use. This waiting period is often underestimated: moving furniture back or resuming heavy foot traffic before the finish has properly cured risks marking a surface that hasn't reached its full hardness yet, undoing some of the careful work that's just been completed.
If you're planning a sanding and refinishing project and want to know exactly what to expect at every stage, request a free quote and we'll walk you through the process for your specific floor, from the first assessment right through to the finished result.
Frequently asked questions
How much dust should I actually expect during a dust-free sanding project? Dust-free extraction significantly reduces airborne dust compared to older methods, but it doesn't eliminate it entirely, which is why sealing off doors and windows with plastic sheeting is still standard practice.
Should floor repairs be done before or during sanding? Repairs and gap filling should always be completed before sanding starts, so the sanding process works with a structurally sound, level surface rather than working around ongoing issues.
Why does the finish type affect how long the project takes? Oil-based finishes generally need longer to dry between coats than water-based ones, which directly affects the overall project timeline, typically around three days versus two.
Can I reuse my existing baseboards after a floor refinish? Often yes, provided they're in good condition and can be matched in colour and finish to the newly refinished floor. Otherwise, new baseboards can be fitted as part of the service.
How long should I wait before moving furniture back into the room? It depends on the specific finish used, but it's important to wait until the finish has fully cured, not just until it feels dry to the touch, to avoid marking the new surface.
