What It's Like Working with Kwatna Flooring
Below is what it looks like day by day when we are refinishing a single-story floor in a home in Victoria, BC. This is, of course, just a guideline; every floor is different, but generally, this is how the week goes!
Before Kwatna Flooring Arrives
Homeowners spend a day or two ensuring everything is up and off the floors, so they are clear when we arrive to work. Any heavy furniture we are happy to move! (We do charge an hourly rate if it’s more than 1 piece or takes longer than a few minutes).
We have been known to work around a grand piano or large wardrobes that just aren’t possible to completely remove from the space!
Things on the walls: This is a question we get a lot: can we leave things hanging? Pieces that are easy to give a quick dust and are secure on the wall, you can definitely leave up!
Pieces that are intricate, stick out from the wall, or are fabric, we do recommend taking down.
We have an extensive vacuum system and leave very little dust behind, but often those delicate, wooden or intricate pieces are more of a hassle to clean, and it’s better they live somewhere else while we’re there!
Day 1 Of Arrival
When we first get there, it’s set up! We do need access to a 220 plug to run our sanders off (a stove or dryer plug). Our biggest vacuum we often leave outside the front or back door and then we run hoses and cables through the house to the area we are working in.
We hang poly to block off anything major that we can on this day to limit dust moving throughout the rest of the house as well.
The first day is generally set up, removing baseboards (if we are) and then doing the first sand to get the finish off. This is a fun day because you can see what the wood really looks like under the old finish! Often most of the water damage and dog nail scratches come off with this sand as well.
You can walk on the floor still throughout most of the process with clean and dry feet!
Day 2: Sanding Your Flooring
It’s another loud sanding day! Usually, this day is making sure we have the old finish off everywhere. Then we “fill”.
We use wood filler to make sure any nail holes, cracks between boards and any other small damage is filled and hidden.
Some floors need a “full trowel” fill. So we will just cover the entire floor with wood fill and push the fill in as we go.
Other floors just need a “spot fill,” so we go around and individually fill anywhere that needs.
Once the fill is dry, you can walk on it too! Although we do recommend clean and dry shoes.
We sand again! This time we are using a lighter sandpaper to make sure the floor is flat and smooth once we leave. This sanding will take the excess fill off and just smooth out the whole floor.
Day 3: Working On The Details
This is the day we are usually working on all the corners, doorways, around fireplaces, nosings and stairs. All the finicky stuff!
Day 4: Buffing Your Floors
Buffing! Today we will clear out most of our sanders and equipment. We’ll come in and do the first buff. It’s the finest sandpaper we’ll use. The buffer is basically on a giant planetary sander. We’ll go over the whole floor to make sure it’s silky smooth, and then the first coat of finish goes on!
Depending on the stain or finish you choose, you can generally still walk on the floor after about 2-4 hours. Just try not to get it wet!
Day 5: Filling & Finish
We show up first thing and do any extra filling, check over the floor and make sure everything is perfect, then the second coat of finish goes on. We will leave for a couple of hours while that coat dries.
When it’s dry, there is one final buffing; we pack out every last bit of equipment, and then the final coat of finish goes on.
Again, after about 4-5 hours and once the floor is dry to the touch, you can walk on it, and then it’s time to enjoy your new floor!
Would you like to work with Kwatna Flooring? Contact us for a free quote.