Recoating hardwood floors is a term often confused with refinishing hardwood floors. Recoating is applying a top coat of finish on the floors, but instead of sanding down to the bare wood, a recoat lightly screens the surface of the floors with a buffer to scourer the surface (only removing part of the old finish). Then the floors are cleaned, and a layer of finish is applied.
This process removes mild discoloration, and minor dents or scratches that have only penetrated the finish (chair scratches, high heels, or general wear and tear). Each maintenance coat adds to the longevity of the hardwoods and reduces the number of times they need to be refinished. Therefore the more recoats, the stronger the floors become over the years.
Recoating your hardwoods is an inexpensive and effective way to revive your existing floors by simply preparing andapplying a top coat of solvent based finish. A routine maintenance coat is suggested every other year.