Hardwood Floor Refinishing & Sanding in Stone Mountain, GA
Most of the work in a refinish happens once the crew arrives, but how the house is prepared beforehand shapes how smoothly it goes. If hardwood floor refinishing in Stone Mountain is on your calendar, some groundwork in the days before keeps the schedule on track and keeps sanding dust off your belongings.
Use this as a practical checklist, followed by the floor decisions worth settling before the first machine is switched on.
Clearing the rooms
- Furniture. Everything comes out of the rooms being refinished. Some contractors move furniture and some do not, so confirm in writing who handles it and where it goes.
- Closets. If closets are included, clear everything off their floors, including shoes and storage bins.
- Walls and shelves next door. Sanding vibration can rattle picture frames and knick-knacks in adjoining rooms, so take down anything fragile.
- Curtains. Tie up or remove drapes that reach the floor so they stay out of the dust and the wet finish.
- Electronics. Unplug and move them, and cover anything that stays in nearby rooms.
Planning daily life around the work
Think through how the household will get around. If the kitchen floor is included, set up a temporary station somewhere else with the coffee maker, a microwave and the essentials from the refrigerator. Make sure a bathroom can be reached without crossing the work area, and agree on which door the crew uses and which one the family uses. Pets are usually happier with a friend, in a kennel or in a closed room well away from the work. Plan where everyone will sleep on the days finish is going down.
Heating, cooling and power
The HVAC system is usually shut down during sanding and while coats are applied, so dust is not drawn into the ducts and air does not blow across wet finish. Show the crew where the thermostat and electrical panel are, since large sanders draw a lot of power. Floor registers are often lifted out and set aside before sanding; if yours are painted or rusted in place, mention it ahead of time.
What gets checked when the crew arrives
Before the first pass, the floor itself is looked over again. A small test spot shows whether the existing finish sands off cleanly or whether wax or polish residue will cause trouble. Loose boards are fastened, nail heads that stand proud are set below the surface, and the remaining wood above the tongue is checked at a vent opening if the floor has been sanded before. If a repair question comes up at this stage, stay reachable so it can be decided quickly.
Should a damaged area need new boards, see hardwood floor installation and repair in Stone Mountain for how that is done.
Decisions to settle before the first day
Bare wood should be sealed reasonably soon after sanding, before it picks up moisture and grime, so it helps to have these choices made in advance:
- Stain or natural, with the understanding that final samples go on the sanded floor.
- Finish type, typically oil-modified polyurethane, which warms the color and has a stronger smell, or waterborne, which stays clearer and has less odor.
- Sheen level, from matte through satin and semi-gloss to gloss. Lower sheens hide scratches and dust better, while higher sheens look more polished and show more.
- Number of coats, which affects durability and how long rooms stay off-limits.
After the last coat
The finish manufacturer’s instructions set the waits for walking on the floor in socks, for returning furniture and for laying rugs, and rugs usually wait the longest. Put felt pads on every leg before furniture comes back and lift pieces into place rather than sliding them. Reinstall registers, and for the first weeks clean only with a dry dust mop while the finish keeps curing.
Before you sign: permits and the scope
The city of Stone Mountain is in DeKalb County. If the refinish is paired with structural, plumbing or electrical work, the City of Stone Mountain Building Department can answer whether that work needs a permit.
Read the scope with your preparation in mind: it should say who moves furniture and where it goes, which rooms and closets are included and how registers are handled. Repairs, color, coating, sheen and coats, containment and cleanup follow, along with the days each room is off-limits and the way a change is approved.
Questions about getting ready in Stone Mountain
Do I need to empty my closets before the floors are refinished?
Only the closets included in the job, but those need to be completely clear at floor level, including shoes, bins and anything leaning against the walls. Hanging clothes can usually stay if they do not touch the floor, though covering them keeps dust off. If a closet is not being refinished, keep its door shut during sanding.
Should pictures and shelves come down in rooms next to the work?
It is a good idea. Large sanders create vibration that travels through floors and walls, which can shift frames or rattle items off open shelves. Take down anything fragile or valuable in the rooms being refinished and in rooms that share a wall with them, and store it where dust cannot reach it.
Can we use the kitchen while the floors are being refinished?
If the kitchen floor is part of the job, no, not while it is being sanded or while the finish dries. Set up a temporary area elsewhere with the basics you need for a few meals. If the kitchen is not included, it can usually be used, as long as you can reach it without crossing freshly coated floors.
Get your questions answered before the first day
Questions about getting ready? Ring 404-409-4448. We can walk through the house with you, point out what needs to move and set down the scope for each room in writing.