Hardwood Floor Questions, Answered

Sanding is 21–46 working hours per 1,000 sq ft depending on the sanding level, plus coating days. With water-based finishes, most clients stay home while the work is done, and furniture is back in about 3–5 days. Oil-based systems take around 14 days to cure, and you can’t stay in the house during coating. See how long to stay out after refinishing.

No, and don’t believe anyone who promises zero dust. Sanding wood always creates fine particles. What we do is dust control: each machine is connected to a HEPA vacuum system that captures 90–95% of dust, and the crew covers exposed areas with plastic film. It comes standard on every job, not as a paid upgrade.

Often, yes. It depends on the wear layer. If the veneer is 2 mm or more, careful sanding is usually possible. Thinner than that, sanding risks cutting through, so a recoat or replacement is the safer bet. We measure the wear layer during the assessment.

Check where the wear sits. If the finish looks dull but is intact and water still beads on the surface, a recoat (another topcoat with no deep sanding) may be enough. When the wear has reached the wood itself, with scratches, gray or bare areas, or water soaking in, it’s time for a complete refinish. Solid hardwood can be refinished several times over its lifetime.

Water-based polyurethane stays clear, doesn’t yellow, has lower VOCs, and lets furniture come back in about 3–5 days, which is why most of our projects end up water-based. Oil-based gives a warmer amber tone but takes around 14 days to cure, and the house has to be empty during coating. Penetrating oils and hard wax oils are also options for a natural matte look.

Yes. Once the old finish is sanded off, the bare wood will take stain. We offer 24 Bona DriFast colors plus custom blends, and confirm your choice on your actual floor before coating. Check out the directions on the hardwood floor stain page, from natural to dark.

Any season is fine if indoor humidity stays in the 30–50% range. Finishes cure well in a stable indoor climate year-round. Summer schedules fill up the fastest, so book ahead.

Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood: the traditional option, nailed to plywood subfloors and thick enough to be refinished several times during its life. Engineered hardwood has a real-wood wear layer over a layered core, so it stays more stable through New England humidity swings and is the right choice over concrete. Compare them in engineered vs. solid hardwood.

Unfinished (site-finished) flooring is raw wood that gets sanded and finished in your home. This gives you the most control over color and sheen, and the finish seals the seams between the boards. Prefinished flooring is ready to walk on right after installation, because it was sanded and coated at the factory.

Allow one to two weeks end to end: a few days of acclimation after the wood is delivered, then a few days of installation for a typical area. Site-finished floors add days for sanding and coating; prefinished floors are walkable immediately after installation. More in how long installation takes.

Wood expands and contracts with moisture changes. The boards acclimate for several days to adjust to your home’s humidity before they’re fastened down; installing too early is a frequent cause of gaps and cupping down the road. We also hold subfloor-to-wood moisture readings within 4% before starting. See how long to acclimate hardwood.

Yes, usually engineered hardwood, glued down over an approved slab, or a floating floor over underlayment. First we moisture-test the slab, then add a moisture barrier where the readings call for it. As a general rule, solid 3/4-inch hardwood is not nailed to concrete.

Most of the time, yes. Once the moisture source is corrected and the subfloor is stable, we replace the individual planks and sand the area so the finish matches. If the buckling or rot is severe, you may need to replace a larger section. Start with wood floor water damage or the repair service page.

Not if done right. We feather the sanding areas into the surrounding floor, then custom-blend stains and match sheen levels so the new boards disappear into the old. Historic floors keep their character, and the repair itself is hard to spot.

Keep indoor relative humidity at 30–50% and temperatures at 60–80°F year-round. These targets limit the expansion and contraction that causes most gaps, cupping, and squeaks.

Light foot traffic after 24 hours for water-based finishes, 48 hours for oil-based. With water-based systems, furniture can return in about 3–5 days. Rugs and heavy pieces should stay off for 5–7 days unless your technician says otherwise, because the finish is still hardening underneath.

Weles works across Boston and Greater Boston, including Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, Somerville, and Quincy. We serve Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine out of our Chestnut Hill showroom.

800 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, about 30 minutes from downtown Boston. Open Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm; closed Sunday. You can take the 3D showroom tour online before you visit.

Yes. Weles Inc is a registered business that carries General Liability and Workers’ Compensation coverage on every project, and is a BBB-accredited business. Our crews have certifications from Lagler, Loba, Wakol, Bona, and American Sanders.

Weles has been in the hardwood flooring business since 2017 and has completed over 3,000 floors for more than 1,000 clients across New England. Check out the reviews on Google, Houzz, Yelp, and Angi.