Hardwood refinishing
Hardwood floor refinishing: your old floor, new again.
Dull, scratched hardwood rarely needs replacing. Capital Carpet, a Washington, DC flooring store since 1988, sands it back to bare wood and builds a new finish, with dust barriers up and the finish you choose.
What sand and finish means
The term covers two jobs. The first is brand-new unfinished solid hardwood: once it is installed, the raw boards are sanded smooth and coated on site with the stain, oil, or finish you choose. The second is an existing hardwood floor that has gone dull or scratched, refinished so it looks new again.
The process is the same for both, except that an older floor first has its worn surface removed.
The sanding: the step that makes or breaks it
Our crew sets up dust barriers to keep dust from traveling through your home or business, and our sanding equipment captures dust as it works. The sanding moves from heavy-grade paper down to very fine paper until the boards are back to raw, smooth, even wood.
This step cannot be rushed. If the sanding is not done right from start to finish, no finish, however expensive, will hide the tiny scratches and imperfections it leaves behind.
The finish: your choice, explained plainly
There are more hardwood finishes to choose from today than ever. We show you the options and explain each one: the gloss level, how hard it is, and what it takes to maintain. Once you decide, our sand and finish crew applies it to the manufacturer's instructions, makes sure every imperfection is gone, and explains the drying process before they leave.
Refinish or replace?
- Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished many times over its life.
- Engineered hardwood can often be refinished too, depending on how thick its real wood layer is.
- Deep water damage, loose boards, or a floor that has already been sanded thin may need repair or replacement instead.
We look at the floor and tell you plainly which one you need. If it is time for new wood, we sell and install hardwood too.
How a refinishing job works
- Free estimate: we look at the floor, measure, and quote plainly
- Pick your finish: we show you stain colors, gloss levels, and finishes side by side
- Prep: the crew sets up dust barriers before any sanding starts
- Sand: heavy-grade paper down to fine, until the wood is raw, smooth, and even
- Finish: applied to the manufacturer’s instructions, with the drying process explained before the crew leaves
Hardwood refinishing questions
How do I know if my hardwood floor can be refinished?
Solid hardwood almost always can. Engineered hardwood can if its real wood layer is thick enough. Book a free estimate and we will look at the floor and tell you plainly.
How much dust does refinishing make?
Sanding wood makes dust, so we contain it. Our crews set up dust barriers, and our sanding equipment captures dust as it works, which reduces the dust that travels through the rest of your home.
Can refinishing change the color of my floor?
Yes. Once the floor is sanded back to bare wood it can take a new stain, so you can change its color. We show you the options before any work starts.
How soon can we walk on the floor again?
It depends on the finish you choose. Our crew explains the drying process for your finish before they leave, so you know when the room is ready.
Do you sand and finish new unfinished hardwood?
Yes. Unfinished solid hardwood is sanded and finished on site after it is installed, which is the original meaning of sand and finish. We can supply the wood, install it, and finish it.
Which areas do you serve?
We are based at 608 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, and we work across the District and nearby Maryland and Virginia, including Georgetown, Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Great Falls, Bethesda, Silver Spring and Rockville.
Get a straight answer on your floor.
Book a free estimate and we will tell you whether your floor needs refinishing, repair, or replacement. Same day appointments available.