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Design Dilemma Flooring

Refinished flooring - poor job?

5 years ago

Our contractor refinished existing hardwood flooring in part of our house and installed new floors in other rooms as well. I’m noticing lots of actuate marks in the floor, in both the refinished and the new floors. The new flooring came as raw wood which I believe they sanded before staining everything. Am I correct to interpret these as marks from the sander? Is this poor enough quality that I should ask that they refinish? Now that I’ve noticed it I can see anything but! The pictures are from several example spots on the existing and new floors. Appreciate your input!

Featured Answer

highdesertowl

5 years ago

I can't speak to the need for refinish; but I would suggest switching your quarter round to white, painted to match your baseboards.

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Comments (10)

Nicole R Dsp
5 years ago
I would personally refinish. You should never see the application marks...
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
5 years ago
Site finishing floors is an art and you should not see the marks from the sander. If you decide to refinish, you may want to use a different floor professional, as the one that did this isn't very skilled.
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Five months ago we had a contractor refinish and install hardwood floors in a house that we bought. Since the areas with new hardwood floor where right next to the areas with the existing wood, they had to try to match the colors. Since the beginning, we noticed some "waves" in the hardwood floor, especially in the new floor. What could have they done for the floors to present these "waves"? We don't wear shoes in the house, but we had friends over during the holidays wearing shoes. The floor now shows signs of extreme wear and tear, especially a lot of holes from the highheels. You can easily notice scratches and the floors are covered with holes (VERY noticeable). The contractor says this is normal, but we have owned houses with hardwood floor and have never seen something like this. What can be happening? The holes are in both the new and old hardwood floor.
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Thanks, glennsfc...yes, we are sure it is oak. My DH is not here right now but will be shortly; I have to ask him what kind of sander he is using. (It is not a big drum sander but also not one of the very small hand sanders.) He has refinished quite a few floors & never seen anything like this! Now, this is a farmhouse & the dirt/traffic pattern has been going on for 40 odd years so it is well ground in. But still...
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The flush mount vent job is hideous looking. didnt sand it properly, huge gobs of filler still there. some of the heavier edger scratches are bad. although some of the buffer swirls dont look too bad. heres the issue. NWFA has a 5-2 rule. From a standing position 5ft up, to 2 ft out if you can visually see scratches its not acceptable. Because you took many pictures of the scratches up close, its hard to say if those would "pass". Now thats not to say theres nothing to be done, the vent issue is enough in my opinion to have the guys come back out. the stain splatters on the wall along with the holes, if you can prove the holes werent there prior to the refinish job then thats something they should fix as well. But because you paid the guys in full already, they may not answer their phone. But if they were a legit company they will get their behinds back out there to address the issue. Make the phone call and then take it from there.
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That's a good point Unique Wood Floors. I will write them an email to follow up and send them the photos I have. We had the owner out yesterday and he agreed that, while some imperfections are to be expected, this is beyond what he would consider acceptable. He said that the waves are caused by the hand-sander (which was the newbie guy). It breaks my heart because I know every craftsman has to start somewhere...I just don't want it to be on my $4000 job! He was very polite and told us to go ahead and move back into the house; that his crew will move everything out and back in when they come to redo. I did not think to ask if he would send the same or a different crew. I will have to come back in two weeks and post pictures of the redo. Thanks again guys!
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Snaggy
5 years ago
Looks like marks made by grit under the sander
millworkman
5 years ago
You need to take pictures upright from 5 feet away. If the marks are not visible the floors are ok. You cannot gauge finish quality on your hands and knees.
cwb
Original Author
5 years ago
millworkman, good point. Here’s a few pictures I took this morning. Hard to get the lighting appropriate due to the reflection from the ceiling lights, but I think the marks are clearly noticeable from up high. Definitely noticeable plain eye when standing. What do you think?
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I honestly would not see them if you did not circle them and I do not beleive you have a case for a refinish. Once all the furniture and rugs are in no one will ever notice these
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
To expand on millworkman's suggestion, the issue must be clearly detectable under the following conditions (these are the basics a flooring inspector would use to judge a finish):
1. Standing position
2. 10 feet away

3. Natural daylight (cannot use the "If you stand just right at a single time of day" excuse)

As Patricia points out, the marks are not clearly visible in the photos (which is standing). I would recommend doing the following.
1. At mid-day (or close to it) turn off all the lights. Move 10 feet (3 meters) away from the area you are concerned about. Close your eyes and turn around 3 times. Open them and then quickly scan the area with your eyes. Can you SEE them CLEARLY? Or do you have to "remember" where they are?
Now you know what a professional is looking for when assessing the situation. What I noticed MORE...some splotchiness of the colour in the last two photos. If anything "earns" you a refinish it would be the splotchiness. But then again you have overhead lighting on which could throw odd shadows. I photo of the room would give a better indication of colour issues.

Again, take the photos during mid day with the lights off (and the windows behind you). That's the only way to tell if there is a real issue here.
cwb
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks all, I really appreciate the comments, helped me calibrate what I am looking at. I think we may be ok in our upstairs area - definitely tons of marks up close but by those standards may not meet a re-do threshold. Downstairs, much more prevalent, and we have a 1’ x 1’ spot where they put down some stain selections before doing the job that’s really noticeable.
veggiegardnr
5 years ago
This is something that seems to occur over and over again to lots of people. It is due to them using a buffer as part of their sanding process. If you do your floors again, if recommend you find someone who uses something like a Trio instead.

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