Hardwood Screen and Recoat in Monmouth County, NJ

A screen and recoat is a maintenance service that renews the protective finish on a hardwood floor. The existing finish is lightly screened, and a fresh coat of polyurethane is applied on top. It works only on the finish layer, so the wood itself is never touched, and for most floors the entire process is completed in one day.

Look at the scratches, especially in the traffic lanes. If the scratches are in the finish only and the finish still covers the entire floor, your floor can be a candidate for a screen and recoat. If any scratches reach into the wood, or bare wood is showing anywhere, the floor needs a full sand and refinish instead.

A floor does not qualify when the finish has worn through to bare wood, when deep scratches or gouges reach into the wood, when boards show water damage, gray or blackened areas, cupping, or warping, or when pet urine stains have penetrated the wood. In those cases, a full sand and refinish is the correct service.

Refinishing sands the floor down to bare wood and rebuilds the finish from nothing. A screen and recoat works only on the finish layer and adds a fresh coat of polyurethane on top. It takes one day for most floors, produces very little dust, and costs far less, but it only works when the existing finish is still intact.

Not right away. A new coat will not bond over wax or acrylic polish. The wax has to be removed first, and our hardwood floor cleaning service includes acrylic wax removal. Once the wax is gone, the floor can be evaluated for a screen and recoat.

Every three to five years for most homes. Active households with children and pets wear the finish faster and often need a new coat closer to the three-year mark. Recoating on time is what keeps the wood protected and delays the need for a full sand and refinish.