What One Needs to Know When Buying Prefinished Flooring

Manufacturers and dealers of Hardwood Floors don’t always inform the consumer of all the details when purchasing a Prefinished Hardwood Floor. Prior to year 2000 most of the manufacturers created Engineered Wood Floors with thick top veneers so that the consumer could refinish the floor a few times at an average of 15 year intervals. With the advent of Aluminium Oxide Polyurethane, (AO Poly for this discussion), in year 2000 thick top veneers no longer were a priority. This coating was warrantied for 25 years not to wear out. It could deluster in high traffic locations but not wear through to bare wood. Manufacturers decided that without the need for refinishing there was no need to pay for expensively thick finished veneers. They started manufacturing with thin top veneers. Although AO Poly does not wear it still dents and scratches like any other polyurethane and therefore needs to be refinished on the same schedule as site finished flooring. We are now at that 15 year time frame since the first AO Poly floors were installed and floor refinishers like myself are estimating these refinishes. The problem with these thinner veneers is there is not enough lumber to sand in many cases. AO Poly cannot be removed by sanding alone. It is so hard it dulls the sandpaper very quickly. To remove AO Poly one has to buff it off with diamond blades on a buffer plate. You can see that process under my “Refinishing” link in my website. I have pictures and discussion under “Removing Aluminium Oxide Polyurethane”. Once one scrapes the AO Poly off the floor then the sanding process can begin. Started the sanding process with  36 grit sandpaper to remove the scratches created by the diamond blades removes too much lumber from these thinner veneers. It is not practical or safe to  refinish these floors and therefore the homeowner is left with the decision of living with the floor or replacing. I have had to pass on many of these Engineered Floor refinishes and it is with regret to inform the potential client of their situation. Do not buy Engineered Floors unless there is a minimum of 3/16″ of top veneer. It is more imperative when the floor has a hand scraped finish as more lumber than normal has to be removed to get all the old finish off. In the long run buy smooth finished Hardwood floors whether they are Solid or Engineered Wood Floors. There is an upcharge to sand off AO Poly and an additional upcharge if they are hand scraped. Manufacturers and dealers of Hardwood Floors in most cases will not inform you of this information mostly due to ignorance or over marketing their products to make a sale.  Buyer’s beware!