How long before my hardwood floor needs to be refinished?

One of the best things you can do for your hardwood floor and for your pocketbook is to have a maintenance coat applied. This will restore the look of your floors and buy you several more years before a complete refinish is needed. The cost of a maintenance coat is 1/4th the cost of a complete refinish. Additional maintenance coats can be applied every 5 years or so.

At the first sign of wear, it's time to consider a maintenance coat. You will  most likely see this wear in high traffic areas or areas that might be prone to moisture - like entryways, in front of refrigerators with ice-makers, in front of dishwashers, etc. The floor may appear slightly gray in color meaning that the finish is worn away and moisture is getting into the wood itself. If you schedule a maintenance coat within the following six months or so, you can stop the wear and add up to 10 years of life to the finish before a complete re-finish is needed. If the floors are well cared for, you may be able to apply two or three maintenance coats before a refinish is needed.