If your floors look tired, there are two very different solutions: a full refinish or a recoat (also called rejuvenation or screen-and-coat). Knowing which one you need can save you thousands.
What a Recoat Does
A recoat lightly abrades the existing finish and adds a new top coat. The wood underneath is never exposed. It's a 1–2 day job and a fraction of the cost of a refinish.
What a Refinish Does
A refinish sands all the way down to bare wood, removing the existing finish and a thin layer of the wood itself. Then you can stain (or not) and apply 2–3 coats of finish. It's typically a 3–5 day project.
The Simple Test
Find a high-traffic area and look closely:
- Finish looks worn but no bare wood is showing → recoat candidate.
- Wood itself is exposed, scratched into, or stained → refinish.
Other Times to Refinish (Not Recoat)
- You want to change the color of your floors.
- There are visible water marks or pet stains in the wood.
- You see noticeable scratches and gouges that catch your fingernail.
- The floor has been waxed (wax is incompatible with most recoats).
Other Times to Recoat (Not Refinish)
- The finish is wearing but still continuous.
- You're happy with the existing color.
- You want minimal disruption and faster turnaround.
- You're doing regular maintenance to extend the floor's life.
Still Not Sure?
This is one of the easier calls to make in person. We do free walk-throughs and will tell you which one your floor actually needs — and we'll tell you if it needs neither. See our rejuvenation page or refinishing page for more.
Thinking about a hardwood project?
Get a free, written quote from a local Spring Hill crew. No pressure, no hard-sell.
Get My Free Quote