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Barnum Floors
9460 Swanson Blvd.
Des Moines, IA 50325
Phone: 515-270-2211 |
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Most homes build
prior to 1960 have hardwood through some, if not all areas of
the home. More and more frequently homeowners are removing the
carpet from these areas and refinishing the hardwood that lies
underneath. This is a longer term solution than carpeting due to
aesthetics, health & durability. Whether the wood in your home
is two years old or 100 years old, refinishing your hardwood
will add real beauty and lasting durability.
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Step 1:
Before the floors can be finished, it is necessary to
remove all existing base shoe (quarter round), appliances,
and of course, furniture. If the areas have been carpeted,
most likely you will need to have base shoe installed
around the bottom of the room. This piece of trim hides
the space between your hardwood and the base trim that is
left for the expansion and contraction of your home. Our
trim carpenters will arrive prior to sanding to remove the
existing base shoe & finalize measures for the new trim
that will be necessary to complete the project. |
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Step 2:
Sometimes in older homes, it is necessary to replace or
“sew-in” new wood to the existing hardwood due to water
damage, pet stains or areas where previous cold air
returns were located. Most of the time there is little to
no difference between the new wood and existing wood once
the project is completed. |
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Step 3:
On the day the sanding process begins, our crews arrive
and prepare the home for sanding. We will plastic off any
doorways or areas that are not being refinished. Although
we have dustless sanding, occasionally dust can escape
into the room. The plastic adds another layer of
protection. |
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Step 4:
The sanding of your hardwood floor involves numerous
steps. The sanders start with a more aggressive grit
sandpaper to remove the current finish and debris. They
make several additional cuts with the sanders, at higher
grits, to produce a smooth, even surface. Once the wood is
sanded, we trowel the floor with wood fill & let this dry.
The next step is to buff the hardwood, tack the floor to
remove any debris and apply the first coat of finish. You
will need to stay outside of your home this night. |
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Step 5:
The next step, called the “back to backs”, varies
depending on the type of finish you choose. If we are
finishing with water-borne polyurethane, we will arrive
the next morning, buff and tack the floor, then apply the
second coat of finish. The third and final coat of
polyurethane is applied within 2-6 hours after the second
coat. This is done without buffing in between to maximize
the finish layers. You can walk on the floor with stocking
feet six hours after the final coat is applied.
If you choose oil-modified polyurethane, we will need to
buff and coat on the 2nd day. Let the floor dry and then
buff and spread a final coat on the 3rd day. This option
requires you to stay off the floor for three nights. |
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Step 6:
The following day we will arrive & begin to put your house
back together. Appliances will be returned to their
places, all base shoe will be installed and any doors that
have been removed with be re-hung. We may have removed you
toilet or pedestal sink to complete this project. If so, a
plumber will need to be called to reinstall these items as
our insurance does not cover the installation of plumbing
fixtures. We can arrange a plumber for you. |
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Step 7:
Protecting your hardwood will be the most critical
components to keeping your investment looking new. We
offer several options for you. We recommend you put sticky
felt protection on all furniture. Additionally, we
recommend you install wool “tap-ins” to all moving wooden
furniture; including chairs, bar stools & ottomans. These
wool pads pound into the legs of your chairs and last for
several years. Plastic wheels on rolling chairs must be
replaced with rubber rolling wheels. Barnum Floors will
provide you with a complimentary cleaning kit to get you
started caring for your floor properly from the first day.
We encourage our customers to enjoy their floors and
remember; “this is a floor, NOT a piece of fine
furniture”. |
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