FAQ's

Are you a member of a professional organization?

-- the National Wood Flooring Association.

What are your working days and hour?

Is it true hardwood floors are better for people with allergies and asthma?

Yes. Allergists recommend that people with allergies live in an environment with wood floors, which do not hold dirt, dust mites and mold. In the Northwest, many hospitals have installed wood floors in their birthing rooms because of a sterile environment and sterile benefits. We receive lots of feedback from customers that have us remove their rugs, and they can't believe the difference.

How long does it take to sand and finish my old floors?

Most jobs take 2-4 days from start to finish. Staining adds 1-2 days. Then we recommend waiting a couple of days before resuming heavy traffic and replacing furniture.

Is it very dusty?

We take care to put up plastic to contain the dust in areas in which we are working. Most people find the dust is not very bad.

Will I need to stay out of my house during sanding?

The process is very loud and the finishes contain strong chemicals. We recommend that you leave your house for a few days.

Do you come in and move my furniture?

No, we normally do not move your furiture. Moving furniture is the customer's responsibility, due to insurance not covering us for injuries or damages sustained while moving furniture.

Do you remove old carpets, vinyl tile and staples?

Yes, we can help you with this very unpleasant job. You need to contact your waste disposal company to check if they pick up the old carpets and under what conditions. In some suburbs around Seattle, you need to pay for this additionally.

I found some black stains under where the rug used to be and I am worried if they can be sanded out.

Black stains are water or pet stains. Pet stains and large water stains normally do not come out during sanding. One option is to replace the damaged boards or stain the whole floor with a darker color if the stain is very large.

Do we need to be here when you are working or can the work be done while we are on vacation?

Vacation is the ideal time to have this work done. Especially if someone in the house is highly sensitive to the smell of polyurethane, or perhaps someone is allergic to dust. But even if you are staying in your home, we can work out a schedule to fit your needs.

What exactly is "screening" the floor?

Screening is buffing the floor with a mesh disk before applying coat of finish. Unlike sanding, the floors are not sanded down to bare wood. Screening is done to prepare already finished floors to accept another coat of finish. Without screening the finish would just peel off, although there are now new techniques to apply finish without buffing. It's primarily a maintenance procedure to keep your floor in good shape longer without sanding. Normally every 3-7 years. See our Maintenance Tips.

How do you know if your floor only requires "screening"?

Screening can be done providing the floors never had wax applied to them -- wax includes pine oil, Pledge, Endust, Murphy's oil. Also, screening will not get any dirt out of the pores of the wood. If you are down to bare wood and dirt went into the cells of the wood, you will need to sand the entire floor. Which is why screening and re-coating is a great low-cost way to keep your floors looking brand new.

How much does it cost to sand and refinish, and do you charge by the room or square foot?

Every job is unique. For more information or to arrange for a 100% FREE Estimate give us a call at (206) 279-3351 or send us an e-mail at info@boydsfloors.com. We promise to respond within 1 business day.

What's the difference between oil-base and water-base (latex)?

Oil-based polyurethanes contain solvents which can take a little longer to dry. The oil-base, provides the more "traditional warmer look". The makers of latex finishes are jumping leaps and bounds in making the product more durable, and we do have a growing number of customers that want the "lighter look" and who want to use it because it's more environmentally safe. So whichever finish suits your needs, we can work with you to maintain your wood floor so that it lasts a lifetime.

Can I get some references?

Sure, click here for some. However, we keep our customer data confidential; without prior approval, we do not give names and phone numbers of our customers.

My floors have some gaps in between the boards, mostly in the winter heating season, is this normal or should I be concerned?

Wood flooring expands and contracts with temperature and humidity changes, so therefore it is perfectly normal to experience some shrinking in the dry seasons and perhaps a little cupping during the humid summer months.

What are your terms and payment options?

You do not need to make a deposit prior to beginning most sanding jobs. For installation jobs a deposit of 50% is required to cover the cost of the flooring. We gladly accept Checks or Cash.

If you have any more questions please feel free to call or e-mail us, click here for Contact Info.