Hellobee Boards

We are getting ours done in the house we just bought and $3/sq ft is around what we're paying (got 4 different quotes). The water based poly is so much better so if you can spring the extra for that. It doesn't smell as bad and hardens to a much harder, more durable finish. The floors in the house we're selling were finished with the water based and they have been great.

It took a week for the floors in our house to be refinished, because we had a rainstorm in the middle of it and the humidity slowed down the drying process. We did on site staining, the color we chose required two coats of stain plus two of the finish.

@scg00387: yes, that's different than what I mean.

I'd look into a dustless refinishing system. My dad sells the system at his shop so I know they're available. It's usually only through Bona.

What stain are they using? Did he mention a brand? You want to stay away from minwax and use a water based stain.

I have a head full of worthless knowledge!

@scg00387: I don't recommend taking on a project like this unless you have experience. You never know what kind of snafu you can run into.

Here's an example:
Much to my fathers demise, we put laminate flooring in our house this past April. Our subfloor wasn't completely flat in some spots, and required us to get a sander from my dads shop to sand down the flooring. Replacing the subfloor wasn't an option. My dad and husband spent hours sanding the floor before laying the flooring. To the naked eye the subfloor was flat but they noticed the bowing once they laid flooring, and had to take it all up.

80% of what you're paying the contractor for us his expertise and labor. There's going to be dust *everywhere* if they don't use a dustless system. And, just because you can't find a contractor listed on that website doesn't mean someone isn't in your area. It just means they don't pay dues to the national wood floor association. We use, recommend and endorse Bona. My second suggestion would be to look on their website & see if they have contractors listed in your area, or dealers. You can always call a dealer (my dads a dealer) for contractor recommendations. Dealers sell direct to contractors, so they'll know whos who & whos the best. It'll actually help you weed out prospective contractors!

Good luck!