Hardwood Floor Refinishing?

I had my floors refinished and I am not thrilled at all. There are circular sanding marks and deep gouges from them trying to remove the previous finish that was on my floor. A grey paint or stain and poly. I had no problem getting off an area I tested with my festool ds400 with 60/80/100/120. Can you please see photos and any input would be helpful. They are now on their 3rd attempt to fix and I'm hesitant. I was also charged $6,000 for 900sq ft of floors refinishing - loft space, stairs and closets. I feel I could have done a better job. They keep telling me whatever was on the floors was difficult to get out and the marks that I am seeing are the natural grain of wood. The contractor is licensed and certified but he is not the one doing the work. Do the subcontractors need to be licensed and certified as well? Wish I didn't use a general contractor and had floor specialist, tile, painter.

  11 answers
  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 10, 2021

    Did you have a contract? If so what does it state about the job being done? Have you talked to the person who installed the floors and ask them if they plan to make it right. Or better yet talk to the person who owes the place.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Apr 10, 2021

    They have not made it right in 2 attempts, so you have given them a chance to come back a remedy the floor. I would contact the owner of the company, also have in hand estimates (2-3) from professionals on what it would cost to repair the floors, share the pictures with the owner and/or invite him over to have a first hand look.

    Seeing is believing.

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 10, 2021

    Please document everything. Every phone call log it with the date, time, who you talked to and about what.

  • Melissa Monteforte Melissa Monteforte on Apr 10, 2021

    I have spoken to the owner of company the g.c. He has come several times to see progress and he said he was here while they started the floors and told me not to be surprised that I will be billed an extra fee for the removal of difficult finish. I was not checking on progress everyday to halt work and mitigate before reaching this point. On the 2nd time I saw how they were refinishing and was told that their edger did not fit under my kitchen counters so it was difficult. I gave them my personal detailing sander and told them to keep it. I have written several emails to owner. He came here with the floor refinisher to go through what needs to be fixed and the finisher was very defensive and saying the old finish and the floors are old not installed correctly, natural grain. The G.C. said to him you come here and stay until the job is done and she approves.


    I have stairs leading to my bedroom. They were done so poorly they stripped floor and I like it better natural and feel that stains show every little detail. So would i be in the right to ask to strip my floors in main area and go natural with just a water based poly. I've been sanding everything they need to fix so they can just apply whatever finish and be done and keep finding more issues. They sealed debris into the finish and didn't remove dust from walls and surfaces AT ALL.


    basically....they are coming in 4 hours should i have them just throw a finish/seal and be done or not let them come back. I know this is obvious but i'm suer stressed out trying to get place listed to sell. Not sure how big of a deal if floors are not perfect.


    Thank you for reading and responding to my venting

  • 17335038 17335038 on Apr 10, 2021

    Do you have a written contract that was signed by both you and the G.C. before any money changed hands? What does the wording read regarding the 'extra fee' for removal of finish, and completion to customer satisfaction?

  • The contractor is responsible. I would have someone else take a look at it and give you a price to repair. Check your contract. You may have rights that you don't realize.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Apr 10, 2021

    Hi Melissa, that's so frustrating. I found this video that will help you get the some of the marks out - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_6Z-yHABq8

  • I would bring someone else in that does this kind of work and get their opinion and see if it really was a difficult floor to refinish due to some of the complaints this contractor told you and go from there. If you're listing to sell it, I would maybe not be AS picky about it, but still... $6k is a lot of money for you to not be 100% happy with it. Are they with the Better Business Bureau?

  • Call your better business bureau mark sure they're bonded.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Apr 11, 2021

    you need to call whoever did this job and show them the problems and make them fix it

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Apr 12, 2021

    That really stinks but sadly, you can't go much further into the wood without damaging it.