What Screen and Recoat Is
Screen and recoat is a floor refinishing process that refreshes the top layer of finish without sanding down to bare wood. We lightly abrade the existing finish with a floor buffer and screen pad, clean the surface thoroughly, and apply one or two fresh coats of polyurethane. The result is a floor that looks significantly better and has renewed protection against wear.
It's the right process when your floor looks dull or hazy, has light surface scratches in the finish layer only, or is simply due for a maintenance coat. It's faster than full refinishing, costs roughly half as much, and you can walk on the floors within 24 hours.
When Screen and Recoat Is the Right Choice
Screen and recoat works when scratches are in the finish, not the wood. A simple test: look at the scratch at a low angle in bright light. If the scratch reflects light and you can't feel it with your fingernail, it's in the finish and screen and recoat will address it. If the scratch goes into the wood and catches your nail, you need a full refinish.
Screen and recoat is also the right maintenance step for floors that were refinished several years ago and are starting to lose their sheen before any real wear has occurred. Doing a recoat every 3 to 5 years extends the life of the floor and pushes off the need for full refinishing by a decade or more.
What Screen and Recoat Cannot Fix
Screen and recoat cannot remove scratches in the wood itself, change the stain color, repair cupped or water-damaged boards, or remove pet stains that have soaked into the wood grain. For any of those situations, a full sand-and-finish is the only option.
Cost and Timeline in Dubuque
Screen and recoat typically costs $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot in Dubuque, roughly half the cost of a full refinish. A standard living room or dining room is usually completed in one day. You can walk on the floor lightly after 24 hours and return furniture after 48 to 72 hours. See our cost guide for more detail.
Serving Dubuque and Surrounding Areas
We do screen and recoat throughout Dubuque County and the tri-state region. Check our service area for coverage in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. For more on finish types, see the Iowa State University Extension hardwood floor care guide.