Screening Hardwood

• Screening is a process used to roughen the urethane top layer of finish to prepare the hardwood for the application of fresh coats of urethane. A floor buffing machine, with the proper pads (screens) attached gradually roughens the finish without removing any of the wood. A sander removes all the finish and a layer of the wood. Sanders are prone to gouge the hardwood and if improperly used, leave swirl marks on the floor. Dependent upon the original thickness of the hardwood repeated sanding procedures would remove enough of the hardwood to expose nails and fasteners. The only choice when this occurs is to replace the hardwood.
  
  Using screening pads in incrementally finer gauges to leave the hardwood smooth does not gouge. Floor buffers are lighter than sanders and easier for homeowners to use. At the completion of the final screening, which uses the finest gauge of screening pad, the floor is vacuumed and wiped down with mineral spirits before application of the urethane. This process does not create a lot of dust; however, it is a good idea to wipe down the lower one third of the walls to avoid dust particles potentially marring the new application of urethane.
  
  Tim Carter of Askthebuilder.com recommends screening the hardwood floors every few years and applying new coats of urethane to keep hardwood floors looking new. The screening process does not remove any of the hardwood; therefore. it can be repeated as needed. Tim recommends every two to three years for most households. If the hardwood floor is rarely or never sanded, the screening process can be repeated indefinitely.
  
  

Applying Urethane

• Whether to use oil-base or water-base urethane is an individual choice. Oil-base urethane dries slower than water-base, which allows a longer working time. Oil-base does tend to develop a slight amber tone as it ages. Water-base urethane appears milky when applying, but dries very clear. Water-base dries quickly enough to apply the next coat in as little as two hours.
  
  Stain pigments mixed into the first coat of urethane slightly change the color tone of the hardwood. Be sure the pigments are compatible with the type of urethane you are applying. The finish coats must be clear.
  
  

Care and Upkeep

• Lauren Summerstone of Cleanlink.com states that with proper care and maintenance a hardwood floor's life expectancy can be 100 years. She emphasizes that daily dust mopping and refinishing in a timely manner ensure the floor will look beautiful and be long lasting.
  
  Prevent the tracking of dust and dirt onto the hardwood floor by using entrance mats. Grit on the soles of shoes has a sandpaper effect on the floor's finish. Keep pet's nails trimmed to avoid scratches on hardwood.
  
  Hardwood floors need periodic cleaning with a damp mop. Never soak the floor. Microfiber dust and wet mops do a good job of removing dust and dirt from the floor.