Refinishing hardwood floors

[Jon Klaus]

I have an old floor to refinish that hasn't been maintained in many years. I'm thinking sand, stain dark, and apply a few coats of polyurethane to really make it shine and pop. Am I on the right track? I'm not doing the work, but want to be able to vet contractors effectively. Also, do they use dryers to get the job done quickly? How much time should I expect since I have little to spare.

[Deborah Burian]

Jon Klaus Definitely on the right track. No, as a rule, at least in our climate, you don't have to have a dryer on it, usually it drying too fast is more of a problem. Letting it dry in its own time helps the finish flow smoothly and eliminates any brush or roller marks. A note of caution, if you are using a dark stain to hide pet stains , it's just going to make them darker, will not hide. Multiple (around 3) thinner coats of finish is better than fewer thick coats. Doing it myself, about a week for a whole house. Using contractors for a property took 3 days, during which we had to move out. They had multiple guys so it went fast. Longest time frame is usually overnight for an oil based stain.