Not every floor needs a full sand. If your finish is looking dull or starting to wear through in the traffic areas but the timber underneath is still solid, a recoat is the way to go. Quicker, cheaper, and it'll buy your floor another decade.
I give the floor a light scuff with a buffer to key the surface, clean it up, then lay a fresh coat of Bona water-based finish on top. Same eco-friendly, low-VOC product as a full sand job — just without the heavy sanding.
The trick is catching it before the finish wears all the way through. Once bare timber is exposed, you're looking at a full sand. So don't wait too long.
Good candidates for a recoat
- Floors that look dull but aren't scratched through
- High-traffic areas starting to show wear
- Floors done 5-10 years ago that need a refresh
- Landlords between tenants — quick turnaround