Screen & Recoat vs Sanding: What’s the Best Option for Hardwood Floors?

(Optimal Hard Surface Restoration & Coatings | Cleveland, OH)

Hardwood floors are one of the most beautiful features in any home — but over time, they start to look dull, scratched, or worn. When this happens, homeowners often wonder:

“Do I need to sand my floors… or can I just recoat them?”

The truth is, most floors don’t need full sanding.A screen & recoat can restore shine, protect the wood, and make floors look new again — at a fraction of the price.

In this guide, we break down the difference between screen & recoat vs sanding, how to know which one you need, and why the right choice can save you money and extend the life of your floors.

⭐ What Is a Screen & Recoat?

A screen & recoat (also called a “buff & coat” or “maintenance recoat”) is a dust-free process that:

• Lightly abrades (screens) the existing finish

• Removes minor surface scratches

• Deep cleans the floor

• Applies a brand-new layer of protective polyurethane

What It Does NOT Do:

• Remove deep scratches or deep gouges

• Remove color stains or pet damage

• Change the color of your floors

• Remove wax buildup (wax must be removed first)

A screen & recoat is ideal for floors that have surface-level wear, not damage through the wood.

⭐ What Is Sanding & Refinishing?

A full sanding removes the finish completely and takes the floor down to raw wood. This allows you to:

• Change the stain color

• Fix deep scratches, water damage, and pet stains

• Remove uneven boards

• Apply multiple new coats of finish

However, it’s a messier, more expensive, and more time-consuming process.

⭐ Screen & Recoat vs Sanding: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Screen & Recoat	Sanding & Refinishing
Cost	⭐ Affordable	$$$ Expensive
Dust	Very low / dustless	Dusty
Time	1 day	2–4 days
Changes wood color	❌ No	✔ Yes
Fixes deep scratches	❌ No	✔ Yes
Ideal for	Dull floors, minor scratches	Severe wear, damage, color change

⭐ How to Know Which One YOU Need

✔ Choose Screen & Recoat if:

• Your floors look dull, cloudy, or worn

• You only have light scratches

• You want to restore shine

• Your finish is still intact

• You want a budget-friendly solution

This is the MOST common situation for homeowners in Cleveland, Brecksville, Solon, Avon, Hudson, and surrounding areas.

✔ Choose Sanding if:

• You have deep scratches into the wood

• The floors have gray wear spots

• You want to change the stain color

• There is wax buildup, pet stains, or water damage

• The finish is fully worn off in traffic lanes

⭐ Why Screen & Recoat Is the Best Value

Most homeowners are surprised to learn:

🔥 A screen & recoat restores 80–90% of the floor’s beauty🔥 It costs 60–70% less than sanding🔥 It extends the life of your floors by 3–5 years🔥 There is no downtime — you can walk on it next day

For homes with hardwood in good structural condition, a screen & recoat is by far the best return on investment.

⭐ How We Do It at Optimal Hard Surface Restoration & Coatings

Our professional recoating process includes:

1. Floor inspection to confirm eligibility

2. Deep cleaning to remove residue & contaminants

3. Light screening to smooth the finish

4. Vacuuming & tack cleaning

5. Application of premium protective polyurethane

6. Optional: Anti-slip or commercial-grade coatings

We specialize in sandless hardwood restoration, meaning no dust, no mess, and no long wait times.

⭐ Can LVP or Laminate Be Recoated?

Yes — but NOT with traditional polyurethane.

We offer specialized coatings for LVP, laminate, and vinyl floors that improve shine, durability, and scratch resistance.

⭐ Final Verdict: Screen & Recoat or Sanding?

If your floors are dull, scratched, or losing their shine — but not deeply damaged —👉 A screen & recoat is almost always your best option.

If your floors are damaged or you want a new color —👉 Choose sanding.

Still unsure? We can inspect your floors and tell you the best option.

⭐ Schedule Your Floor Evaluation Today

At Optimal Hard Surface Restoration & Coatings, we provide:

• Hardwood screen & recoat

• Sandless refinishing

• Wax/polish removal

• Tile & grout cleaning

• Laminate & LVP restoration

• Protective floor coatings

📍 Serving Cleveland, Brecksville, Solon, Hudson, Chagrin Falls, Pepper Pike, Avon, and nearby areas.

👉 Book your consultation or get a free quote today!