Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Hartford, CT | Restoring a Brighter, More Natural Look
West End Hartford Hardwood Floor Refinishing Project
Sometimes updating a hardwood floor isn't about changing its character—it's about bringing the original beauty of the wood back into balance.
This hardwood floor refinishing project took us to the West End of Hartford, Connecticut, where the new owners of a beautiful condominium wanted to update the appearance of their existing hardwood floors before settling into their home.
The floors were in good condition, but years of aging finish had given the wood a noticeably strong orange or “pumpkin” tone. During our initial meeting, the homeowners explained that they wanted the rooms to feel brighter, cleaner and more open, but they did not want to take the floors all the way to the very light, raw-wood appearance that can be achieved with certain water-based finishing systems.
That conversation was important because hardwood floor refinishing isn't simply about sanding off the old finish. Choosing the finishing system is part of determining how the floor will look when the project is complete.
Removing the Heavy Orange Tone Without Making the Floors Too Light
One of the most important decisions on this Hartford project was determining how much color the homeowners wanted to retain.
Older oil-finished hardwood floors can develop a deeper amber or orange appearance as the finish ages. Once the existing coatings are professionally sanded away, the natural wood underneath can look dramatically lighter.
The homeowners liked a traditional hardwood appearance. They simply didn't want the pronounced orange tone that had developed over the years.
After discussing the options, we decided that a clear commercial sealer followed by two coats of oil-based polyurethane would give them the balance they were looking for.
The clear sealer and oil-based finish brought warmth and depth back to the freshly sanded wood without returning the floor to the heavy pumpkin-orange appearance it had before.
Three Coats for the Finished Floor
The finishing system for this project consisted of:
1 coat of commercial clear sealer + 2 coats of oil-based polyurethane = 3 coats total.
Oil-based polyurethane still has an important place in hardwood floor refinishing. While today's professional water-based systems are excellent choices when homeowners want a lighter appearance, lower odor, lower VOCs and faster turnaround, that isn't necessarily the look every homeowner wants.
For this West End Hartford condominium, the homeowners specifically wanted to retain some of the warmth associated with a traditional hardwood floor.
That is why we don't believe in approaching every hardwood floor with exactly the same finishing system. We first talk with the homeowner about the appearance they are trying to achieve and then recommend an appropriate process.
A Brighter Look for This West End Hartford Home
The difference wasn't about making the hardwood dramatically lighter. It was about taking away the excessive orange cast and allowing the natural variation and grain of the wood to become part of the room again.
The newly refinished floors worked particularly well with the home's updated gray walls, white trim and distinctive blue kitchen cabinetry. Instead of the floor dominating the rooms with a heavy orange tone, it became a warmer foundation for the rest of the interior.
The result was exactly what the homeowners had described during our first conversation: bright and open, but still traditional.
After the project was completed, the homeowner left us a great review. For us, that's particularly satisfying because the finished floor came directly from the conversation we had before the first sanding machine ever touched the wood.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Hartford, Connecticut
Patrick Daigle Hardwood Flooring provides hardwood floor refinishing, wood floor refinishing, hardwood floor repairs, sanding, staining, color changes and hardwood flooring installation in Hartford and throughout Central Connecticut.
As a fourth-generation family hardwood flooring company, our family's flooring history dates to 1927, with our Connecticut operation serving homeowners since approximately 1972. We are also members of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) and are licensed and insured for the hardwood flooring services we provide.
Projects such as this West End Hartford condominium are a good example of why experience matters. Sometimes the goal isn't to make a floor darker or lighter. The goal is to listen to what the homeowner wants and determine the sanding and finishing process that will get as close as possible to that appearance.
Considering hardwood floor refinishing in Hartford, CT? Contact Patrick Daigle Hardwood Flooring to discuss your floors, the look you're trying to achieve and the finishing options available for your home.