Frequently Asked Questions
About the referral service
Do you do the flooring work?
No. This is a referral service. Independent contractors inspect, quote, contract and perform the work.
Which areas are covered?
Virginia-Highland and Morningside-Lenox Park in Atlanta. Only the neighborhood portions of ZIP codes 30306 and 30324 are covered.
Is there a charge to request an estimate?
Submitting the form is free for homeowners. Any price for work comes from the contractor's quote.
Who sees my information?
Your request is shared with a relevant independent contractor to respond to it. See the privacy policy for details.
Do you handle stairs?
Staircase work is not one of this site's services. You can flag it as a related request for separate routing.
About hardwood floor projects
How long until I can walk on refinished floors?
It depends on the finish product, the number of coats, temperature and humidity. Contractors give return-to-use timing for light foot traffic, furniture and rugs separately, based on the product label.
Will repaired boards match the rest of the floor?
New wood rarely matches aged, finished wood exactly. Matching is closest when the repair is followed by sanding and finishing the whole room.
Is solid hardwood better than engineered?
Neither is better in every case. Solid can be sanded more times. Engineered is more dimensionally stable and suits some subfloors that solid does not.
Can engineered hardwood be refinished?
Sometimes. It depends on the wear layer thickness and how it was made. Some engineered floors can be sanded once or more, while thin wear layers may only accept a recoat.
Is a recoat the same as refinishing?
No. A recoat only abrades and adds finish on top. Refinishing sands down to bare wood and can change color and remove deeper damage.
Is the hardwood under my carpet usable?
It might be. A contractor needs to see it after the carpet is lifted. Damage from tack strips, staples and pet stains is common but often repairable.
Can new hardwood match my existing floor exactly?
It can get close, especially when the old and new areas are sanded and finished together. Exact matches are not guaranteed because aged wood changes color.