Days Typical Turnaround
Floors Refinished
Dustless Process
Workmanship Warranty
THE PROBLEM
Not Every Worn Floor Needs Full Sanding
Dull, scratched floors don't automatically mean an expensive sand-to-bare-wood refinish. Often the damage lives in the finish, not the wood. When that's the case, a screen and recoat (also called a buff and coat or a maintenance coat) restores the surface without the dust, the cost, or the days of disruption a full sanding brings.
Worn Finish, Sound Wood
Your floor looks dull or lightly scuffed, but you can't see raw or gray wood anywhere. That's the classic recoat candidate.
Light Surface Scratches
Fine scratches and traffic patterns that sit in the finish layer disappear under a fresh coat. No sanding needed.
Hazy, Tired Sheen
The floor has lost its luster and looks cloudy even after cleaning. A recoat brings back the depth and shine.
Bare Wood Is Showing
Once traffic has worn through the finish into raw wood, a recoat won't bond evenly. This one needs a full sand and refinish.
Gray/Water-Stained Boards
Darkened, grayed, or water-damaged wood has to be sanded out. A surface coat will only seal the damage in.
You Want a New Color
Changing your stain color means sanding to bare wood first. That's a color change, not a recoat.
The Full Hardwood Care Ladder
From lightest touch to full restoration, here's how the options stack up so you only pay for the work your floors actually need.
Deep Cleaning
Removes grime and haze, no coating.
Screen & Recoat
Fresh finish over sound floors, 1 to 2 days.
Full Sand & Refinish
Sand to bare wood, 4 to 7 days.
Color Change
New stain color, 5 to 7 days.
Floor Repairs
Fix gouges, water damage, and failed boards.
Custom Finishes
Choose your protective topcoat and sheen.
Proudly serving Hendersonville and surrounding areas including Flat Rock, Laurel Park, Mills River, Fletcher, Horse Shoe & Tuxedo with professional hardwood flooring installation and refinishing services.
FROM ASSESSMENT TO FRESH FINISH
How a Screen & Recoat Works
The whole point of a recoat is speed with no shortcuts. We confirm your floor is a candidate before we start, then screen, clean, and recoat so you're back on your floors fast.
Assessment
We confirm the finish is worn but the wood is sound. If it isn't a recoat candidate, we tell you.
Prep & Clean
Furniture is moved and floors are deep-cleaned to strip grime the new coat can't bond over.
Screening
We abrade the old finish with a fine screen to key the surface for adhesion.
Tack & Inspect
All dust is removed and we check for any spots that need extra attention.
Recoat
One to two coats of premium finish go down for an even, refreshed surface.
Cure & Walkthrough
We walk the results with you and leave clear guidance on foot traffic and furniture.
Questions about our hardwood flooring screen & recoat process?
WHY ARBOR ZEN?
Straight Answers, Proper Process
A recoat is only worth doing if it will actually last. We check that your floors are a true candidate before we start, use a proper Bona-certified process, and stand behind every job for five years.
We Tell You The Truth
A recoat over a floor that needs sanding will fail. We give you an honest go or no-go before you spend a dollar.
Bona-Certified Craftsmen
15+ years of refinishing experience and a proper screening and coating process, done to spec every time.
Backed 5 years
Every recoat is covered by our written workmanship warranty.
Recoats Across the Mountains and Foothills
From our Black Mountain and Conover showrooms, we bring screen and recoat service to homes across Western NC, including Asheville, Hendersonville, Hickory, Newton, Morganton, Lenoir, Boone, and the surrounding communities.
Refreshed Floors, Happy Homes
Read first-hand experiences from families across Western North Carolina.
"Our white oak floors in Asheville had lost their luster after years of dog traffic, but they weren't deeply gouged. Arbor Zen came out, tested the floor finish to ensure proper bonding, and recommended a screen and recoat instead of a full sand down to bare wood. The entire main floor was buffed, cleaned, and recoated in just over a day with virtually zero dust. They look brand new without the disruption or cost of a complete refinish."
— Mark & Sarah T.Asheville, NC
"We were getting our home ready to sell in Hendersonville and needed the hardwood refreshed quickly. The Arbor Zen team used a Bona-certified recoat process that took out all the surface scuffs and gave the floors a rich, satin sheen. They finished in one afternoon, and we were walking on them by the next day. Professional, clean, and honest about what our floors actually needed."
— David L.Flat Rock, NC
"Other contractors wanted to charge us for a complete sand and stain, but Arbor Zen did an honest assessment and showed us that a maintenance coat was all we needed. Their team out of the Conover showroom handled the prep and recoat flawlessly. It revived the wood, protected the surface, and gave us total peace of mind with their warranty. Highly recommend them for hardwood maintenance in Western NC."
— Elena R.Hickory, NC
Our 25 Tree Promise
For every floor we install, we plant 25 trees. Since 2016 that's added up to more than 40,000 trees across Western North Carolina, our way of giving back to the land we live and work on.
READY FOR A REFRESH?
Get Your Free Recoat Estimate
Tell us about your floors and we'll get back to you within 24 hours. We'll let you know honestly whether a recoat is the right call or whether your floors need more.
SCREEN & RECOAT QUESTIONS
What Homeowners Ask Us
Everything you need to know about screen and recoating floors in Western North Carolina.
How much does a screen and recoat cost compared to full sanding?
A recoat costs less than a full sand and refinish because there's no sanding to bare wood, no staining, and no multi-day labor. Your price depends on square footage, the number of coats, and how much prep the floor needs. We give you an exact figure in a free on-site estimate.
How long does a screen and recoat take?
Most recoats are done in 1 to 2 days. Smaller areas in good condition can sometimes be completed in a single day, with light foot traffic possible the same evening.
Will new finish bond to my existing floor?
Usually yes, once we screen the surface. The exception is floors treated with wax or oil-soap cleaners, or certain factory prefinishes, which can stop a new coat from sticking. We test adhesion before we commit, so you never pay for a coat that won't hold.
How do I know if I need a recoat or a full sanding?
If your finish is worn but you can't see bare or grayed wood, a recoat will likely do the job. Once raw wood, water stains, or a color change enter the picture, you're looking at a full sand and refinish instead.
How long does a recoat last, and when can I use the room?
A fresh coat adds years of protection and buys you time between full refinishes. Light foot traffic returns within hours, with furniture and rugs going back after a short cure period we'll walk you through.
Do you offer screen and recoat across Western North Carolina?
Yes. We serve homes throughout Western NC from our Black Mountain and Conover showrooms, including Asheville, Hendersonville, Hickory, and the surrounding towns.
See If Your Floors Are a Recoat Candidate
Book a free assessment and we'll give you a straight answer, plus an exact estimate.