A kitchen leak left a patch of damaged boards in this Dallas home, and the homeowners wanted one consistent floor again, so we paired a board repair with full hardwood floor refinishing. Dallas homes with original strip floors are often one good sand away from looking new.

First, the crew pulled the damaged boards at the sink base and laced in new 2 1/4-inch #1 common solid hardwood, matching the width and grade of the original strips so the new boards weave into the old instead of sitting in a square patch. Then the whole floor got a dustless sand and two coats of oil-based polyurethane. Before a single sander turned on, about 500 linear feet of cabinets, closet shelving and built-ins were wrapped in plastic so dust and finish stayed where they belonged.

Project Highlights: Hardwood Floor Refinishing Dallas

• Hardwood floor water damage repair: damaged nailed-down boards removed in the kitchen
• Lace-in of about 50 sq ft of 2 1/4″ #1 common solid hardwood over felt, matched to the existing floor
• Dustless sand and finish across about 1,410 sq ft
• Two coats of oil-based polyurethane for a deep, glossy finish
• Rooms: kitchen, living room, family room, hallway, bedrooms and nursery
• Plastic masking on cabinets and closet shelves to contain dust and finish
• Material pickup, delivery, and haul-off of old boards

When a Lace-In Beats Replacing the Whole Floor

If a leak has damaged part of your solid hardwood, you rarely need to tear out every room. Lacing in matching boards and refinishing the whole space blends old and new into a single finish, keeps the character of your original floor, and usually costs far less than a full replacement. It is a good fit for Dallas homeowners with solid oak floors that still have plenty of wear layer left. See how we handle hardwood floor refinishing, and read the National Wood Flooring Association guide to caring for a new finish.