Metro Atlanta flooring questions, answered city by city.

Ask about the remaining wood, prior sanding, deep stains, movement and selective board repairs. A worn coating is different from damaged boards or a substrate problem. Confirm whether the proposal is a maintenance recoat or a full sanding and finishing project.

Review removal, substrate preparation, transitions, stair parts and the approved installation method. A floating system still needs a suitable substrate. Keep the exact product label and discuss spare material if future plank replacement is important.

Identify furniture movement, pets, access to other rooms and the return-to-use instructions for the selected materials. Compare these responsibilities in writing rather than relying on a generic installation timeline.

Photograph the connected rooms, transitions, stairs and any patchwork. Identify areas added or repaired at different times. Ask which boards need repair, whether there is enough material for sanding, and how the finished floor will meet adjacent rooms.

Discuss samples on the actual floor and evaluate them in the home's light. Specify the stain and compatible finish system in the scope. Return-to-use and maintenance instructions should come from the current documents for those exact products.

The Journal's reviewed project record includes completed East Cobb hardwood refinishing documented with before-and-after imagery. Use the project gallery to explore the work, then have your own floor assessed for its condition and construction.

No. Floating planks still depend on the specified substrate conditions. Ask how high and low areas will be assessed and prepared. A floor may be out of level yet sufficiently flat, so identify the actual problem before choosing a treatment.

Include removal, preparation, the approved adhesive or underlayment, transitions, stairs, trim and furniture responsibilities. Ask how additional concealed conditions will be documented and approved after the existing finish is removed.

Compare the exact product's approved use with the room, traffic and repair needs. A home office with rolling chairs, a basement and a commercial space may require different specifications. Keep product documents with the final scope.

Obtain the current flooring packet from the building or HOA. Confirm the complete product and underlayment assembly, permitted work hours, elevator reservations and required insurance documentation. A package sound rating by itself does not establish approval.

No. Check the exact collection's grade and substrate approvals, moisture requirements and installation method. The wear layer and finish also determine what future repair or refinishing may be possible.

Plan finished heights, doorway transitions and the visual relationship to the surrounding floor. Keep the project's actual room boundaries in each estimate so removal, trim and preparation can be compared fairly.

Assess the substrate, high and low areas, movement, cracks or joints, existing residues, moisture requirements and adjacent finished heights. Establish the selected floor and adhesive system before deciding which preparation products are compatible.

A finish-floor change does not establish the cause of movement or noise. Have the condition evaluated, including access and the underlying assembly. Ask which repairs are included and which findings would need additional specialist assessment.

Provide room photos, the selected product label, known water history and descriptions of movement or transitions. An on-site assessment and manufacturer-required testing may still be needed. Separate the preparation allowance from finish-floor installation.

Show the whole room, the damaged area, adjoining flooring and the product label if available. Include the history of the damage and whether the floor moves, sounds different or has been wet. Photographs help scope a discussion but may not establish the cause.

Sometimes. The installation method, plank location, availability of matching stock and the manufacturer's repair procedure determine what is practical. LVP cannot be sanded like wood, and engineered wood refinishing depends on its construction and remaining surface.

Complete required mitigation and drying before flooring reconstruction. Assess the substrate and surrounding materials when the property is ready. The flooring scope should explain repair, matching and transitions; insurance coverage is determined separately.

Use the same measured rooms, stairs and transitions in each proposal. Separate board repairs, refinishing or replacement, substrate preparation and access. A square-foot figure alone does not show whether the bids cover the same work.

Obtain the building's flooring packet before ordering. Confirm the exact floor and underlayment assembly, required sound documentation, elevator access and work hours. A product rating does not establish approval for every building.

The Journal's reviewed project record includes white-oak flooring reconstruction in a Buckhead high-rise after an AC leak, once the site was ready. Use that example to frame access and substrate questions, then assess the conditions in your own property.