Detailed Explanation
Surface scratches and worn sheen
On hardwax-oil finishes: a maintenance recoat with the same product refreshes the surface beautifully, often without any sanding. On urethane finishes: a screen-and-recoat (light abrasion of the existing finish, then one fresh coat) restores most of the look without a full refinish.
Deep scratches, dents, water marks
On solid hardwood and engineered hardwood with a substantial wear layer (3 mm+): a full sand-and-refinish reaches fresh wood and resets the floor. On thin-wear-layer engineered: usually not refinishable — affected boards are replaced individually.
Board replacement
Individual damaged boards can be cut out and replaced. The hardest part isn't the carpentry — it's matching colour. We hold onto attic stock from every install we do for exactly this reason.
Parquet and pattern floors
Herringbone, chevron, and Versailles parquet can be restored — both individual blocks and full-floor sand-and-refinish — but the work is specialty work.
When to replace
Catastrophic water damage that's reached the sub-floor. Cupping or buckling that's gone past the floor's tolerance to flatten. Finishes that have been re-coated too many times with incompatible products.