Swirl marks on refinished hardwood floor
Q: I just had my floors refinished due to a water damage. I have 3/4″ red oak. We went with a natural finish with semi-gloss finish. The floors look great, but I have one concern: one area in my floors, when the SUN hits this spot, I can see swirl marks. Is this finishing problem?
A: The issue of swirl marks is probably as old as varnish/polyurethane coatings which must be “scratched” to achieve intercoat adhesion. As skilled as a floor finisher may be, sooner or later he will have this happen. It is such a fine line to walk when re coating. Buffing between coats is not optional with these finishes. Don’t buff and the finish will probably peel off. Buff, but don’t buff enough and the same thing can happen in spots. Hi shine finishes and overhead lighting are most likely to expose these scratches to view.
I would suggest another buffing with a maroon pad and 180 sandpaper strips or 220 grit screen or finer and another coat of finish. If it was me, I don’t think I could absolutely guarantee that there won’t be any swirls still. It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you can only see these in a certain area with direct sunlight, it may be wise to live with it. This work really is “that tricky”.
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