Overview
Hardwood floors — everything Richmond homeowners need to know.
From choosing a species to restoring one that's been under carpet for forty years — a plain-English guide to hardwood floors in Central Virginia, and how Buff & Coat handles the projects we get called for most.
Solid vs. engineered
Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood — traditionally 3/4" thick, tongue-and-groove edges. It can be refinished many times over decades. Engineered hardwood is a real hardwood wear layer bonded to a plywood or HDF core — better for moisture, radiant heat, and concrete subfloors. Neither is 'better' — they solve different problems.
Common Central Virginia species
Red oak dominates in mid-century and later homes — beige-pink undertone, prominent grain, takes stain evenly. White oak is trending in newer builds — cooler beige tone, tighter grain, popular with reactive and fume stains. Heart pine shows up in pre-war homes, especially in Richmond's Fan District and older Ashland houses — dense, amber-red, and irreplaceable. Maple in kitchens and gyms — very hard, subtle grain. Walnut and cherry as accent species.
Care and longevity
A well-installed and finished hardwood floor should last a century or more if it's cleaned properly (soft broom, damp mop, no wet mopping, no wax on modern finishes) and screen-and-recoated every 8–12 years. Ours have refinished floors from the 1920s that look better than most floors laid in the last 20 years.
Common questions
Hardwood Floors — answered.
Under carpet — is there hardwood worth saving?
In most Richmond-area homes built pre-1985, yes. Pull back a corner of carpet in a low-traffic spot; if you see real hardwood (not laminate or vinyl plank) that's not deeply water-damaged, it's almost always worth exposing and refinishing.
How much do hardwood floors cost?
Refinishing runs a small fraction of replacement — often the difference between $3–6/sq ft (refinish) and $12–18/sq ft (removal + new install, materials + labor). Buff & coat renewal is cheaper still if your existing finish is intact. Free estimates give you exact numbers for your situation.
Also from Buff & Coat
Other services.
Ready to talk?
Free estimate on your hardwood floors — no pressure.
Tell us about your floors and we'll come out to walk through the space, talk options, and hand you a flat, written quote.