Buffing vs. Sanding Hardwood Floors: What’s the Difference?

One of the most common questions we hear is: “Do my floors need to be buffed, or do they need to be sanded?”

The short answer: it depends on the condition of your floors.

What Is Buffing?

Buffing is a light surface refresh. It smooths out minor scratches and dullness and prepares the floor for a new protective coat.

Buffing is a good option if:

• Your floors are generally in good shape

• You have light scratches or scuff marks

• The wood color still looks even

• You want to freshen things up without a major project

  
  

Buffing does not remove deep damage or stains that have soaked into the wood.

What Is Sanding?

Sanding removes the top layer of the wood. This allows us to erase deeper scratches, discoloration, and old finishes.

Sanding is usually needed if:

• Scratches are deep or widespread

• You see dark stains or discoloration

• The finish is peeling or worn through

• You want to change the floor color

  
  

How We Help You Decide

We don’t guess. We inspect the floors and explain what will actually work—no upselling, no unnecessary work.

If buffing will do the job, we’ll tell you.If sanding is the only way to get real results, we’ll explain why.