Grain
See What's
Under There.
Warped floorboards, sun-bleached decks, century-old mantels — sanded back to the wood's original story. Every ring, knot, and cathedral pattern pulled from decades of neglect.
The Proof Is
In the Wood.
Drag each slider to reveal the transformation. Every annotation is pulled from the actual project file.
Dining Room Hardwood
Red oak, 1960s tract house — scratched through finish, pet staining, carpet adhesive residue.
Eastside Community Gymnasium
Maple sport floor, 1978 — burst pipe, cupped boards, black tannin staining, 4,200 sq ft.
What We Measure Before We Sand.
Species We Restore
Red oak, white oak, Douglas fir, longleaf pine, maple, cherry, walnut, teak, mahogany, ash, hickory, and heart pine — each requiring distinct abrasive sequences and finish chemistry.
Target Moisture Content
Wood stabilized to 6–9% moisture content before any finish is applied. Measured with pin and pinless meters at 12 points per 100 sq ft.
Abrasive Progression
36-grit drum opens the face. 60 removes cross-grain. 80 and 120 final passes raise the cathedral figure. Edge work hand-scraped to match.
Full Cure Before Traffic
Oil-modified polyurethane reaches full hardness at 72 hours at 65°F. Foot traffic permitted at 24 hours; furniture at 72 hours.
Sheen Range Available
Matte 25° to high-gloss 85° — matched to the original finish, client preference, or period-appropriate specification for heritage work.
Dust-Free Process
HEPA-vacuum containment system captures 99.7% of sanding dust at source. No dust in HVAC, no grit on counters. Verified by post-work air quality check.
Victorian Staircase — Irvington
Original longleaf pine, c. 1902 — fire-scorched treads, smoke-blackened risers, irreplaceable old-growth material.
The Work Behind
the Transformation.
Every project follows a documented sequence — not guesswork. Each step is measured, recorded, and matched to the species and condition of your wood.
Site Survey
4–8 hrs on-siteMoisture-meter readings across all quadrants. Species identification. Damage mapping on blueprint-style floor plan. Written assessment delivered same day.
Abrasive Sequence
36 → 60 → 80 → 120 gritDrum sander with 36-grit opens the face. 60-grit removes cross-grain scratches. 80 and 120-grit final passes raise the cathedral figure. Edge work hand-scraped to match.
Surface Chemistry
pH balanced · 24hr cureTannin stains neutralized with oxalic acid wash. Water-popped grain opens pores for maximum penetration. Stain matched to client sample or original species tone.
Finish Application
72hr full cure before trafficThree coats oil-modified polyurethane, sanded between each. Marine-grade available for high-traffic and water-exposed surfaces. Sheen from matte 25° to gloss 85°.
From the People
Who Were There.
"We'd been living with carpet over original 1920s Douglas fir for twelve years. Grain found boards with zero rot, matched the stain to our original kitchen floors, and finished it in four days. The house sold $38K over asking — the realtor said it was the floors."
"The gymnasium floor at Eastside Community Center had water damage from a burst pipe — swollen, cupped boards, black staining. Every other contractor said replace it. Grain neutralized the tannin stain, re-flattened the cups with moisture cycling, and finished with commercial-grade poly. Looks better than it did in 1978."
"I stage eight to twelve flips a year in the Pearl. Grain is the only floor crew I trust with tight timelines. They quoted Tuesday, started Thursday, delivered Saturday — three rooms of red oak, photographing warm and honey-gold. My listings are spending an average of six fewer days on market."
Your floor has a
story left to tell.
We survey, assess, and quote within 24 hours. Most floors we're told are "beyond saving" aren't.