Serving Piedmont, CA
Restoring the Floors Underneath Piedmont's Historic Homes
Piedmont is full of homes built decades before “engineered hardwood” was even a category – Craftsman bungalows, Tudor-style houses, and early-1900s builds with original wood floors underneath layers of old finish. Alva Flooring Inc. specializes in bringing that original hardwood back to life, along with standard installation and recoating for newer builds and remodels. Either way, the work is done by a licensed crew that treats old floors like the asset they are, not a blank slate.
Diamond Certified | CSLB Licensed #1003761 | Family-Owned & Local to the Bay Area
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Old Floors Aren't a Problem | They're Usually the Best Part
We hear it constantly on Piedmont estimates: homeowners assume their original hardwood is too far gone and start pricing out full replacement. In our experience, that’s rarely true. Old-growth wood the kind used in homes built a century ago is often denser and higher quality than what’s manufactured today, which means it can typically be sanded and refinished multiple times over its lifespan, even after decades of neglect.
What that means for your project:
- We evaluate before we recommend replacement. If your original floor can be saved, we’ll tell you — replacement isn’t the default answer just because it’s simpler for us.
- Refinishing preserves character that replacement can’t replicate — the patina, grain, and slight irregularities original to older wood are part of what makes these homes distinct.
- We handle repairs to match, not just patch. Damaged sections get replaced with wood selected to blend with the surrounding original floor, not an obviously mismatched fill-in.
- Structural and subfloor checks come first, especially in older homes where past repairs or settling can affect what’s underneath the surface.
Services We offer
Flooring Installation
For additions, remodels, or rooms where original flooring isn’t recoverable, we install solid, engineered, and plank hardwood selected to complement the rest of your home.
- Solid hardwood, multiple species available
- Engineered hardwood for added stability
- Wide-plank and custom pattern options
- Floating floor systems
- Transitions designed to blend with existing flooring
New material is acclimated on-site before installation, and we check subfloor integrity first particularly important in older homes where a past renovation may have left uneven support underneath.
Floor Refinishing
If your hardwood has years of scuffs, sun fade, or dullness built up, refinishing sands it back to bare wood and rebuilds the finish — usually for far less than tearing it out and starting over.
- Moisture and structural inspection
- Contained sanding, minimal dust migration
- Board repair or replacement where needed
- Stain matched to the wood you already have
- Multiple coats of protective finish, buffed by hand
Depending on square footage, most refinishing jobs are done in a matter of days – we’ll walk you through the actual schedule at your estimate rather than a generic range.
Floor Recoating
When the wood underneath is fine but the finish has gone flat or lightly scratched, a full sand-down is overkill. Recoating preps the existing finish lightly and seals it with a fresh topcoat.
- Light abrasion of the current finish
- New protective topcoat applied
- Usually finished in a single visit
- Meaningfully cheaper than a full refinish
- Best suited to floors under roughly a decade old, without deep gouging
If you’re not sure which service fits, send photos of the floor and we’ll tell you honestly which one it actually needs.
Serving Piedmont and the Surrounding East Bay
Alva Flooring Inc. is based in the East Bay and works throughout Piedmont, Oakland, and neighboring communities in Alameda County, along with Contra Costa and Marin Counties. Given how many homes here have original, decades-old flooring, we bring the same crew to every visit so the person who evaluates your floors is the person doing the work.
Questions About Restoring Older Hardwood
Often, yes. Old-growth hardwood was typically milled thicker than modern flooring, which means there's usually enough material left to sand and refinish even after several previous refinishings. We check remaining wear-layer depth before recommending it, since sanding too many times eventually isn't possible.
Timelines vary based on square footage, the scope of work, and site conditions. Installations often take several days, while refinishing projects are typically completed within a similar window. We'll give you a specific timeline as part of your estimate.
Refinishing sands the floor down to bare wood and rebuilds the finish from scratch, which is best for floors with deeper scratches or wear. Recoating lightly prepares the existing finish and adds a fresh protective topcoat, which works well for floors that still look structurally sound but have lost their shine.
Yes. We provide free, no-obligation estimates for homeowners throughout Alamo, so you know the scope and cost of your project before any work begins.
Light foot traffic is typically fine within about 24 hours, with furniture and rugs going back after the finish fully cures usually several days to a week, depending on the product used. We will give you exact timing for your specific job.
Get Your Free, No-Obligation Estimate
Whether you are planning a new hardwood installation, restoring worn floors through refinishing, or protecting your investment with recoating, our experienced flooring professionals are here to help.
Complete the form, and our team will reach out to schedule a consultation and provide a detailed, no-obligation estimate for your project.