My wife and I bought a house 3.5 years ago--our first one with hardwood floors. We had some deep scratches from non-protected furniture feet, as well as various other miscellaneous scratches. (In particular, there were some areas that looked like scuff marks, but when you get down close look like tiny dirty scratches.)

We talked to a contractor who suggested sanding down in the deepest area, but said he could take care of the other scratches without sanding. (I guess he did a screen coat.)

Well, as far as I can tell nothing happened in the areas where he didn't sand. All the scratches are there, except now preserved under a nice layer of polyurethane. So I'm trying to figure out whether he did a crappy job on the screen coat, or whether he misled us as to how much it would help the floors.

Some Web sites say screen coating will work for "light scratches"; others say "surface scratches" (is that scratches just in the finish?). Can anyone be more specific?

Screen and recoat will get rid of "most" surface scratches, if the scratches are in the wood it will possibly make them less visable, but may highlight them. The only way to get rid of them is to sand them out.

Hello.
If the scraches are deep, very deep dents than unfortunatly you have to refinishing hardwood floor
If the scraches are light and only finish is scrached, but it did not effected the wood very much then screen can help.
Of course refinishing will take care of very deep scraches and floor imperfections.

daemath,

we talked about it. So what did you do ? Some times we just like to know if we helped out or not.
Jeff