Australian cypress floors with deep scratch damage, fully refinished
Australian cypress floors in a newly purchased Eden Prairie home had deep scratches from pets and furniture dragging — a full sand and refinish with a Low-VOC water-based system removed the damage and brought the floors back to a clean, consistent look.
Project Overview
Service Type
Home Type
Floor Type
Wood Species
Date Completed
Before Photos
Australian cypress solid hardwood floors with deep scratch damage from a dog, additional gouges from dragged furniture, and an orange-tinted finish darkened by years of oil-based product.
After Photos
Refinished Australian cypress solid hardwood floors with a lighter, more neutral tone and a smooth, even satin finish throughout.
About the project
The homeowner noticed the floors when they moved in. There were scratches throughout from a dog, and a few deeper gouges — the kind left behind when something heavy gets dragged across the floor. They were looking to address the damage early and get the floors to a place where they felt right for the home.
After taking a closer look, we found the floors were Australian cypress — a softer, less common species with a distinct grain character. The scratches were widespread, and two or three of the deeper ones went through the finish entirely. The existing finish had also shifted orange over time, which was typical of older oil-based product on this species.
Based on that, we recommended a full sand-down rather than a buff and coat. A screen and recoat would have improved the surface scratches, but the deeper damage would have required spot repairs that were unlikely to blend cleanly with the existing color. A full refinish gave us a clean slate to work from and let us address both the damage and the tone in one pass.
The result was a noticeably lighter floor, with the orange cast from the old finish removed and the natural character of the cypress coming through more clearly. The deep scratches were gone, and the surface was even throughout. We applied a Low-VOC water-based satin system, which held the tone without adding amber back into the wood. The floors felt reset — consistent and ready for everyday use in a way they hadn't been when the homeowners arrived.
Finish & Materials
From the customer
"Wow! We absolutely love our floors! We had them sanded and recoated. Everyone who sees them comments on how great they look! Justin’s workmanship is top notch! We have many corners, edges and hard to reach areas. Every one is sanded and finished perfectly. The final finish is smooth and lovely! We got his fair straightforward quote in a very timely manner. He arrived exactly when he said he would, kept us informed about what we could expect each day, and followed up with recommendations on how to care for our floors to keep them looking pretty for years to come. We feel the value was excellent! We will recommend New Glow Flooring to our friends and family with complete confidence!"