Skip to main content

Classy Flooring ATL

Menu
Call Us Today

White Oak Floor Refinishing in Buckhead — Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen

In January 2026, Classy Flooring ATL completed the refinishing of approximately 1,500 square feet of existing white oak flooring across the main level of a private residence in Buckhead, Atlanta. The floors were finished using Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, followed by Rubio Monocoat Universal Maintenance Oil in Pure after a 72-hour cure. This page documents the project scope, process, and finish system.

This Buckhead project is one of Classy Flooring ATL’s documented hardwood refinishing and restoration projects — sanding and hardwax-oil finish systems, color-matched on the actual floor, across metro Atlanta. See the full range of our work on our Our Work page.

Project overview

The scope covered the main-level living areas of the home — approximately 1,500 square feet of existing white oak flooring. The work was a refinishing project, not a new installation. The floors were sanded to raw wood, water popped, and finished on site with the Rubio Monocoat system. Work was performed by a three-person crew over five days on site.

This project ran as the companion scope to a paneling refinishing project in the same residence. The finish direction for the floors was coordinated with the paneling to hold a consistent visual palette across the main-level architecture.

Starting condition

The existing floors were white oak in a warm, amber-leaning tone with a satin sheen carried over from a previous finish. The boards were old and had significant cupping and movement from years of seasonal change, which factored directly into how the sanding was staged.

Original white oak floor before refinishing, warm amber tone with satin sheen, Buckhead residence.
White oak floor before refinishing — Buckhead project

Design direction

The client and the designer had already committed to a Rubio Monocoat direction on the paneling. The floor color was selected to sit correctly alongside the completed paneling and to read consistently across the different wood species in the home.

Because Rubio Monocoat reacts differently with each wood species, a color that reads correctly on white oak will not necessarily read correctly on pine. The downstairs floors are white oak; the upstairs floors are pine. For the finish direction to hold visually across the home, sampling had to be performed on both species before the final color was committed. The upstairs pine flooring was sampled for this color-coordination purpose only; it was not refinished as part of this project.

Sampling process

Sampling was staged across two rounds.

An early directional round placed a single Rubio Monocoat swatch — labeled “Mist” — on the existing floor to establish rough tonal direction before sanding was scheduled.

The final selection round was performed on the sanded white oak, with two candidate color treatments taped out side by side: Linen, and a custom 50% Linen + 50% Pure blend. Both were applied on the actual floor in the main-level living area, positioned adjacent to the already-finished paneling so the client could evaluate each sample in context, under the lighting conditions the finished room would see.

Linen was selected as the final floor color, matching the paneling direction.

Multiple Rubio Monocoat tone samples taped off on bare sanded white oak during on-site client review for Buckhead refinishing project.
On-site Rubio Monocoat sampling — multiple tone options applied directly to the sanded white oak and taped off for side-by-side comparison before final color selection.
Rubio Monocoat sample panels taped off on white oak floor in Buckhead living area for in-room color evaluation before refinishing.
On-site sampling in the room where the floor will be refinished — allowing the Rubio Monocoat tones to be evaluated under the home's actual daylight and against the existing oak paneling.
Rubio Monocoat second-round samples on sanded white oak comparing Linen and a 50/50 Linen and Pure blend in a Buckhead refinishing project.
Second-round Rubio Monocoat sampling — Linen on the left, a 50/50 blend of Linen and Pure on the right — applied on the sanded white oak for final side-by-side comparison.
Rubio Monocoat second-round floor samples on sanded white oak shown with upright paneling sample board for color coordination in a Buckhead home.
Second-round Rubio Monocoat floor samples shown together with the upright paneling sample board, allowing floor and paneling colors to be reviewed in one frame.
Rubio Monocoat second-round floor samples on sanded white oak shown with a horizontal paneling sample board laid flat for color coordination in a Buckhead home.
Second-round Rubio Monocoat floor samples shown with the paneling sample board laid flat directly in front of them, allowing floor and paneling tones to be compared side by side.
Rubio Monocoat Mist sample panel on sanded white oak next to original amber floor during early directional sampling for Buckhead refinishing project.
Early directional Rubio Monocoat sample — Mist — applied on the sanded white oak and taped off against the original amber floor for side-by-side review.
Rubio Monocoat Linen sample panel placed on upstairs pine floor for whole-home color coordination, Buckhead residence.
Rubio Monocoat sample panel placed on the upstairs pine flooring during color selection. The pine floor was evaluated alongside the downstairs oak to confirm the chosen color would read consistently across both wood species.
Rubio Monocoat Linen test patch applied on upstairs pine floor for whole-home color coordination, Buckhead residence.
Rubio Monocoat test patch applied directly to a section of the upstairs pine flooring. The oiled patch is visible against the surrounding untreated pine, confirming how the chosen color would read on the second wood species before the final color was committed.

Sanding and surface preparation

The floors were sanded scratch-free following National Wood Flooring Association guidelines. Coarse and mid-grit sanding were performed with an FG Floortec belt sander paired with a DUSTIN dust separator and an Epoch edger. Final sanding was completed with the FG Discus planetary sander for an even, scratch-free surface across the full floor area.

The grit progression ran 36, 50, 80, 100, and 120. Because the existing boards were old and had noticeable movement, wood filler was applied twice during the sanding sequence rather than once. The first filler pass followed the 36-grit cut, addressing the most severe gaps. A second filler pass followed the 50-grit cut, catching gaps that only became visible once the surface had been further leveled. Each filler pass was allowed to cure before the next grit was run. This staged approach is more time-consuming than a single filler pass, but it is the correct method for an older floor with significant movement — it produces a substantially cleaner finished surface than filling once and sanding through.

After the final 120-grit pass with the planetary sander, the floors were water popped to open the grain and allow fuller penetration and color intensity from the oil. Once the surface was dry, it was vacuumed thoroughly and cleaned per the Rubio Monocoat preparation sequence before oil application.

FG Floortec belt sander with DUSTIN dust separator during Buckhead white oak floor refinishing.
Coarse sanding with the FG Floortec belt sander, connected to the DUSTIN dust separator visible by the hose running across the floor.
White oak floor mid-sanding, transition between sanded and unsanded sections during Buckhead refinishing project.
Sanding in progress. The transition between the raw, sanded boards and the original finished surface is visible in one frame.
FG Floortec belt sander mid-pass on white oak floor during Buckhead refinishing project.
FG Floortec belt sander working through the grit progression. Painter's tape protects the baseboards throughout the sanding sequence.
Wood filler worked across sanded white oak floor during Buckhead refinishing project.
Wood filler worked across the sanded floor with a trowel. This staged approach addresses gaps in older, moved boards before the next grit is run.
Wood filler applied across the full great room floor during Buckhead white oak refinishing project.
Wood filler applied across the full area of the great room before the next grit is run. The filler is worked into all gaps and checks, then allowed to cure before sanding continues.
Crew applying wood filler across sanded white oak floor in great room during Buckhead refinishing project.
Crew working across the great room during the wood filler stage. The vent opening in the center of the floor will later receive a custom wood vent, fabricated and finished on site.
FG Discus planetary sander during white oak floor refinishing in Buckhead residence.
FG Discus planetary sander mid-pass. This was the final sanding step, taking the floor to 120 grit across the full area.
Applying wood filler to gaps in old white oak floor during Buckhead refinishing project.
Wood filler worked into gaps in the old white oak floor during the sanding sequence. Filler was applied twice on this project — once after the 36-grit pass and again after the 50-grit pass.

Finish application — Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen

Oil Plus 2C was applied per the Rubio Monocoat technical data sheet. The A and B components were mixed at a 3:1 ratio, and the oil was worked into the floor in zones of 50 to 100 square feet at a time, consistent with the manufacturer specification.

Each zone was allowed the specified reaction period, then excess oil was removed with a white buffer pad within the manufacturer’s working window. A final pass with a clean white pad confirmed the surface was dry to the touch and non-sticky — the signal that the oil had fully reacted with the wood.

Applying Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen at doorway transition during Buckhead white oak floor refinishing.
Cutting in Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C at a doorway transition. The oiled floor is visible in the foreground, following the zone-by-zone application sequence.
Applying Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen by hand with FG Discus planetary sander staged during Buckhead floor refinishing.
Perimeter application of Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C by hand, with the FG Discus planetary sander staged in the zone. The planetary was used for the final 120-grit pass before oil application.
Hand application of Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen along floor perimeter during Buckhead refinishing project.
Hand application of Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C along the perimeter of a work zone. Oil is cut in by hand before the field is worked with a buffer.
Applying Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen by hand along floor edge during Buckhead refinishing project.
Cutting in the perimeter of a zone with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C before the field is worked with the buffer.

Cure period and Universal Maintenance Oil

After the Oil Plus 2C application, the floors were allowed to cure for 72 hours before the next step. The Rubio Monocoat specification allows Universal Maintenance Oil to be applied 48 hours after Oil Plus 2C once the surface is fully dry; the additional cure time on this project was a deliberate conservative margin.

Rubio Monocoat Universal Maintenance Oil in Pure was then applied over the Oil Plus 2C. Per Rubio Monocoat, Universal Maintenance Oil enhances the sheen to a velvet finish, nourishes the wood, and revitalizes the surface appearance.

Per Rubio Monocoat guidance, once Universal Maintenance Oil has been applied, future maintenance of the surface should be performed using Universal Maintenance Oil. If color restoration is required, renovation is performed with Oil Plus 2C in the original color.

Custom wood floor vents

The existing metal floor vents were replaced with custom wood vents fabricated for this project. Two vent styles were produced — a slat profile and a grid profile — made to the exact openings on site, finished with the same Rubio Monocoat system used on the floor itself, and installed flush with the finished surface. This allows the vents to read as continuous with the flooring rather than as interruptions in it.

Installing custom grid-profile wood floor vent finished with Rubio Monocoat Linen in refinished white oak floor, Buckhead residence.
Seating the custom grid-profile wood floor vent, finished with Rubio Monocoat to match the floor, into the opening. The vent is aligned flush with the surrounding boards.
Installed custom grid-profile wood floor vent finished with Rubio Monocoat Linen, flush with refinished white oak floor, Buckhead residence.
Custom grid-profile wood floor vent installed flush with the refinished floor, finished with Rubio Monocoat to match the surrounding boards.
Installing custom slat-profile wood floor vent finished with Rubio Monocoat Linen in white oak floor, Buckhead residence.
Seating a custom slat-profile wood floor vent, finished with Rubio Monocoat to match the floor, into the opening. The vent is aligned flush with the surrounding boards so it reads as continuous with the floor.
Final fit check on installed custom slat-profile wood floor vent finished with Rubio Monocoat Linen, Buckhead residence.
Final fit check on the installed custom slat-profile wood floor vent, finished with Rubio Monocoat to match the floor. The vent sits flush with the surrounding boards.

Project specifications

Location: Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia

Completion date: January 2026

Scope: Refinishing of existing white oak flooring, main-level living areas

Approximate area: 1,500 square feet

Wood species: White oak (existing)

Project type: Refinishing (no new floor installation within this scope)

Sanding equipment: FG Floortec belt sander, DUSTIN dust separator, Epoch edger, FG Discus planetary sander

Grit progression: 36 → 50 → 80 → 100 → 120

Wood filler: Applied twice — after the 36-grit pass and again after the 50-grit pass — to address gaps in older, moved boards

Preparation: Water popping after final grit

Finish system: Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C, color Linen

Sheen enhancer: Rubio Monocoat Universal Maintenance Oil in Pure, applied 72 hours after Oil Plus 2C

Additional scope: Custom wood floor vents in two profiles (slat and grid), fabricated and finished on site, installed flush

Sampling: Staged, two rounds; performed on white oak downstairs and upstairs pine for whole-home color coordination

Crew size: 3

Days on site: 5

Contractor: Classy Flooring ATL

Finished white oak floor and oak panels refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen in a Buckhead family room, shown under the chandelier at the fireplace wall.
Finished white oak floor and oak panels refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, shown under the chandelier at the fireplace wall.
Finished white oak floor and oak panels refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, shown facing the fireplace and refinished paneling in a Buckhead family room.
Finished white oak floor and oak panels refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, shown facing the fireplace wall and refinished oak paneling.
Finished white oak floor refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, shown at the fireplace and built-in bench in a Buckhead home.
Finished white oak floor refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, viewed toward the fireplace and built-in bench area.
Finished white oak floor refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, viewed toward a built-in window bench in a Buckhead home.
Finished white oak floor refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, shown under cooler natural daylight near the built-in window bench.
Finished white oak floor refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen in a Buckhead great room with bay window and built-in cabinetry.
Finished white oak floor refinished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Linen, shown in the great room with built-in cabinetry flanking the bay window.
Refinished white oak floor in Rubio Monocoat Linen, family room with stone fireplace, Buckhead residence.
Finished white oak floor in the family room. Custom wood floor vent visible in the foreground, installed flush with the surface.

Client Review From This White Oak Floor Refinishing Project

This Google review was shared after the completion of this white oak floor refinishing project, including the large oak-paneled Great Room refinished with Rubio Monocoat.

“Claudiu and his team were extremely professional and deliver high quality results. Claudiu personally oversees the work and is a pleasure to work with. My company was executing a complex and tome consuming refinishing job of a large oak paneled Great Room with Rubio monocoat. It could not have been done without Classy Flooring’s organization and attention to detail. I only hesitate to recommend because I don’t want them to het so busy they can’t take on my next project! But highly recommend :)”

Jeff Royal
Google review

Related project

This floor refinishing project was performed in the same residence as our oak wall paneling refinishing project in Buckhead. The finish direction for the floors was coordinated with the paneling to hold one consistent visual palette across the home’s main level.

Frequently asked questions

Can old hardwood floors be refinished, or do they need to be replaced?

In most cases, yes — old floors can be refinished. The hardwood in this Buckhead project was existing white oak with significant cupping and movement from age. Rather than replace it, the floor was sanded to raw wood, wood filler was applied twice during the sanding sequence to address gaps in the older, moved boards, and the finish was applied per manufacturer specification. When the original wood is structurally sound, refinishing preserves the character of the existing floor and avoids the cost and disruption of a full replacement.

How long does a Rubio Monocoat hardwood floor refinishing project take?

For this project, the main-level scope of approximately 1,500 square feet took a three-person Classy Flooring ATL crew five days on site. Timeline on any given project depends on square footage, floor condition, grit progression, whether wood filler is needed, and cure intervals between product applications.

When can I walk on the floor after Rubio Monocoat is applied?

The floor is typically dry to the touch shortly after application once excess oil has been buffed off. Light foot traffic is usually acceptable within the first 24 hours. Per Rubio Monocoat, the finish reaches full cure over approximately 5 days for the Oil Plus 2C A+B system. During that cure window, we advise avoiding water on the floor and keeping rugs, furniture pads, and heavy furniture off the surface until cure is complete.

How do I maintain a Rubio Monocoat floor?

Regular cleaning is done with Rubio Monocoat Universal Soap or Surface Care Spray, used sparingly. Because Universal Maintenance Oil in Pure was applied over the Oil Plus 2C on this project, future maintenance of the surface should be performed using Universal Maintenance Oil, per Rubio Monocoat guidance. If color restoration is required over time, renovation is performed with Oil Plus 2C in the original color — Linen, in this case.

Why is the finished floor matte rather than glossy?

Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is a hardwax oil that penetrates and bonds with the wood rather than sitting on the surface as a film. This produces a natural, close-to-the-wood appearance rather than the high-gloss look of polyurethane. On this project, Universal Maintenance Oil in Pure was applied after the 72-hour cure to lift the sheen to a velvet finish — Rubio Monocoat’s own term for the soft, satin-adjacent result. If a higher sheen is preferred on a future project, Rubio Monocoat SheenPlus can be specified instead.

Does Classy Flooring ATL work only in Buckhead, or throughout Atlanta?

Classy Flooring ATL serves Buckhead and the greater Atlanta area, with a focus on high-end residential hardwood floor refinishing, paneling refinishing, and coordinated whole-home finish projects like the one documented on this page.

About this project

This white oak floor refinishing project was completed by Classy Flooring ATL, a premium hardwood flooring company serving Buckhead and the greater Atlanta area. The work documented on this page is an example of our hardwood floor refinishing service, which covers sanding, wood filler, water popping, and finish application using premium systems including Rubio Monocoat.

Planning a refinishing project in Atlanta? Contact Classy Flooring ATL to discuss the scope.

See all of our completed hardwood projects on our Our Work page →

This white oak floor refinishing project was completed by Classy Flooring ATL, a premium hardwood flooring company serving Buckhead and the greater Atlanta area. The work documented on this page is an example of our hardwood floor refinishing service, which covers sanding, wood filler work, water popping, and finish application using premium systems including Rubio Monocoat.

Planning a refinishing project in Atlanta? Contact Classy Flooring ATL to discuss the scope.