When it comes to hardwood floors, buffing means that you “scuff up” or abrade the floor, and then you apply a coat of polyurethane for protection and sheen. Some customers call this a "light sanding," but technically, it's a screen and recoat since you are not sanding the wood. Rather, you are sanding the top layer of polyurethane. When you buff the floors, you are able to change the finish (e.g. go from a semi gloss to a satin finish), but you are not able to change the color (that would require a full sanding).
Screening and buffing are the same thing. They are synonyms for each other. Screening is often called buffing, since the screening is done with a buffer. Screening both smooths the floors a bit, and the abrasive action allows the polyurethane to adhere to the surface better. The screen and recoat process can restore the glow of the floors and give them a refreshed look.
You can read more about buffing and screening here, and how this can help you preserve the color and finish of your floors: What is a screen and recoat?
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