It may look a bit like painting a room at first glance, but the hardwood sanding process adds a complicated layer that requires a professional eye. Search for licensed contractors with hardwood floor refinishing experience. As you'll notice from our state averages above, this is the most common price range for refinishing floors. Engineered Wood Flooring Comparison Guide, Essential Steps and Tips for Refinishing a Wood Deck. The process adds between $1 to $3 per square foot to the final cost, broken down between labor and the cost of materials. The average cost to refinish hardwood floors is $2 to $6 per square foot or $1,200 to $2,400. Refinishing hardwood floors yourself is not a recommended DIY project. You may be able to save money by doing the furniture-moving yourself. Get free estimates from trusted hardwood floor refinishers near you. These include: Hiring a professional floor refinisher near you may cost more than doing it yourself, but it is oftenif not alwaysworth the cost. When working with a pro, material costs will only vary by the size of the room, the type of stain and topcoat you choose, and your local prices. Also, keep in mind that smaller projects must cover the cost of overhead such as materials, transportation, and material shipping costs, so they may not look as cost-effective as refinishing larger spaces. Harder woods like maple and mahogany require special skills to properly sand away ingrained imperfections. Installing a new hardwood floor costs $6 to $12 per square foot, not to mention the $1 to $13 per square foot to remove the original boards. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. several types of sanders used for refinishing, enter into the work with a full understanding of what's involved. Screening uses a thin buffing disc to remove the old finish without sanding the wood beneath. Do you have recommendations for protecting my floors? A full list of cost factors include: Professionals recommend refinishing your floors every 10 to 20 years depending on their condition. Sandless methods are not effective for floors with scratches, stains, or damage. Staining: Once the floor has been sanded down, it will resemble new untreated wood. Removing carpet from stairs adds $7 to $10 per step. HomeAdvisor. Let's say you have a whole home filled with elegant hardwood floors. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. For example, sanding alone costs $0.50 to $3 per square foot, while staining adds $1 to $3 per square foot. However, eventually, even solid hardwood is going to wear down to the point where it's too thin to be sanded again safely. Many stores charge only a 1-day fee to rent a drum sander on Saturday and return it Monday. Refinishing small rooms like bedrooms, studio apartments, and small side roomsthink offices, small dining spaceswill likely fall in this range. If the floor has deep stains, they may be treated individually before refinishing begins. Screening and recoating will not get rid of deep scratches, stains, or discoloration. Hardwood floor refinishing is a time-consuming home improvement project and takes 2 to 6 days on average. If your floors are in good shape but just need a new topcoat, you may be able to skip the sanding and staining. We take great pride in a well-preserved, richly-hued hardwood floor to add a touch of classic coziness to our home. Some complex jobs, such as those involving stairs, can also reach this price range. Get free estimates from contractors near you or view our hardwood floor refinishing cost calculator below. Paint will seep through the cracks between the planks and prevents the polyurethane sealer from adhering to the wood. Let's take a look at a few common projects and price ranges. Refinishing will not get rid of pet urine stains or odors because the ammonia penetrates the wood too deeply, and sanding removes less than 2mm of wood from the surface. In addition to the size and shape of your room, damage that requires extra care or wood that calls for a special finish could affect the costs. Engineered floors may be sanded and refinished 1 to 5 times, depending on the wear layer's thickness. Here are some examples of common price ranges to refinish hardwood floors across the country. Environmental Working Group. Also, between the odors and dust, the process can be a bit disruptiveso many a game plan for staying elsewhere if necessary. Always leave engineered floor finishing to the professionals to avoid damaging the thin layer of real wood that tops the flooring. Get at least three free quotes in-person from flooring pros to compare. Renting a floor sander costs $60 to $70 per day or $230 to $270 per week. Prefinished floors are solid hardwood and can be sanded and refinished like other hardwood floorings. Common mistakes include: Scratching the wood with the edge of the sander, Ignoring major repairs before refinishing. Embed this data. The high cost is because these are small surfaces that require skilled, time-consuming detail work. Staining: If you need to change the color of your floors, professionals will add one or more coats of stain at this stage. By using HomeAdvisor, you agree to our Terms & Conditions, Copyright 1999 - 2022 HomeAdvisor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No matter the type of wood you're working with, the cost to sand and refinish hardwood floors remains about the same. It involves sending sawdust flying indiscriminately into the air, and this dust can cause allergies or asthmatic reactions in people who are sensitive to it. If you're up for moving it yourself, this will cut down your final bill. Visible scratches, structural issues, or stains from sun and water indicate it's time to refinish your hardwood floors. Some finish coats take between 10 and 24 hours to properly dry without traffic. All in all, refinishing hardwood floors yourself breaks down into two main costs. Never use paint to whitewash a floor. Most refinishers will gladly do this work but for an additional fee that may be higher than that charged by a handyman or carpenter. 
Additional sanding materials and tools include: Safety equipment is a must when handling potent chemicals like finish and varnish, as well as when handling power sanders. Be sure to chat with a flooring specialist when choosing the right finish for your floors. Get free estimates from floor refinishing professionals near you. Some professionals swear by the results of oil-based products, but most DIYers find water-based finishes easier to use. Will you remove the baseboards? Sanding parquet floors requires special care from a professional because the wood grain runs in several directions. Adding a topcoat of polyurethane protects your floor from future damage while providing that high-quality shine. Read our, Average Costs for Refinishing Hardwood Floors, Solid Hardwood vs. Recoating costs between $1 and $2 per square foot and ranges based on labor cost and the type of coating you choose. Whitewashing is also known as pickling. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. Refinishing hardwood floors vs replacing new floors cost - chart. If the wood beneath your floor's finish is in great shape but has simply lost its luster, you may be able to skip the full refinishing process. Professional hardwood floor refinishing costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot without staining. DIY costs to redo and resurface wood floors yourself is $600 to $1,100. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. Vacuum or use a dry dust mop regularly to prevent surface grit from scratching the finish. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. But there's every chance your floor is anything but average, and your actual costs can vary depending on many factors, especially the availability and cost of labor in your area. Refinishing hardwood can be undertaken by anyone with some experience handling power tools and performing DIY projects, but it's wise to enter into the work with a full understanding of what's involved. Restaining hardwood floors costs $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot alone. You can, however, replace individual floorboards in the case of: Between the sander, finishing materials, and all the necessary tools, DIY hardwood floor refinishing will run you between $500 and $1000. Wipe spills immediately after they occur. Get a detailed estimate, contract, and warranty in writing before the work begins. Staining is only necessary if you want to change or reinvigorate the color of your floors. What are your safety and ventilation procedures? Local labor costs: In general, contracting companies located in large metropolitan areas are going to charge more for a hardwood refinishing project, mostly because the demand for their services is higher. We compile the data and report costs back to you. Per-square-foot costs may be less if you're having a contractor come in to refinish an entire house, while costs can be more if they are refinishing just a single room. Refinishing wood floors costs $1,200 to $2,400 for the average home, regardless of wood type.
Moving furniture: The room you refinish will need to be cleared of any furniture or furnishings before starting the project. This is because the equipment used to sand down a hardwood floor is usually quite large, and it is not easy to get it into or maneuver it through tight areas. The second they switch on that sander, a good amount of dust from the finish and top layer of wood kick up into the air. Hiring a Pro. The average cost to sand, restain, and refinish wood floors is $2 to $7 per square foot. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. How much will your floor refinishing cost? Refinish hardwood floors every seven to 10 years, depending on the amount of wear and tear they receive during this time. Discovering stunning hardwood floorboards beneath old carpeting opens your home to new possibilities. Topcoating: The final step is to apply a tough, durable topcoat finish, usually a water- or oil-based polyurethane. *The cost of labor increases for smaller spaces due to minimum job fees. How much do you charge to move the furniture? Add felt tabs or pads to the bottom of furniture legs to prevent scratches and scuffing. Removing the baseboards to refinish hardwood floors is optional but protects the trim from being nicked by the sanding equipment.
Depending on the initial state of your floors, recoating is either the final step in the larger process or the only step you need. Remember that it will take a professional about five hours total to refinish 100 square feet of flooring, so factor in the time commitment when deciding whether to do this project yourself. Look at their reviews on HomeGuide, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Polyurethane finish costs around $40 to $100 per gallon depending on the thickness of the finish and the quality of the product. When you receive a quote from your local floor team, expect the price tag to come down to the following factors: Additional repairs (water damage, board replacement, etc.). Here's how to break down the prices piece by piece. Screening only works on floors with a non-waxed polyurethane finish. There can also be a purely regional factor at work; for example, labor in the Northeast is often more expensive than it is in the South. https://www.thespruce.com/cost-to-refinish-hardwood-floors-1314853, https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/how-much-does-it-cost-to-refinish-hardwood-floors/, https://floorcritics.com/hardwood-refinishing-costs/, https://www.flooringclarity.com/hardwood-refinish-cost/, https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_refinish_hardwood_floor.html, https://www.floorsbytheshore.com/hardwood-floor-refinishing-cost/, https://theflooringgirl.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-sand-refinish-hardwood-floors-westchester/, https://www.signaturecustomflooring.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-have-my-hardwood-floors-refinished/, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-refinish-hardwood-floors/, http://www.pittsburghhardwoodrefinishing.com/refinishing-costs.html, https://newyorkcitywoodfloors.com/pricing/, https://monkshomeimprovements.com/our-services/flooring/dustless-floor-refinishing/, https://rippnfinish.com/hardwood-floor-faqs/, https://www.elegantfloorservices.com/blog/hardwood-floor-refinishing-cost/, https://www.hunker.com/13714711/how-much-does-it-cost-to-stain-hardwood-floors, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/flooring/21015479/refinishing-school, https://www.virginiatopfloors.com/about-us/, https://bcalflooring.com/hardwood-floor-refinishing-in-marietta-ga/, https://info.floordecorct.com/blog/cost-to-refinish-hardwood-flooring, Scuffs and scratches that only penetrate the finish, Stains, gray patches, or UV discoloration, Floors with non-waxed polyurethane finish, Paint roller frame, roller covers, and extension pole for varnish application. Polishing, buffing, and recoating cost less but only removes minor scuffs and scratches and adds a new sheen.
The moldings are replaced after sanding and finishing are complete. How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors. A heavy-duty disc sander, also called an edger, is also needed to sand into corners, edges and tight spots where the upright sanders can't reach. Adding a new topcoat or polishing your floors is a bit more DIY-friendly, but only for confident homeowners comfortable with these tricky materials. Find top-rated wood refinishing pros near you. On the other hand, not every floor requires all three steps. Floor sander preparing hardwood floor for refinishing. Here are some general price ranges depending on the size of your space: The average cost to refinish floors may not look the same in a large city as it does in the countryside, but perhaps not in the way you expect. Tackling floor refinishing yourself is not recommended for those new to DIY home repairs. Larger projects represent more money for less effort to contractors, and so they are usually willing to offer discounts to secure these jobs. You'll pay between $7 and $25 per square foot for replacement and just $3 to $8 per square foot for refinishing. Millions of people ask HomeGuide for cost estimates every year. Make sure you get an estimate on those costs. When it's time to refinish, restain, or simply freshen up your hardwood floors, you'll pay between $1,076 and $2,523or about $1,799 on average for the job. Comes in satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss, Requires multiple coats but dries within a few hours, Best varnish for exotic wood or parquet floors, Requires relocating for several days to air out home, Engineered hardwood with acrylic impregnated wear layers. Removing carpet or other flooring: If the hardwood you want to have refinished is beneath old carpet, vinyl flooring, or another material, the refinishing contractor will charge extra to remove it for you. *Based on 369 project costs reported by HomeGuide members. Sanding is followed by the application of stains and finishes, which can smell terrible and be toxic to the interior air quality of the space for short periods of time. Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost Calculator, Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors Yourself, DIY Hardwood Refinishing vs. Refinishing a hardwood floor requires a minimum of three passes with the sander using sandpaper in three different grits. Original hardwood floors can last over a century when well-cared-for and properly finished. The cost for refinishing wood stairs averages about $40 to $75 per stair tread. Get free custom quotes from qualified pros in your area. Some companies will charge between $20 and $50 per room to move it for you. The cost to screen, buff, and recoat hardwood floors is $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot. Most contractors will remove baseboard shoe moldings to allow sanding equipment to sand right up to the wall edges. Refinishing hardwood stairs costs $25 to $85 per step. The Basics of Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Floors. Change the tabs on chairs and stools. This will cover most mid-sized spaces like dining and living rooms. Solid Hardwood Flooring: Which Is Better? Refinishing your hardwood floors cost two to three times less than replacing them. One gallon of polyurethane is usually enough to apply two coats over a 300-square-foot space. Unless you're prepping to move into a new home, you'll need to make sure your furniture is safe and sound for the refinishing process. Hardwoods such as pine, bamboo, and parquet require special care while sanding or staining, but the total cost is the same to refinish. One of the great things about having a hardwood floor is that, even when it eventually starts to show its age by developing scratches and dings, you have the option of refinishing the material to revitalize the floor completely. Refinishing oak, cherry, or pine floors costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot without staining or $2 to $7 per square foot with staining. Select companies that are insured, bonded, and have been in business for longer than five years. Oak is the most common hardwood for flooring.
Pergo and laminate floors cannot be sanded, refinished, or screened and recoated like solid hardwood. Polyurethanes come in both water-based and oil-based (alkyd-based) forms. Are You Considering Hardwood Flooring for Your Bathroom? Larger projects that involve multiple floors may require several days of work, in which case you'll pay between $100 and $200 for a weekend or around $250 for the whole week. Refinishing your floors costs between $600 and $4,000. Like most home renovation jobs, nailing down your specific price will depend on your unique home. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. DIY refinishing projects typically take several days, depending on the home's size. Refinishing the floors is typically cheaper than installing new carpet, depending on the wood flooring condition. Speak with your prospective floor professionals about how supply chain issues can affect the cost of hardwood floorboard replacement, stain and topcoat, and necessary tools for the refinishing process.
Check with the contractor to confirm the wood will absorb the stain evenly. Oak and cherry wood, on the other hand, are the most commonly found materials, so you don't have to search as far to find pros familiar with how to handle it. Can you provide a list of references from your past projects? Some wood styles are softer and therefore easier to dent such as pine. How long will the refinishing project take? On a per-square-foot basis, average costs run about $3 to $8 per square foot, but these costs can vary depending on the complexity of the work and the total size of the area you want to have refinished. Screening and recoating is a better option for floors that are too thin to sand. Enter the wood floor's length and width in the calculator below to estimate the cost of refinishing. Compare quotes, message or call pros, and hire only when ready. Belt-action sanders are regarded as more heavy-duty tools, but they can be hard to handle and beginners sometimes have problems with gouging the floor when using them. Pine, bamboo, and parquet floors require special care while sanding or staining, but costs the same to refinish. Consider replacing the damaged planks or the entire floor; or refinishing and covering the floor with a dark wood stain. N-Hance works best for floors with minimal scratches or dings. Polyurethane finishes come in several different gloss finishes, from flat to high-sheen. Help your neighbors make an informed decision. Standard tipping rates for floor refinishers are $10 to $30 per person if their work quality exceeds your expectations. Let's start by breaking down the three main steps of refinishing hardwood floors: sanding, staining, and recoating. A number of factors can affect the overall cost of refinishing: Size of the floor: Generally, smaller rooms are going to be more expensive to refinish per square foot. Homeowners use HomeAdvisor to find pros for home projects. Ask a refinishing pro. Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor. For floors with a dull sheen and only minor scuffing, consider screening and recoating instead. Receive quotes from multiple pros that meet your exact needs. Sanding is crucial to refinishing a floor properly. Wood Dust. DIY sanding voids the warranty. Engineered hardwood can still be sanded, but you'll need to take care not to grind down through the surface layer into the core. Laminate floors feature a top layer of veneer that is too thin for sanding. The team will top everything off with a coat of finish, running you $1 to $2 per square foot. Professionals will charge between $100 to $300, or you can take on the job for between $50 to $100. The cost to buff and recoat hardwood floors is $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot. You will likely find that doing this work yourself is a good way to save money. If you're feeling brave and confident enough to take on the project yourself, keep a few things in mind when refinishing your floors. Cost to resurface or redo hardwood floors, Refinishing hardwood floors vs. replacing with new floors cost, Hiring a professional hardwood flooring contractor. Wear breathing protection, such as a particle mask, when sanding and cleaning up the dust. The price fluctuations come down to the unique needs of each wood or manufactured material. Not all hardwood species are suitable for staining. Refinishing parquet floors costs $2 to $6 per square foot, depending on the type of refinishing and if any repairs are needed. ScreeningAKA buffinguses a thinner sanding disk to remove the thin topcoat of your floors without affecting the wood below. The effects of UV rays through your window can also cause inconsistencies in the color of your floors. Keep in mind that the floors underneath carpeting may require an extra pass with the sander or even some repairs, so this may push the cost higher. Any protruding nail heads will be driven down below the surface of the wood. Compare refinishing estimates for free before DIY. A DIYer, on the other hand, can expect to give up the better part of a weekend to do a good job when refinishing a floor.
Whether you try to refinish your hardwood floors yourself or have a professional contractor do it (often the better choice), the process will follow a logical sequence. Carpet removal and disposal costs $0.25 to $1.00 per square foot alone, plus $2 to $7 per square foot for hardwood floor refinishing. There are several types of sanders used for refinishing. Removing wall-to-wall carpeting runs from $.25 to $1.50 per square foot, including the cost of disposal. With extensive projects, people sometimes opt to leave for a few days while the dust settles and the fumes clear. Homes built before the 1920s often have thinner wood flooring. Solid hardwood floors may be refinished 4 to 10 times, depending on thickness and age. Need professional help with your project? Engineered hardwood flooring living room after refinishing process. ), Finish application brushes and rollers: $50. The better the structural condition of the floor, the more cost-effective the refinishing job will be. Refinishing engineered hardwood floors costs $2 to $6 per square foot on average. Broken or missing boards will need to be replaced. HomeAdvisor. If you have allergy sensitivities or breathing difficulties, the dustless refinishing method uses a vacuum fan to reroute the dust as it sands. You may also get away with a thorough polishinga great DIY job without the risk of floor damage. Follow a payment plan instead. Be aware that some deep scratches or gouges may not be removable by traditional sanding.
Pine is softer than oak and requires extra care when sanding to prevent grooves or chatter marks in the wood. Flooring professionals may also have more experience with common materials such as oak and may charge less than specialty ones like bamboo hardwood floors. Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 18,379 HomeAdvisor members. Even if you hire a professional, you'll still play a role in getting the refinishing process rolling.
During application of finishes, wear whatever breathing protection is recommended by the manufacturer, and provide as much ventilation as you can. Sanding removes the old finish, scratches, dings, and discoloration. 
There are four major labor parts of a hardwood refinishing project that need to be accounted for in any estimate. If you happen to live in a very humid climate, then the process of drying stains and finishes can take significantly longer. Engineered Hardwood Flooring, Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring for Bedrooms, How to Use a Drum Sander on Hardwood Floors. Polishing hardwood keeps your floors looking new between coats and refinishes. Refinishing hardwood stairs costs $25 to $85 per step, depending on the stairway style and if the treads and risers are refinished. This is generally not included in the estimate for a project, and if the contractors have to take care of this themselves, they may charge a premium for the service. Sanding: A drum sander removes the topcoat of stain and levels any remaining minor scratches, stains, or inconsistencies. Sandless refinishing uses chemicals to etch the old finish off, followed by a tinted finish that hides scuff marks and restores the wood's color and sheen. Some small bathrooms, powder rooms, and laundry rooms may be too small to refinish at all without the help of a specialist with the necessary equipment. Edger and floor sander rental cost - chart. Your refinishing project also presents a great opportunity to repair any underlying structural issues, scratches, or stains, so remember to budget for the cost of hardwood floor repairs into your final total. We recommend speaking to at least three flooring contractors to compare estimates and the team's background. These numbers come from the combined cost of the job from start to finish, including sanding, staining, and finishing. Expect higher prices if your floors are made of pine, maple, or mahogany. You'll need to clear the room, assess the state of hardwood floors, and collaborate with professionals about your ideal stain color and finished look. This may mean that the project stretches out over more days, making the rooms inaccessible for long periods of time while they dry. Hardwood floor refinishing involves sanding the surface layer to remove the old finish and any scratches, dings, or minor discoloration. Since labor plays a significant role in the cost of refinishing hardwood floorsas much as 80% or $2 to $5 per square footbe sure to get a few estimates to compare prices. Hardwood flooring comes in two varieties: solid hardwood, which consists of the same wood from top to bottom, and engineered hardwood, a laminated product in which a relatively thin layer of solid hardwood is bonded over a layer of less expensive sheet material, usually plywood or some form of particleboard.
Moving furniture: The room you refinish will need to be cleared of any furniture or furnishings before starting the project. This is because the equipment used to sand down a hardwood floor is usually quite large, and it is not easy to get it into or maneuver it through tight areas. The second they switch on that sander, a good amount of dust from the finish and top layer of wood kick up into the air. Hiring a Pro. The average cost to sand, restain, and refinish wood floors is $2 to $7 per square foot. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. How much will your floor refinishing cost? Refinish hardwood floors every seven to 10 years, depending on the amount of wear and tear they receive during this time. Discovering stunning hardwood floorboards beneath old carpeting opens your home to new possibilities. Topcoating: The final step is to apply a tough, durable topcoat finish, usually a water- or oil-based polyurethane. *The cost of labor increases for smaller spaces due to minimum job fees. How much do you charge to move the furniture? Add felt tabs or pads to the bottom of furniture legs to prevent scratches and scuffing. Removing the baseboards to refinish hardwood floors is optional but protects the trim from being nicked by the sanding equipment.
Depending on the initial state of your floors, recoating is either the final step in the larger process or the only step you need. Remember that it will take a professional about five hours total to refinish 100 square feet of flooring, so factor in the time commitment when deciding whether to do this project yourself. Look at their reviews on HomeGuide, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Polyurethane finish costs around $40 to $100 per gallon depending on the thickness of the finish and the quality of the product. When you receive a quote from your local floor team, expect the price tag to come down to the following factors: Additional repairs (water damage, board replacement, etc.). Here's how to break down the prices piece by piece. Screening only works on floors with a non-waxed polyurethane finish. There can also be a purely regional factor at work; for example, labor in the Northeast is often more expensive than it is in the South. https://www.thespruce.com/cost-to-refinish-hardwood-floors-1314853, https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/how-much-does-it-cost-to-refinish-hardwood-floors/, https://floorcritics.com/hardwood-refinishing-costs/, https://www.flooringclarity.com/hardwood-refinish-cost/, https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_refinish_hardwood_floor.html, https://www.floorsbytheshore.com/hardwood-floor-refinishing-cost/, https://theflooringgirl.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-sand-refinish-hardwood-floors-westchester/, https://www.signaturecustomflooring.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-have-my-hardwood-floors-refinished/, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-refinish-hardwood-floors/, http://www.pittsburghhardwoodrefinishing.com/refinishing-costs.html, https://newyorkcitywoodfloors.com/pricing/, https://monkshomeimprovements.com/our-services/flooring/dustless-floor-refinishing/, https://rippnfinish.com/hardwood-floor-faqs/, https://www.elegantfloorservices.com/blog/hardwood-floor-refinishing-cost/, https://www.hunker.com/13714711/how-much-does-it-cost-to-stain-hardwood-floors, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/flooring/21015479/refinishing-school, https://www.virginiatopfloors.com/about-us/, https://bcalflooring.com/hardwood-floor-refinishing-in-marietta-ga/, https://info.floordecorct.com/blog/cost-to-refinish-hardwood-flooring, Scuffs and scratches that only penetrate the finish, Stains, gray patches, or UV discoloration, Floors with non-waxed polyurethane finish, Paint roller frame, roller covers, and extension pole for varnish application. Polishing, buffing, and recoating cost less but only removes minor scuffs and scratches and adds a new sheen.
The moldings are replaced after sanding and finishing are complete. How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors. A heavy-duty disc sander, also called an edger, is also needed to sand into corners, edges and tight spots where the upright sanders can't reach. Adding a new topcoat or polishing your floors is a bit more DIY-friendly, but only for confident homeowners comfortable with these tricky materials. Find top-rated wood refinishing pros near you. On the other hand, not every floor requires all three steps. Floor sander preparing hardwood floor for refinishing. Here are some general price ranges depending on the size of your space: The average cost to refinish floors may not look the same in a large city as it does in the countryside, but perhaps not in the way you expect. Tackling floor refinishing yourself is not recommended for those new to DIY home repairs. Larger projects represent more money for less effort to contractors, and so they are usually willing to offer discounts to secure these jobs. You'll pay between $7 and $25 per square foot for replacement and just $3 to $8 per square foot for refinishing. Millions of people ask HomeGuide for cost estimates every year. Make sure you get an estimate on those costs. When it's time to refinish, restain, or simply freshen up your hardwood floors, you'll pay between $1,076 and $2,523or about $1,799 on average for the job. Comes in satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss, Requires multiple coats but dries within a few hours, Best varnish for exotic wood or parquet floors, Requires relocating for several days to air out home, Engineered hardwood with acrylic impregnated wear layers. Removing carpet or other flooring: If the hardwood you want to have refinished is beneath old carpet, vinyl flooring, or another material, the refinishing contractor will charge extra to remove it for you. *Based on 369 project costs reported by HomeGuide members. Sanding is followed by the application of stains and finishes, which can smell terrible and be toxic to the interior air quality of the space for short periods of time. Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost Calculator, Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors Yourself, DIY Hardwood Refinishing vs. Refinishing a hardwood floor requires a minimum of three passes with the sander using sandpaper in three different grits. Original hardwood floors can last over a century when well-cared-for and properly finished. The cost for refinishing wood stairs averages about $40 to $75 per stair tread. Get free custom quotes from qualified pros in your area. Some companies will charge between $20 and $50 per room to move it for you. The cost to screen, buff, and recoat hardwood floors is $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot. Most contractors will remove baseboard shoe moldings to allow sanding equipment to sand right up to the wall edges. Refinishing hardwood stairs costs $25 to $85 per step. The Basics of Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Floors. Change the tabs on chairs and stools. This will cover most mid-sized spaces like dining and living rooms. Solid Hardwood Flooring: Which Is Better? Refinishing your hardwood floors cost two to three times less than replacing them. One gallon of polyurethane is usually enough to apply two coats over a 300-square-foot space. Unless you're prepping to move into a new home, you'll need to make sure your furniture is safe and sound for the refinishing process. Hardwoods such as pine, bamboo, and parquet require special care while sanding or staining, but the total cost is the same to refinish. One of the great things about having a hardwood floor is that, even when it eventually starts to show its age by developing scratches and dings, you have the option of refinishing the material to revitalize the floor completely. Refinishing oak, cherry, or pine floors costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot without staining or $2 to $7 per square foot with staining. Select companies that are insured, bonded, and have been in business for longer than five years. Oak is the most common hardwood for flooring. Pergo and laminate floors cannot be sanded, refinished, or screened and recoated like solid hardwood. Polyurethanes come in both water-based and oil-based (alkyd-based) forms. Are You Considering Hardwood Flooring for Your Bathroom? Larger projects that involve multiple floors may require several days of work, in which case you'll pay between $100 and $200 for a weekend or around $250 for the whole week. Refinishing your floors costs between $600 and $4,000. Like most home renovation jobs, nailing down your specific price will depend on your unique home. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. DIY refinishing projects typically take several days, depending on the home's size. Refinishing the floors is typically cheaper than installing new carpet, depending on the wood flooring condition. Speak with your prospective floor professionals about how supply chain issues can affect the cost of hardwood floorboard replacement, stain and topcoat, and necessary tools for the refinishing process.
Check with the contractor to confirm the wood will absorb the stain evenly. Oak and cherry wood, on the other hand, are the most commonly found materials, so you don't have to search as far to find pros familiar with how to handle it. Can you provide a list of references from your past projects? Some wood styles are softer and therefore easier to dent such as pine. How long will the refinishing project take? On a per-square-foot basis, average costs run about $3 to $8 per square foot, but these costs can vary depending on the complexity of the work and the total size of the area you want to have refinished. Screening and recoating is a better option for floors that are too thin to sand. Enter the wood floor's length and width in the calculator below to estimate the cost of refinishing. Compare quotes, message or call pros, and hire only when ready. Belt-action sanders are regarded as more heavy-duty tools, but they can be hard to handle and beginners sometimes have problems with gouging the floor when using them. Pine, bamboo, and parquet floors require special care while sanding or staining, but costs the same to refinish. Consider replacing the damaged planks or the entire floor; or refinishing and covering the floor with a dark wood stain. N-Hance works best for floors with minimal scratches or dings. Polyurethane finishes come in several different gloss finishes, from flat to high-sheen. Help your neighbors make an informed decision. Standard tipping rates for floor refinishers are $10 to $30 per person if their work quality exceeds your expectations. Let's start by breaking down the three main steps of refinishing hardwood floors: sanding, staining, and recoating. A number of factors can affect the overall cost of refinishing: Size of the floor: Generally, smaller rooms are going to be more expensive to refinish per square foot. Homeowners use HomeAdvisor to find pros for home projects. Ask a refinishing pro. Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor. For floors with a dull sheen and only minor scuffing, consider screening and recoating instead. Receive quotes from multiple pros that meet your exact needs. Sanding is crucial to refinishing a floor properly. Wood Dust. DIY sanding voids the warranty. Engineered hardwood can still be sanded, but you'll need to take care not to grind down through the surface layer into the core. Laminate floors feature a top layer of veneer that is too thin for sanding. The team will top everything off with a coat of finish, running you $1 to $2 per square foot. Professionals will charge between $100 to $300, or you can take on the job for between $50 to $100. The cost to buff and recoat hardwood floors is $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot. You will likely find that doing this work yourself is a good way to save money. If you're feeling brave and confident enough to take on the project yourself, keep a few things in mind when refinishing your floors. Cost to resurface or redo hardwood floors, Refinishing hardwood floors vs. replacing with new floors cost, Hiring a professional hardwood flooring contractor. Wear breathing protection, such as a particle mask, when sanding and cleaning up the dust. The price fluctuations come down to the unique needs of each wood or manufactured material. Not all hardwood species are suitable for staining. Refinishing parquet floors costs $2 to $6 per square foot, depending on the type of refinishing and if any repairs are needed. ScreeningAKA buffinguses a thinner sanding disk to remove the thin topcoat of your floors without affecting the wood below. The effects of UV rays through your window can also cause inconsistencies in the color of your floors. Keep in mind that the floors underneath carpeting may require an extra pass with the sander or even some repairs, so this may push the cost higher. Any protruding nail heads will be driven down below the surface of the wood. Compare refinishing estimates for free before DIY. A DIYer, on the other hand, can expect to give up the better part of a weekend to do a good job when refinishing a floor.
Whether you try to refinish your hardwood floors yourself or have a professional contractor do it (often the better choice), the process will follow a logical sequence. Carpet removal and disposal costs $0.25 to $1.00 per square foot alone, plus $2 to $7 per square foot for hardwood floor refinishing. There are several types of sanders used for refinishing. Removing wall-to-wall carpeting runs from $.25 to $1.50 per square foot, including the cost of disposal. With extensive projects, people sometimes opt to leave for a few days while the dust settles and the fumes clear. Homes built before the 1920s often have thinner wood flooring. Solid hardwood floors may be refinished 4 to 10 times, depending on thickness and age. Need professional help with your project? Engineered hardwood flooring living room after refinishing process. ), Finish application brushes and rollers: $50. The better the structural condition of the floor, the more cost-effective the refinishing job will be. Refinishing engineered hardwood floors costs $2 to $6 per square foot on average. Broken or missing boards will need to be replaced. HomeAdvisor. If you have allergy sensitivities or breathing difficulties, the dustless refinishing method uses a vacuum fan to reroute the dust as it sands. You may also get away with a thorough polishinga great DIY job without the risk of floor damage. Follow a payment plan instead. Be aware that some deep scratches or gouges may not be removable by traditional sanding.
Pine is softer than oak and requires extra care when sanding to prevent grooves or chatter marks in the wood. Flooring professionals may also have more experience with common materials such as oak and may charge less than specialty ones like bamboo hardwood floors. Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 18,379 HomeAdvisor members. Even if you hire a professional, you'll still play a role in getting the refinishing process rolling.
During application of finishes, wear whatever breathing protection is recommended by the manufacturer, and provide as much ventilation as you can. Sanding removes the old finish, scratches, dings, and discoloration. There are four major labor parts of a hardwood refinishing project that need to be accounted for in any estimate. If you happen to live in a very humid climate, then the process of drying stains and finishes can take significantly longer. Engineered Hardwood Flooring, Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring for Bedrooms, How to Use a Drum Sander on Hardwood Floors. Polishing hardwood keeps your floors looking new between coats and refinishes. Refinishing hardwood stairs costs $25 to $85 per step, depending on the stairway style and if the treads and risers are refinished. This is generally not included in the estimate for a project, and if the contractors have to take care of this themselves, they may charge a premium for the service. Sanding: A drum sander removes the topcoat of stain and levels any remaining minor scratches, stains, or inconsistencies. Sandless refinishing uses chemicals to etch the old finish off, followed by a tinted finish that hides scuff marks and restores the wood's color and sheen. Some small bathrooms, powder rooms, and laundry rooms may be too small to refinish at all without the help of a specialist with the necessary equipment. Edger and floor sander rental cost - chart. Your refinishing project also presents a great opportunity to repair any underlying structural issues, scratches, or stains, so remember to budget for the cost of hardwood floor repairs into your final total. We recommend speaking to at least three flooring contractors to compare estimates and the team's background. These numbers come from the combined cost of the job from start to finish, including sanding, staining, and finishing. Expect higher prices if your floors are made of pine, maple, or mahogany. You'll need to clear the room, assess the state of hardwood floors, and collaborate with professionals about your ideal stain color and finished look. This may mean that the project stretches out over more days, making the rooms inaccessible for long periods of time while they dry. Hardwood floor refinishing involves sanding the surface layer to remove the old finish and any scratches, dings, or minor discoloration. Since labor plays a significant role in the cost of refinishing hardwood floorsas much as 80% or $2 to $5 per square footbe sure to get a few estimates to compare prices. Hardwood flooring comes in two varieties: solid hardwood, which consists of the same wood from top to bottom, and engineered hardwood, a laminated product in which a relatively thin layer of solid hardwood is bonded over a layer of less expensive sheet material, usually plywood or some form of particleboard.