Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors
Refinishing hardwood floors removes the old finish through sanding, addresses squeaks or damaged sections, and adds stain or a protective sealer or polyurethane finish. The hard part is choosing whether the floor needs a simple screen and recoat or a full sand-down, then sanding evenly across the field, corners, and edges.
Common reasons homeowners do this job
- The existing floor finish is worn and needs renewal.
- Squeaks need repair before the floor is refinished.
- Damaged floor sections need attention.
- A homeowner wants to change the floor color with stain.
- The floor needs a new protective sealer or polyurethane finish.
DIY or call a pro?
This is a legitimate DIY project, but professional help is worth considering if operating a drum, edge, or detail sander, or repairing squeaks or damaged sections, feels beyond your comfort level. Sanding creates wood dust and involves loud equipment, so use a high-quality respirator, hearing protection, and safety goggles. Keep the work area well ventilated while staining and sealing because of chemical fumes.
Frequently asked questions
- Is hardwood floor refinishing a DIY job or one to hire out?
- It is DIY-friendly, provided you are comfortable using a drum sander, edge sander, and detail sander and can handle needed repairs. Consider professional help if those tools or repairing squeaks and damaged sections are outside your comfort level.
- What can make hardwood floor refinishing cost more?
- The price scales with floor area, labor time, and materials. Haul-away or disposal of old material can add to the job, and a small area may still be affected by a minimum or trip charge.
- How do I know whether the floor needs a screen and recoat or full sanding?
- Start by inspecting the floor's condition. Also check plank thickness through an HVAC grate or at an edge near a transition; there must be enough wood remaining for a full sand-down. Identify squeaks and damaged boards before choosing the scope.
- What safety gear matters when sanding and finishing hardwood floors?
- Wear a high-quality respirator for wood dust and chemical fumes, hearing protection for sanding equipment, and safety goggles for flying debris. Ventilate the area during staining and sealing, and vacuum thoroughly before using a tack cloth to remove dust.
Have a different situation?
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