How much does it cost to sand and refinish a hardwood floor?

To completely refinish a hardwood floor—including sanding down the top layer to bare wood, then applying several coats of new finish like polyurethane—expect to pay flooring professionals $1.50 to $4 per square foot, or $340 to $900 for a 15-by-15-foot room.

Is it cheaper to sand and refinish hardwood floors or replace?

In general, it will almost ALWAYS be less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors. If you replace them, you need to pay for additional wood as well as ripping up and hauling away existing hardwood. … Even if you have this, it will still be less expensive then replacing the whole floor.

How much does it cost to refinish 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

Cost to refinish hardwood floors
Room size Square feet Average cost
20×20 400 $1,000 – $2,000
24×24 576 $1,200 – $2,800
Stairs (12 to 14 steps) $300 – $1,200
Whole house 1,000 $2,000 – $4,000

What is the average cost to sand and refinish hardwood floors?

Nationally, the average cost for refinishing a hardwood floor is $1,761, within a typical range of $1,074 to $2,486. 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.

How much does it cost to refinish 500 square feet of hardwood floors?

Cost per square foot to refinish hardwood floors:
Flooring square footage Average cost
100 – 250 sq. ft. $600
251 – 500 sq. ft. $750
501 – 750 sq. ft. $1,601
751 – 1000 sq. ft. $2,100

Can you stay in house while floors are refinished?

The strong scent of polyurethane and stain lingers in the atmosphere for very long and can kick-start a migraine any time or all the time. Even if it’s not causing migraines, it’s still uncomfortable to live in a house where the floor is being refinished and there are strong odors in the air.

How do you tell if your hardwood floors can be refinished?

Water Test

Pour a spoonful of water onto the floor. If it forms droplets that stay on the surface of the wood, the floor finish is still good. If the water is slowly absorbed into the wood, the finish is worn and needs to be restored.

What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?

Applying a revitalizer gloss is the simplest and cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors. This approach works best on floors that only have surface-level scratches and other minor wear and tear issues. You can get the job done without the need for equipment rentals or hard-to-find materials.

How long does it take to sand and refinish hardwood floors?

It typically takes between two and five days to refinish hardwood floors, depending on the type of polyurethane you use (oil or water-based), and the size and condition of your floors.

Do baseboards need to be removed to refinish hardwood floors?

As a general rule, we recommend leaving your base and shoe on when having your floors refinished, especially if it is painted. Depending on how the painters prepped your base, you can actually cause more damage to the base and walls by removing it.

Does refinishing hardwood floors increase home value?

Flooring – Replacing outdated carpet or flooring, or simply refinishing wood floors that have seen better days, will definitely increase the value of your home, with a 102% return on investment.


Is refinishing hardwood floors worth it?

Yes, it’s worth refinishing hardwood floors instead of replacing them. Refinishing is cost-effective, it’s quicker, and it’s a lot easier because it requires less labor. … A refinishing project takes less time and effort and, if done properly, can make old flooring look brand new.

Can I sand my floors myself?

Sanding wood floors is a time consuming but relatively easy procedure. Sanding wood floors &amp, refinishing yourself will definitely save money, and even an inexperienced homeowner can likely do a better job than the lowest bidding handyperson who quotes on it.

Can you refinish floors yourself?

If you only have some minor scratches and dings or a dull finish, you might be able to simply buff and add a new coat of varnish. But, even if your floors need a complete makeover, refinishing hardwood is a very manageable and rewarding do-it-yourself job that can save a lot of money.

How many times can you refinish hardwood floors?

Hardwood flooring can be re-sanded up to 10 times, depending on how bad the floor is and how skilled the person doing the sanding is. It costs about $2.50 per square foot to refinish a floor, plus $50 an hour for patching and thresholds.

What is the difference between refinishing and resurfacing wood floors?

What’s the Difference? Refinishing involves sanding down the uppermost layer of the floor and applying fresh stain and lacquer over the existing wood. … Resurfacing your floor involves more than just putting a layer of polish on top.