But here are some ballpark estimates if you hire a pro to refinish flooring:
- 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 $2 to $7 per square foot.
- If your floor is slightly worn but otherwise in good condition, you could get by on just recoating the flooring without sanding. This will typically cost $1.50 to $5 per square foot.
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?
Generally speaking, it is almost always less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors than to replace them. That's because replacing them involves paying for additional wood, the installation itself, as well as labor costs for tearing up and hauling away the existing hardwood.
How much does it cost to refinish 2000 square feet of hardwood floors?
Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors by Project SizeAreaSquare FootageApproximate Cost24'x24'576$1,500–$2,800Small house1,000$2,000–$4,000Average house2,000$4,000–$6,000Large house3,000$6,000–$8,0004 more rows•Aug 17, 2022
How much should it cost to refinish hardwood floors?
Perhaps it's not in your budget to replace your hardwood floors after years of damage. But you'll be happy to know that refinishing your floors can restore their surface for a fraction of the price. The average cost to refinish hardwood floors is about $1,850, with a range of $1,150 to $2,500.
Is it worth it to refinish hardwood floors?
Refinishing wood floors is a great way to extend the life of your flooring and is cheaper and more environmentally safe than a full replacement. If you're tired of the current look of your floors and want an update, you can refinish your floors to get an entirely new look with much less effort and inconvenience to you.
Do you have to remove all furniture to refinish hardwood floors?
Because it's impossible to refinish a floor with furniture in the rooms, it is necessary to move all furniture items from the areas to be completed.
What is the difference between refinishing and resurfacing wood floors?
The refinishing process essentially involves sanding the outermost layer of protective coating off of the hardwood floors, then restaining and polishing them. Lastly, adding a new layer of protective sealant with much better technology than the one last used. Resurfaced floors are more time-consuming and expensive.
What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?
5:419:06how to refinish your hardwood flooring easy and cheap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor your finish is going to depend upon what product you decide to use for me. It's said to work inMoreFor your finish is going to depend upon what product you decide to use for me. It's said to work in small areas around the room applying the product first to a scouring pad.
Do you need to remove baseboards 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.
How much does it cost to refinish 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?
between $3,000 and $8,000The cost to refinish 1,000 square feet of hardwood flooring averages between $3,000 and $8,000.
Does refinishing floors add value?
5. 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.
How long do refinished hardwood floors last?
8-12 yearsTypically hardwood floors should be refinished every 8-12 years, but this varies depending on how rough you are with your floors. Some people don't refinish/recoat their floors and are perfectly content leaving them the way they were installed.
How can I make my wood floors look new again?
0:102:09Make wood floors look like new again! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd wring out the microfiber applicator pad with water start spreading wood floor restorer to aMoreAnd wring out the microfiber applicator pad with water start spreading wood floor restorer to a small section of the floor until a thin coat is. Achieved.
What is the average cost to sand and refinish hardwood floors?
According to HomeAdvisor and Angi the typical price range to refinish hardwood floors is between $600 and $4,000, with the national average at $1,800. This comes out to $3 to $8 per square foot, including materials and labor. Roughly 80 percent of the cost to refinish hardwood floors comes from labor.
How much does it cost to refinish 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?
Cost per square foot to refinish hardwood floors:Flooring square footageAverage cost100 - 250 sq. ft.$600251 - 500 sq. ft.$750501 - 750 sq. ft.$1,601751 - 1000 sq. ft.$2,1003 more rows•Aug 31, 2022
What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?
5:419:06how to refinish your hardwood flooring easy and cheap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor your finish is going to depend upon what product you decide to use for me. It's said to work inMoreFor your finish is going to depend upon what product you decide to use for me. It's said to work in small areas around the room applying the product first to a scouring pad.
Do you need to remove baseboards 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.
How much does it cost to refinish engineered hardwood floors?
Refinishing engineered hardwood floors costs $2 to $6 per square foot on average. Engineered flooring features a base layer with a solid hardwood wear layer on top. Engineered floors may be sanded and refinished 1 to 5 times, depending on the wear layer's thickness.
How much does sandless floor refinishing cost?
Sandless floor refinishing costs $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot. 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. Sandless methods are not effective for floors with scratches, stains, or damage.
What is hardwood floor refinishing?
Hardwood floor refinishing involves sanding the surface layer to remove the old finish and any scratches, dings, or minor discoloration. After sanding, contractors may add a stain to change the wood color, then apply a clear finish to seal and protect the floor.
How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?
Hardwood floor refinishing is a time-consuming home improvement project and takes 2 to 6 days on average. Hardwood floors should be refinished every 7 to 10 years, depending on thickness, species, and age. Pine, bamboo, and parquet floors require special care while sanding or staining, but costs the same to refinish.
What is refinishing wood floors?
Hardwood floor refinishing in kitchen - before and after. Wood refinishing jobs typically removes pet stains, water damage, scratches, dings, fading, sun damage, discoloration, Polishing, buffing, and recoating cost less but only removes minor scuffs and scratches and adds a new sheen.
How much does it cost to whitewash hardwood floors?
Cost to whitewash hardwood floors. Whitewashing hardwood floors costs $2 to $7 per square foot and requires sanding to remove the old finish and then applying a light wash and clear polyurethane topcoat instead of a darker stain. Whitewashing is also known as pickling. Never use paint to whitewash a floor.
When was the 2021 refinishing of hardwood floors approved?
Reviewed and approved on April 19, 2021, by Tom Grupa and 6 expert hardwood floor refinishers on HomeGuide.
What is required to refinish a floor?
Includes planning, equipment and material acquisition, area preparation and protection, setup and cleanup. Cost of related materials and supplies typically required to refinish floors including: manufacturer recommended underlayment, fasteners, adhesives and surface sealants.
How to estimate project cost?
To estimate costs for your project: 1. Set Project Zip Code Enter the Zip Code for the location where labor is hired and materials purchased. 2. Specify Project Size and Options Enter the number of "square feet" required for the project. 3.
How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floor?
The total average cost to refinish hardwood floors for a typical dining room equaling 280 square ft. will run you: $4 to $7.50 per sq ft. depending on options and preparation work.
When to get contractor pricing?
Try to get prices in late Fall, early winter – you should expect aggressive pricing discounts by waiting for a contractor’s down season.
What is the purpose of wood filler on flooring?
Most flooring repairs involve using wood filler to fill in the gaps in your flooring due to expansion and contraction caused from worn out finishes that exposes untreated flooring. This is normally included in the price and is the second stage of prep after sanding.
Is there a one size fits all approach to home improvement?
There isn’t a one-size fits all approach to home improvement , other factors have to taken into consideration when it comes down to costs, such as:
Can you refinish hardwood floors?
Refinish Hardwood Floors isn’t an easy task to perform and can leave you with a sore back . You might find it more cost effective to hire a Flooring Contractor, or a General Contractor to perform the work for you. Flooring contractors and General Contractors will most always get better prices on Refinishing products — saving your back any additional costs of Refinish Hardwood Floor materials, so shop around, ask your neighbors if they can recommend someone.
How much less to refinish than replace hardwood floors?
On average, it costs 50 percent less to refinish than replace a hardwood floor.
How much does it cost to refinish oak flooring?
The cost to refinish oak flooring is between $3 and $5 per square foot. Oak is also a very common flooring hardwood, and contractors will have experience with refinishing this material. Oak is durable and can withstand a lot of foot traffic, so there’s little to no need for extra care when refinishing this type of flooring.
How much does it cost to refinish engineered hardwood?
Expect to pay around $3 to $5 to refinish engineered hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood consists of a thin layer of real wood on top of plywood. Because of this, it takes a professional to properly sand engineered hardwood since only a thin layer can be sanded off. Any sanding mistakes resulting from a DIY project will ruin the flooring. Engineered hardwood may only be able to be refinished one to three times before the veneer becomes too thin.
What materials are needed to refinish hardwood floors?
Materials needed for refinishing hardwood floors include a drum sander, sanding belt, various tools for prep or repair work, vacuums, plastic sheeting, stain, and topcoat. Larger areas will require more stain and topcoat than smaller areas.
Why do you refinish hardwood floors?
Refinishing hardwood floors will eliminate scratches and gouges and reveal the natural warmth and beauty of the wood flooring. If there is water or UV damage to the flooring, a full refinish will restore the luster and shine. Here are some reasons to consider refinishing your hardwood floors.
How much does it cost to sand hardwood floors?
On average, sanding hardwood floors can cost between $.50 to $3 per square foot. Sanding is done with large drum sanders for most of the area and belt sanders around the perimeter. Sanding usually takes several passes to make sure the hardwood flooring is smooth and blemish-free.
Why is my hardwood floor unstable?
Extreme water damage due to flooding or burst pipes will compromise the structural integrity of the hardwood floor and the subflooring underneath. Or if your home has been the victim of a termite infestation, the flooring may be unstable or too damaged to be refinished. If the flooring is unsafe, repairs and replacement will be needed.
How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors?
Average Costs for Refinishing 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 stairs?
The cost for refinishing wood stairs averages about $40 to $75 per stair tread. The high cost is because these are small surfaces that require skilled, time-consuming detail work.
How much material do you need to sand hardwood floors?
Generally, you want to have at least 3/4 inch of material or more present before sanding a hardwood floor. Less than this, and you risk ruining the floor.
Why is labor more expensive for hardwood refinishing?
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. 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.
How much does polyurethane cost?
Polyurethane finish costs around $40 to $100 per gallon depending on the thickness of the finish and the quality of the product. One gallon of polyurethane is usually enough to apply two coats over a 300-square-foot space. Polyurethanes come in both water-based and oil-based (alkyd-based) forms.
Can refinishing hardwood floors cause allergies?
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. Wear breathing protection, such as a particle mask, when sanding and cleaning up the dust.
Can you refinish engineered hardwood?
Engineered hardwood can still be sanded, but you'll need to take care not to grind down through the surface layer into the core. Generally, you'll be able to refinish engineered hardwood only once or twice before the core layers are exposed. By contrast, you can refinish most solid hardwood floors several times over the course of their life. However, eventually, even solid hardwood is going to wear down to the point where it's too thin to be sanded again safely.
How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors?
Refinishing hardwood floors costs $1,761 on average with a typical range between $1,074 and $2,486. You can expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $8 per square foot. For large and complex jobs, you might spend up to $4,000. The more area you have, the lower the square foot price. Adding in closets and other small, enclosed areas makes it a complex job, which increases the price.
How long does it take to refinish a floor?
It’ll take about 5 hours per 100 square feet of floor to refinish it. It also depends on how complex a layout you have and the current condition.
What is a screen on a floor?
Screens are clog resistant sanding disks, and the process of screening removes the floor finish without cutting into the wood itself. This step should only be done on a floor with a non-waxed polyurethane finish floor. Screening can only occur when the floor's finish is worn, scratched or dull, but the wood beneath has not been damaged or stained.
How much does a floor sander cost?
Floor sander prices vary a bit from place to place, but you can expect to pay around $60 per day. However, it’s easy to ruin a floor without the right experience or training. If you must DIY, consider hiring out for this step.
Can you refinish engineered hardwood floors?
However, you can usually only do a light sanding to most with a wear layer of 2 millimeters or less. Higher quality engineered floors with thick wear layers can get a deep sanding to remove gouges.
How much does water based wood cost?
Water-based: $25-$50 per gallon. It will remain clear, keeping the wood the same color over time. Water-based finish dries faster, which can be a bonus if there's a time restriction or deadline.
What happens if the finish isn't good?
Quality of previous finish: If the finish isn’t good, it’ll have to be completely removed, sanded and redone.
How much does it cost to replace a floor?
Replacing your floor ranges from $5 to $25 a sq.ft. for most flooring types. Your home size also impacts the project’s cost if you refloor the entire home.
How much does it cost to replace carpet with vinyl?
The cost to replace carpet with vinyl flooring is $3 to $16 a sq.ft. This includes removing the old carpet and purchasing and installing the vinyl. There are many types of vinyl flooring. This includes sheet vinyl, vinyl tiles, and vinyl planks. The vinyl can also be installed using several methods, all of which have different costs. The more complex the installation, the higher the total costs.
How much does it cost to replace tile with laminate?
The cost to replace tile with laminate is $7 to $18 a sq.ft. Tile may be easy or difficult to remove. It depends on the tile type, age, and thickness. For this reason, the removal alone could have a range of costs. There are also a few laminate types, which can be installed in different ways. The total costs depend on the removed tile’s type and age and the laminate type.
How long does a floor last?
Consider the lifespan when you replace your flooring. Some materials like stone and hardwood can last for hundreds of years. Others, such as carpet, may have shorter lifespans. The floors below have been ranked from longest lifespan to shortest to compare.
How much does it cost to install radiant floor heating?
Radiant heating uses hydronics or electricity to warm the room via convection heating. The price to install is $10 to $25 a sq.ft.
When replacing flooring in your home, what are the criteria?
Below, we compare each type on several criteria, such as maintenance, replacement difficulty, noise, sustainability, and lifespan. This can help you find the material that fits your lifestyle and home.
Can you replace flooring with something new?
You could also replace your flooring with something new. This flooring conversion can be done from one material to nearly any other, depending on the area. Below are some of the most popular flooring changes for the home and their costs for removal and installation.
