How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors
The average cost to refinish hardwood floors is between $4.50 and $5.50 per square foot. Of course, this average is far from set in stone and allows for a lot of variability. The cost of refinishing a floor may depend on several different factors including whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a contractor, where you are located, and what types of woods, stains, and finishes you choose to use. Here are some things you need to consider when determining hardwood flooring refinishing cost:
Refinishing costs
The first thing you will need to consider when determining cost will be the actual refinishing process itself. What types of stains will you use? What type of finish will you use? Will your finish be glossy or satin? What brand will you use? Will you opt for low or high quality stains and finishes? The average cost for refinishing products ranges between $400 to $600 for a 100 square foot room. The larger the room, the more you can expect to pay.
Additional supplies
When considering hardwood flooring refinishing cost, you don’t just need to consider the costs of stains and finishes – you also need to consider all of the additional supplies you will need. This will include, but is not limited to, underlayment, fasteners, surface sealants, and adhesives. The average cost for supplies like these will be between $40-$50 per 134 square foot room. The larger the room, the more supplies you will need.
Equipment
If you opt to refinish your own hardwood floors, you’ll need to make sure that you have all of the equipment that you need. This can include, but is not limited to, floor sanders and floor edgers. You can opt to buy your own sanders and edgers, or you can rent them by the day. Rentals will generally cost between $40-$70.
Labor
If you opt to hire a contractor to refinish your floors, you’ll have to consider them in your hardwood refinishing cost. Costs of hiring a contractor will vary greatly depending on the size of the job and the company or contractor that you hire. With that being said, the cost of labor should include planning, preparation, sanding, finishing, protecting, and cleanup. All supplies and equipment should be included as well.
Additional costs to consider
When refinishing a hardwood floor, there are some additional or unexpected costs that can also arise. If you are refinishing stairs as opposed to a flat surface, this will cost a significant amount more. If your floor is severely damaged, cracked, or boards need to be replaced, this can also increase the pricing of hardwood flooring refinishing. If you have to remove old carpet before refinishing, this can also affect pricing.
If you are considering hiring a contractor to refinish your flooring, go ahead and ask for a free estimate. A contractor will be able to help you make a solid plan for refinishing your floor and give you an accurate hardwood flooring refinishing cost that includes all supplies and labor fees.
Are you ready for a new beautiful hardwood flooring? New hardwood flooring will definitely increase the value of your home. Contact Zack Hardwood Flooring today to get your new hardwood flooring.
If New Flooring Is Needed
If extensive damage requires that new flooring be installed, you can expect prices to start at about $6 per square foot and run as high as $15 ($3 to $5 per square foot for the materials plus $3 to $10 extra for the installation labor).
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.
Process Overview
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. There are four major labor parts of a hardwood refinishing project that need to be accounted for in any estimate:
Sanding: This is the process of grinding the wood flooring surface down to below the level where any blemishes or treatments have penetrated. This work is usually done with an upright, walk-behind power sander fitted with a sanding disc or screen. Edgework is generally done with an edging sander or belt sander. The sanding work usually takes several passes with progressively finer sandpaper. After sanding, the floor is thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned. Be aware that some deep scratches or gouges may not be removable by traditional sanding. Your floor will look much better, but it may not be quite as pristine as a new installation.
Staining: Once the floor has been sanded down, it will resemble new untreated wood. Depending on the wood species, some people prefer to apply a surface finish directly over the bare wood. Or, you can apply various dyes or stains to color the wood before applying a surface finish. Oil- or water-based wood stain is the standard material used for coloring, applied by rubbing it into the wood with cloths or staining pads.
Top-coating: The final step is to apply a tough, durable topcoat finish, usually a water- or oil-based polyurethane. The topcoat is applied with a brush and roller or finish pad, and it usually includes two or even three coats. Polyurethane finishes come in several different gloss finishes, from flat to high-sheen. The final coat may be buffed to increase its sheen and smoothness.
Factors Affecting Cost
In general, for a basic refinishing job, it will take a contractor about 4 to 5 hours per 100 square feet of space. 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. 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. 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. On the other hand, you can often get a discount on a project to refinish a larger space or multiple rooms on the same visit. Larger projects represent more money for less effort to contractors, and so they are usually willing to offer discounts to secure these jobs.
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 higher than it is in the South.
Company skill: Sometimes you will be able to find companies offering hardwood refinishing services at extremely low prices. Unfortunately, you usually get exactly what you pay for, and bargain-basement offers may lead to shoddy work or jobs that take longer than they should. Repairs to these mistakes can end up costing more than the original project.
Moving furniture: The room you refinish will need to be cleared of any furniture or furnishings before starting the project. 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. This can not only prolong the project but can also inflate the cost. You may be able to save money by doing the furniture-moving yourself.
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 them for you. Make sure you get an estimate on those costs. You will likely find that doing this work yourself is a good way to save money.
Repairs: If a floor is damaged beyond a certain point, refinishing it won’t be effective. In this case, the floor will need to be repaired before it can be refinished. Most refinishers will gladly do this work, but for an additional fee that may be higher than that charged by a handyman or carpenter. The better the structural condition of the floor, the most cost-effective the refinishing job will be.
Cleanup: Refinishing a hardwood floor can be a messy process, and unless the cleanup is specified in the contractor’s bid, you may need to factor in the cost of a cleaning service when determining the total expense of the project.
DIY vs. Professional Refinishing
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. The machinery used to do the sanding can often be rented from your local hardware store, along with the purchase of sanding pads, for about $300 to $400 in total cost. You will also have to purchase stains, finish, and any brushes or sprayers that will be required to apply them.
Remember that it will take a professional about 5 hours total to refinish 100 square feet of flooring, so factor in the time commitment when deciding whether to do this project yourself. 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. If you happen to live in a very humid climate, then the process of drying stains and finishes can take significantly longer. This may mean that the project stretches out over more days, making the rooms inaccessible for long periods of time while they dry.