Refinishing hardwood floors is one of the best value upgrades in home improvement -- it restores worn floors to like-new condition at a fraction of replacement cost. Here's what it costs and what to expect.
Cost per square foot and total project
Sanding and refinishing: $3-$5/sq ft for standard refinishing. Full refinishing with stain change: $4-$8/sq ft. Buff and recoat (no sanding, existing finish refreshed): $1.50-$3/sq ft -- appropriate only for lightly worn floors with no deep scratches. A 600 sq ft main floor runs $2,000-$4,000 fully refinished.
What the process involves
Professional refinishing involves: moving all furniture, drum sanding to remove old finish and scratches, edge sanding along walls, applying stain if desired, and applying 2-3 coats of polyurethane with drying time between coats. The process takes 2-4 days and the home must be vacated during and after for fume ventilation.
How many times can you refinish hardwood
Each refinish removes 1/32 to 1/16 inch of wood. Most solid hardwood floors (¾ inch thick) can be refinished 4-7 times. Engineered hardwood has a thinner wear layer (1/16 to 1/4 inch) and can typically be refinished 1-3 times. Check how thick your floor is before assuming it can be refinished.
Repair vs. refinish vs. replace
Refinish if: the floor has surface scratches, dullness, minor dents, or faded finish. Repair individual boards if: there's localized damage (water stain, gouges in a few boards). Replace if: boards are cupping (curling at edges due to moisture), there is widespread rot, or the floor has been refinished to near its thickness limit.
Bottom line
Refinishing hardwood costs $3-$8/sq ft versus $8-$15/sq ft for new hardwood installation. If your floors are structurally sound, refinishing is almost always the better value.
Need flooring work done?
Novum sends its own licensed crew. Flat upfront quote before we touch anything.