How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors

If properly maintained, hardwood floors can last for many years. They may even last a lifetime. If a client is a busy family, has many pets, or lives in an area with extreme temperature fluctuations, their hardwood floors will show signs of wear sooner.

How do you know when to upgrade or refinish the hardwood floors of a home? When should you recommend that your client replace their hardwood flooring instead of refinishing it? How much does hardwood floor refinishing cost and what is involved? This article will answer these questions so you can be prepared to provide an estimate for your clients or to answer any questions they may have about the refinishing procedure.

Refinishing hardwood floors: Signs to look out for
engineered wood flooring will show wear and tear over time. Hardwood floors can look better with a little wear. There are some signs that indicate that your floors need to be upgraded:

• There are visible dentations, deep scratches, or holes in the floor.
• The stains are not easily removable
• The color is uneven or off.
• The floorboards are dull.
• Moisture damage
• Hardwood floors are thinning out

All of these are signs that you should suggest that your client refinish their hardwood floors to keep them in great shape and looking good for many years. If the floors are heavily damaged by water, you should advise your client to replace them instead of refinishing. Water damage will continue eroding and damaging the wood, and further infiltrating the space. The floors will no longer serve their purpose.

What is the process for refinishing wood floors?
To save money, many clients are tempted to refinish their hardwood floors themselves. We strongly recommend that you hire a professional for the refinishing. If you don’t, your hardwood floors may be damaged, thinned too much or stained incorrectly.

Refinishing hardwood floors may not be as simple as you might think. To avoid causing further damage, the floor must be prepared before refinishing. A lot of tools are needed, such as a drum sander, a belt sander and vacuums. The process can be messy, so you will want to remove all furniture and appliances from the room or cover them with plastic sheeting.

Many DIY clients don’t pay enough attention to floor preparation. The extent of preparation will depend on the condition and type of hardwood flooring. The prep work for floors that have deep scratches or damage can be more time-consuming and may require additional materials. Professionals should sand the floors to prevent uneven results or excessive thinning of the floorboards.

How much will it cost to refinish a hardwood floor?
According to HomeAdvisor research, the average price of refinishing hardwood flooring in the U.S. is $1,757. Nearly 80% of the cost goes to labor. The rest is for materials and accessories. The cost of refinishing hardwood floors depends on many factors, including the size of the job, the type and condition of the flooring, as well as the amount of materials needed. Additional costs can be incurred if you need to remove or replace carpeting, move furniture, and clean.

Many homeowners think it’s cheaper to do the job themselves. The actual cost can be up to three times more than a professional job because clients will need to purchase essentials like sandpapers, drum sanders and edgers as well as brushes, rollers, safety equipment, cleaning supplies, etc. Renting certain tools is not cheap. For example, a drum floor grinder can cost up to $200 per weekend.

Hardwood floors require a great deal of effort, along with a large number of tools and materials. The cost of refinishing hardwood floors increases with the size of the area to be worked on and the condition of the floor. The larger the area, the more time and materials will be needed, such as more stain or topcoat. Preparing the floor can be time-consuming and involves removing carpets and furniture, replacing damaged boards, and dusting. Sanding hardwood flooring can cost between $0.50 and $3 per square foot. The process involves the use of belt sanders at the edges and large drum sanders. It is necessary to repeat this process several times in order to achieve a smooth finish.

The cost of staining hardwood flooring can range from $3 to $100 per gallon. Lower-end stains can be as low as $30, while high-end products may go up to $100. For best results, some floors may need to be stained multiple times.

Next, the topcoat is applied to the hardwood floor. This step is vital for durability and protection. An oil-based coat can cost between $20 and $50 per quart, while a water-based coating costs anywhere from $25 to $50. Depending on the project type and extent of damage, you may need to apply multiple layers of topcoat.

The most cost-effective solution is to hire a professional.
The following are some costs for refinishing wood floors. Labor costs are not included. It may require additional materials, accessories and special equipment. So, attempting to DIY this project might not be as easy as it seems. Costs can be higher for clients who choose to do the job themselves. The best and most cost effective option is to hire a professional. Professionals will ensure that your hardwood floor will remain in great shape for many years.