How Much Does Wood Floor Refinishing Cost?
Wood floors are beautiful if they are maintained, but even with regular maintenance, over time, they can start to show some wear. Wood floor refinishing breaths new life into the home. Refinished wood flooring can bring a certain elegance to any area, leaving the floors both sparkling and shiny.
The cost to refinish a wood floor can vary depending on several factors. Typically, the more the wood is damaged, the more it will cost to refinish. The cost can also depend on the square footage and whether you need additional services to refinish it. These costs take into account many factors, including:
- the size of the area (sq ft)
- the condition of the floor
- floor color
- materials required
- stairs
- additional services
Experience definitely counts when it comes to a good floor refinishing job. Mistakes show up big time on wood flooring, and you may end up devaluing your property. To get the wooden floors back to their naturally beautiful state, you may require a professional wood floor refinishing service.
Square Footage
Many of the companies you will find charge per square foot for refinishing. However, there is a minimum charge, so if you choose to do a small area, your cost could be higher per square foot. The more space you refinish, the lower the cost will be per square foot.
Floor Condition
If there's a lot of damage, it will take longer and the cost to refinish a wood floor will also be higher than on one with less damage. If you had a carpet on the wood before, it can be labor intensive as well as expensive to get all of the debris off.
Floor Color
For people who have light floors and want a dark finish, this will not increase the cost. However, if you want to go the other way with it, lightening the floors is a much longer process. It will not only take longer but will cost more through labor and materials.
Materials Needed
The price can increase drastically by choosing high-end materials. However, this usually results in a better quality finish as well as a longer lasting result. Some of the materials that have options for both the low and mid-range of the price spectrum includes waxes, sealants, stainers and more. For special projects that require more work, a professional contractors team may have to use special machines or more labor, which increases the price overall.
Stairs
If you happen to have a flat surface and no stairs, the job will be easier to complete. When you add in wooden stairs, the labor becomes much more intensive and expensive. The machines that many professional companies use are not designed to be used on stairs.
Because of this, the work will need to be done by hand, which can greatly increase the cost. Additionally, stairs typically have a lot of foot traffic, which means they are generally more worn than other areas. If you do have stairs, be prepared as the company may charge you per step in addition to the other costs already outlined.
What Does It Cost To Refinish a Wood Floor?
When it comes to refinishing your wood floors, kitchens and living rooms are usually the most expensive as they are the high-traffic areas of the home. On a national average, you could pay a minimum of $1,400 to have your wood floor refinishing done.
Typically, homeowners spend about $3,700 for this service. However, on the high end of the cost curve, some pay as much as $5,600. These costs may seem high but there is a lot of prep work that goes into wood floor refinishing. Consider the following breakdown of the cost to refinish a wood floor.
Floor Preparation
- In many cases, the wood floors will need to be sanded prior to refinishing. The cost of floor sanding averages $1.80 per sq ft. Newer wood floors with minimal wear will not need to be sanded.
- Wood floors sometimes require the covering to be removed. Carpet removal, including disposal, costs around $1 per sq ft. Other materials such as tiles, and linoleum, which also require disposal, will cost $1.50 per sq ft.
- Wood is easily damaged by water once the sealer or finish has worn off. If you need to replace wood boards or planks, expect to spend $7 per sq ft.
- Removal and scraping off old wax is about $4 per sq ft.
- If the wood floors have been painted, this will need to be stripped off. Paint stripping will cost around $2 per sq ft.
Wood Floor Finishing
- After all the preparation has been completed, your wood floor refinishing contractor will be able to begin application of the staining. Staining costs on average $1.50 per sq ft.
- After staining, the wood floor will require up to 3 coats of sealer in order to maintain the floors shine. Oil finishes average around $1.80 per sq ft.
- Stairways requiring sanding and refinishing average $45 per step. Rounded and oversized steps will cost slightly more.
Consider the following cost example of a 340 sq ft living room requiring wood floor refinishing:
Task | Area | Sq Ft Rate | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Carpet Removal | 340 sq ft | $1 | $340 |
Replacing wood | 48 sq ft | $7 | $336 |
Sanding | 340 sq ft | $1.80 | $612 |
Staining | 340 sq ft | $1.50 | $510 |
Oil Finish | 340 sq ft | $1.80 | $612 |
Special Effects
- Adding effects to the wood can be a nice touch. Wire brushing gives the wood a seasoned texture and costs $3 - $5 per sq ft.
- Fuming and smoking effects will add $1 per sq ft to the total.
Additional Services
Apart from wood floor refinishing, many companies offer additional services for their customers. To get your refinished floors looking great, you have to do more than just the floors. Some common additions include:
- refinishing the wood baseboards adjacent to the floors
- banisters if you have stairs
- rails
- door frames
If you have other wood components in your home, you may want to consider those as well. Doing all of this at the same time will not only add to the beauty of the finished product but also to the cost thereof. You will want to consider all aspects during your price quote so you do not have unexpected surprises.
Causes Of Wood Floor Damage
A wooden floor can show wear and tear for many reasons, the most common ones include:
- moving furniture
- foot traffic
- pets
- dirt that is brought in
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