How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors?

The floor refinishing cost in the greater Boston area ranges between $3.5 and $10 per square foot. However, there are dozens of cost factors affecting the final price of your project—the type of flooring, whether you choose dustless refinishing or traditional refinishing, the size of your space, and the condition of your current flooring are just a few aspects that contribute to the project cost.

Continue reading our detailed guide, which provides a comprehensive breakdown of costs for refinishing professional hardwood, to help you estimate an approximate quote for your project.

What Influences Your Refinishing Price in Boston

In the first place, let’s analyze what factors influence the cost to refinish hardwood floors per square foot:

1. Size of your space

Refinishing larger spaces is usually more cost-efficient. The explanation to this pattern is simple—many flooring contractors have a minimum job fee. Thus, refinishing costs will be higher for small spaces.

2. Wood species

Rare types of wood are more costly to refinish than usual ones, like oak, walnut, or cherry. It’s easier to find refinishers who specialize in the latter, thus, the price can vary significantly.

3. Labor costs

Labor costs are also an important component of the refinishing costs. And it’s not about overpaying—you pay for years of experшутсу and invest in safe refinishing of your wood flooring.

4. Finishing

There are different types and brands of finishes, which is another factor affecting the final price for your refinishing project. Expert refinishers will help you find the best option for your specific project.

The Average Refinishing Cost in Boston

Though it’s impossible to provide a universal estimate of your hardwood floor restoration cost, the average price ranges between $3.5 and $10 per square foot. 

Check out the table below to learn more about hardwood floor refinishing prices in the greater Boston area based on the size of your space:

Cost by Type of Hardwood

One of the key factors affecting the hardwood refinishing cost is the type of hardwood. Depending on the hardwood species, the price can range between $4 and $10 per square foot. For a more detailed cost breakdown, see the table below: 

Labor Costs

Labor costs make up a large portion of the floor refinishing cost. Let’s analyze the labor costs breakdown by type of refinishing service:

Costs by Floor Condition

Hardwood floor resurfacing cost also depends on your flooring condition. Check the condition of your flooring using the descriptions in the table below and assess your approximate price per square foot. 

Costs by Floor Size and Layout

The majority of hardwood refinishing contractors have a minimum job fee, which is why the price for your project will also depend on the size of your space. Find a detailed cost breakdown based on the size and layout of your floor: 

Professional vs. DIY Refinishing Costs

Restoring hardwood floors also varies by approach—professional vs DIY. Though refinishing hardwood flooring on your own may come at a lower cost, it also holds several hidden expenses and risks. Check the table for a more detailed comparison between professional and DIY approaches.  

Tips on Saving Money on Refinishing

There are several ways to cut the price for refinishing hardwood floors. Let’s review the key tips to save on hardwood floor refinishing:

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   DIY Refinishing

   
   

The first one is going for the DIY option. However, before getting down to refinishing hardwood on your own, try to consider the pros and cons of this approach. Keep in mind that you’ll have to sand the hardwood on your own, select materials, rent equipment and tools, and invest days or even weeks in the process. Without at least minimal experience of working with hardwood, the risks of making costly mistakes are increasingly high.

Though refinishing floors yourself can save costs, it also holds multiple risks. Thus, it’s better to make a well-informed decision and claim a detailed free quote from a flooring contractor like Floors Are Us.

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   Buff and Coat Service

   
   

You can analyze the contractor’s service offering and choose a budget-friendly option. If your hardwood flooring isn’t severely damaged, you can opt for the buff and coat service, which ensures gentle restoration of your flooring. Wood flooring experts will refinish your hardwood floors without sanding them. They’ll abrade the existing finish to smooth out imperfections and cover your hardwood with a fresh coat of finish. This service is less disruptive and the overall cost will be lower than for traditional refinishing.

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   Choosing Budget-Friendly Materials

   
   

Choosing the right finish for your hardwood is one of the key decisions you’ll have to make while planning the refinishing project. Though both water-based and oil-based finishes are considered viable options, they differ in budget, durability, and drying period. At Floors Are Us, we prefer water-based finishes—they dry quickly, are eco-friendly, and are more affordable. Thus, if you’re looking to cut your refinishing costs, choose water-based finishes.

Recognizing When Your Hardwood Deserves Refinishing

Still hesitating whether your hardwood needs refinishing? Below, we collected the most widespread signs indicating your wood floor needs refinishing:

Scratches and Gouges

Minor surface scratches can be fixed with a buff and coat service. However, if you’ve noticed deep gouges, you should go for an all-around refinishing process. The thing is, deep scratches penetrate into the wood structure, which requires a more rigorous approach. Repair and refinishing will not only help you fix the existing wear and damage but also will protect your flooring from potential deterioration.

Moisture Damage

Curled-up planks, dark or black spots, and gaps between boards are all visual signs of hardwood water damage. If water or any other moisture has already seeped into the finish, your wood is at risk of getting stains or bending. This means you have no time to wait—contact hardwood flooring refinishers and schedule an on-site visit as soon as possible.

Worn-Out Finish

The worn-out finish can take different forms, e.g. dull appearance, dark spots, uneven texture, or even bare wood visible beneath the coating. It’s natural for hardwood to wear out over time, especially in high-traffic areas. Still not sure whether your floor needs refinishing? Run a quick test to identify the condition of your finish—pour a small amount of water onto the surface of your hardwood and see if the water gathers in small drops or soaks into the flooring forming dark spots. If the latter is your case, it’s time for refinishing.

Discoloration

Fading color is another obvious visual hardwood wear sign. Hesitating whether your hardwood is getting discoloration hints? Usually, zones that are exposed to direct sunlight are the first to show fading color. Check areas near windows, if they look lighter compared to the rest of the flooring, your hardwood needs refinishing.

Wood Texture Changes

If you’ve been noticing hardwood texture change, e.g. grains felt underfoot, roughness, or rippled surface, your floor needs refinishing. For a more precise evaluation of the state of your floors, contact a trusted flooring contractor in the greater Boston area, like Floors Are Us.

Your Contractor Checklist: Hiring Floor Refinishing Pros

Before deciding on a hardwood flooring contractor, make sure to go through the following checklist and see if they match your project requirements. 

1. Check out the contractor’s service offering

Intuitively, the first thing people usually search for on the contractor’s website is redoing hardwood floors cost. However, before studying the prices, search for the services the contractor provides and see whether they offer the services you’re searching for.     

2. Analyze experience and expertise

Knowledge and skills of hardwood refinishers are the factors that will affect the final result of your project. Thus, while deciding whether a flooring contractor fits you, don’t forget to check their experience and expertise.

3. See material selection 

Make sure the hardwood flooring contractor works with your type of wood. Each material has its specific features. That’s why a lack of knowledge may lead to further damage to your flooring. 

Must-Ask Questions When Hiring Floor Specialists

Besides asking your potential contractor how much would it cost to refinish hardwood floors, make sure to carry out a more detailed survey by asking the following questions: 

• Could you tell me about your experience with hardwood flooring installation and refinishing? 

• Please, show photos of your recent projects. 

• What does your refinishing service offering cover, e.g. sanding, repair, staining, coating? 

• What type of finish do you use? 

• What is the full timeline for my refinishing project? 

• Do you have a minimum job fee? 

• Please, provide a detailed quote for my project. 

After getting answers to the questions above, you’ll be able to decide whether the flooring contractor fits your requirements. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Refinishing More Affordable Than Replacing Floors?

The cost of having wood floors refinished is more budget-friendly than installing new hardwood. You can save up to 50-75% by choosing refinishing over replacement.  

When Is Refinishing Your Floors Not Recommended?

Though the average cost to sand and refinish wood floors is much smaller than replacing wood flooring, there are situations when it’s better to refrain from refinishing. For one, when the wood is too thin or damage is extensive, replacement might be a better option for you. Before making the final decision, consult with a trusted hardwood flooring contractor. 

Can Refinishing Be Done With Furniture in the Home?

It’s highly recommended to remove all furniture before refinishing your flooring. Not only will it help floor sanders to have uninterrupted access to the flooring surface, but also will save your furniture from dust and chemical damage. 

How Long Does the Refinishing Process Take?

This question is the next most popular after “How much does it cost to sand and refinish floors?” From the experience of Floors Are Us, refinishing hardwood can take our specialists from 2 to 5 days. The exact timeline will depend on the condition of your current flooring and the size of your room/floor.

Can I Live at Home During Floor Refinishing?

It all depends on the scope of work and layout of your rooms. However, in most cases, living near the area of hardwood floor refinishing won’t be comfortable. That’s why many homeowners choose to move out during the repair and refinishing process. 

How Frequently Should Hardwood Floors Be Refinished?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as it depends heavily on such factors as the type of wood, foot traffic, finish quality, etc. However, we recommend refinishing your hardwood floors every 7-10 years.