Refinish or replace?
If the boards are solid hardwood and still sound, refinishing is almost always the better move. The wood already down is often better than anything you can buy now.
Replacing makes more sense when the boards have curled too far to flatten, water has got into the subfloor, pet urine has soaked deep into the wood, or the floor has already been sanded down as far as it can go.
We pull a vent cover or check a doorway to see how much wood is left before we quote. Anyone who quotes a refinish without looking is guessing.
Dust, and what to expect in your house
Sanding makes a lot of fine dust. Our sanders run with dust collection that catches most of it. No system catches all of it. Plan on sealing off the work area, and expect to wipe down surfaces afterward.
The finish coats smell, and they need time to harden. Water-based finishes dry faster and smell less. Oil-based finishes take longer and turn slightly golden over the years, and plenty of people prefer that warmer look. It's a real choice, and it changes how soon your furniture can come back.
Screen and recoat — the cheaper option people don't know about
When the finish is worn but the wood under it is fine, we can scuff up just the finish and add new coats. No deep sanding at all.
It is a much lighter job than a full refinish. It won't take out deep scratches or gray water stains, and it can't change the color. But when it's the right fix, pushing you into a full sand would be selling work your floor doesn't need.
What drives the cost
We quote after walking the space, because the things that move the number are things nobody can see in a photo. Here is what they are, in the order they matter, so you know what will drive your estimate before anyone comes out.
- Full sand or screen and recoat
- A screen and recoat scuffs the existing finish and adds new coats with no deep sanding at all. It is a much lighter job and a much smaller number, and where the wood underneath is sound it is the honest recommendation.
- Stain or natural
- Staining adds a full application step plus dry time between the stain and the first coat.
- Board repairs
- Water-damaged, pet-stained, or split boards get cut out and replaced before sanding. How many there are is the least predictable line in a refinishing quote, which is why we lift a vent and look.
- Finish type
- Water-based cures faster and smells less; oil-modified ambers over time and takes longer to harden. Sheen level does not change the price, but coat count does.
Numbers you can hold us to
- Solid hardwood takes roughly four to six full refinishes over its life, depending on how much wood is removed each time and how much sits above the tongue.
- Engineered hardwood needs a wear layer of roughly 3mm or thicker to be refinished at all. Thinner than that cannot be sanded.
- A screen and recoat will not remove deep scratches or gray water stains and cannot change the color. Where it will not do the job, we say so.
How long it takes
A full sand and refinish runs 3 to 5 working days on site. The floor then needs to be left alone while the finish hardens — light foot traffic after about 24 hours, rugs and furniture back after roughly a week. A screen and recoat is usually 1 to 2 days.
We do not publish prices, because a real number needs a real look at your floor. Estimates are free and in person. Stone measures, takes the moisture readings, and writes it up itemized before anything is ordered.
Refinishing questions
How many times can hardwood floors be refinished?
Solid hardwood usually takes four to six refinishes over its life. It depends on how much wood each sanding takes off and how much is left above the joint. For engineered hardwood it comes down to the real wood layer on top. About 3mm or more is usually good for one or two refinishes. Anything thinner can't be sanded at all.
How long does refinishing take?
It covers sanding, staining if you want it, and several finish coats with drying time between each one. The floor needs to be left alone while the finish hardens, and furniture and rugs go back last. A full sand and refinish is 3 to 5 working days on site, then light foot traffic after about 24 hours and furniture back after roughly a week. Stone gives you those dates before he starts.
Can you refinish floors without sanding?
Yes, in some cases. We can scuff the old finish and add new coats without deep sanding. That works well when the finish is worn but the wood is fine. It won't take out deep scratches or water stains, and it can't change the color. We decide by looking at your floor, not at a photo of it.
Do I have to move out during refinishing?
Most people stay. The work area gets sealed off and you can't use it for several days, and you'll smell the finish, especially with oil-based products. Families with a baby, anyone with breathing trouble, or a house with only one bathroom usually find it easier to sleep somewhere else on the finishing days.