Who to Hire to Refinish Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors take a beating between scuffs, stains, and scratches—not to mention the natural discoloration that occurs over time. That’s why it’s recommended to refinish hardwood floors every five to 10 years, depending on the amount of wear. For those looking to hire someone who refinishes hardwood floors, we’ll explain who to contact, how much to budget, and why it’s worth hiring a pro.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Floor Refinisher to Refinish Hardwood Floors

The best person to hire for the job is a professional wood floor refinisher. They have the expertise (and expensive equipment) to restore delicate or heavily worn floors. Professional floor refinishers are trained to work on any type of wood floor, from solid hardwood to engineered wood. 

The main reason to hire a wood floor refinisher is to ensure the job is done correctly. Every step of the process and every tool and material used will be safe and beneficial to the wood. This not only increases your floor’s longevity and aesthetic appeal, but it can even boost the value of your home. By hiring a specialized pro, you reap all these benefits without doing the tedious, labor-intensive steps yourself. Professionals also get the job done faster, so you won’t have to wait as long to utilize the room again.

Can I Hire a General Contractor to Refinish Hardwood Floors?

Yes, most general contractors can refinish hardwood floors. However, some contractors are more experienced in the task than others, and not all contractors have the certifications to work with specific tools and materials. That’s why we recommend hiring a specialized wood floor refinisher above all—but if your floors are in good shape, a contractor with experience refinishing hardwood can do the job just fine. 

Can I DIY Hardwood Floor Refinishing?

Yes, it’s possible to refinish hardwood floors yourself. You’ll need technical experience, especially using power sanders, and a healthy dose of caution to do the job without causing damage. However, we recommend hiring a professional wood floor refinisher because an inexperienced DIY can do more harm than good, and installing new hardwood flooring costs $4,725 on average—that’s a pretty costly mistake. Not to mention, the process is time-consuming. It takes several days to refinish a hardwood floor, largely because the wood stain and finish need time to dry.

How Much Does Refinishing Hardwood Floor Cost?

Professional hardwood floor refinishing costs $1,885 on average, or between $1,100 and $2,670 based on the size of the floor. If you’re confident in your DIY skills, it costs between $500 and $1,000 to refinish hardwood floors yourself. The bulk of that is for buying and renting tools and materials. You can save even more money if you already have the necessary tools, like a belt sander, buffer, and wet/dry vac. 

How Do Professional Floor Refinishers Refinish a Hardwood Floor?

Whether you DIY or hire a pro, the steps to refinish a hardwood floor remain the same:

1. Seal vents and doorways: Use plastic sheets to prevent the spread of dust. 

2. Remove the base molding: A pry bar should do the trick.

3. Secure loose floorboards: Use nails and wood putty to create a smooth surface.

4. Sand the floor: Use a belt or drum sander to sand the middle of the floor. Repeat this step three times, using finer sandpaper each time. Start with 36-grit or 40-grit sandpaper, then use 60-grit or 80-grit sandpaper, and finish with 100-grit sandpaper. 

5. Sand the perimeter: Use an edge or orbit sander to sand the corners and against the wall. Like the previous step, do this three times with finer sandpaper each time.

6. Vacuum the floor: Clean up all the sawdust. A wet/dry vac is especially handy here.

7. Apply the stain: This optional step gives hardwood floors a richer, long-lasting color.

8. Apply the finish: Use a foam roller to apply a protective layer of wood finish. Let dry for 24 to 72 hours.