5 Questions to Ask Your Hardwood Floor Refinisher

If your hardwood floors are looking dull, it might be time to refinish them and restore their natural beauty. However, before you commit to tackling this project, you should get answers to these five questions to ask your hardwood floor refinisher.

1. Do I need to refinish my hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors are a beautiful and timeless option, but they come with occasional maintenance, like periodic refinishing. To determine whether or not you need to refinish your hardwood floors, you can drop some water on the surface to see if it beads up or soaks into the floor. 

If it beads up, that means your floor is still sealed properly, but a hardwood floor refinisher near you could still clean and polish the floor to restore its beauty. If the water soaks in, that means the floor is no longer sealed and could be susceptible to moisture damage, so it’s time to refinish. 

2. Does the floor need any repairs?

A good question to ask your local hardwood floor refinisher is whether or not the floor needs any repairs beyond refinishing. If boards are damaged, cracked, warped, or missing, then you may need repairs before the contractor can start the refinishing process. 

3. When do you need this work completed?

Hardwood floor refinishing is a multi-step process that includes preparing the floor, sanding the wood, including the edges and corners, multiple times, removing the dust, applying the stain, and finally, applying wood finish or oil to seal the wood. Depending on the size of the room and scope of the project, it can take three to six days to completely refinish hardwood floors.

4. How much will refinishing the hardwood floors cost?

Refinishing hardwood floors costs between $1,100 and $2,700. On the very low end, you may be able to refinish the floors for around $600, but for large rooms or floors with significant damage, you may pay as much as $4,500 or more. Getting quotes from at least three qualified local hardwood floor contractors can help you get a good estimate of what the project will cost you. 

5. How can I prepare for this project?

Refinishing hardwood floors is a labor-intensive project that requires access to the flooring. To prepare for hardwood floor refinishing, you’ll need to clear the room of any rugs, furniture, and decor. During the sanding process, the dust can settle on anything in the room, so you may also want to remove curtains and anything on the walls. You may also need to remove the base molding, but you can leave that to the pros if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.