We’ve refinished hardwood floors in five of the six houses we’ve owned. That doesn’t make us professional floor refinishers, but as homeowners and DIYers we’ve learned what to expect, what pitfalls to watch for, and roughly how much it costs. Below we answer common hardwood floor refinishing questions and share photos from our projects to help you decide if and how to tackle your own floors.
Refinishing hardwood floors can be disruptive and tiring, but it’s almost always worth the effort. You can remove scratches and discoloration, restore depth and shine, or change the color entirely. A refinished floor dramatically improves a room’s appearance and often makes a house feel refreshed. Consider this a realistic nudge to take the plunge if your floors are worn or outdated.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing FAQs
Here are the questions covered below:
- Can I refinish my hardwood floor myself?
- How much does refinishing hardwood floors cost?
- Is refinishing hardwood floors worth it?
- What is the process like?
- Do I have to move all of my furniture out?
- Can I stay in my home while getting my floor refinished?
- How long does refinishing hardwood floors take?
- What questions should I ask my floor refinisher?
The guidance below comes from experience across six houses in three cities, each with different challenges and results.
Can I Refinish My Hardwood Floor Myself?
Yes — refinishing hardwood floors is a DIY-able project, but there are good reasons many homeowners hire professionals. The basic steps are straightforward — sand, stain (optional), and seal — but pros bring specialized equipment, experience handling tricky spots, and faster, cleaner execution. Operating floor sanders is physically demanding and the detailed work around edges and transitions is time-consuming.
If cost is the main barrier, here’s a condensed DIY outline so you know what’s involved:
- Move furniture, decor, window treatments and other obstructions
- Remove quarter-round and baseboard molding as needed
- Seal off doorways and vents with plastic and painter’s tape
- Repair damaged spots with wood filler or replace boards where necessary
- Sand the floor in multiple passes, increasing grit each time; use a drum or belt sander for open areas and an edge sander for perimeter work
- Buff the floor with a high-grit pad for a smooth finish
- Thoroughly vacuum and wipe up dust
- Apply stain if desired, allowing proper dry time between coats
- Apply sealer/finish and allow recommended time before walking and longer before moving furniture back in
- Reinstall molding, caulk and paint where needed
The process is detailed and repetitive. For large homes or projects that require demolition, feathering in new boards, or matching old flooring, professionals usually deliver a faster, more consistent result. For example, when we hired pros to refinish our entire first floor they removed old tile and laminate and seamlessly integrated new boards — a job that would have taken us much longer.
That demo and prep work can be a full day of heavy labor for a crew using demolition tools; plan accordingly if you try to DIY it.
How much does refinishing hardwood floors cost?
Typical refinishing costs range from about $3 to $8 per square foot. A 200 sq. ft. room could cost roughly $600 to $1,600, but prices vary by region, project size, and special conditions like demolition or extensive repairs.
In our projects we’ve paid between about $900 and nearly $10,000 depending on scope. The lowest cost was an outlier because we did some prep and molding work ourselves. For whole-house jobs the total rises accordingly. On average our projects ran around $5 per square foot.
Is Refinishing Hardwood Floor Worth It?
Yes. Refinishing floors is one of the highest-impact interior projects for both enjoyment and resale. Reports consistently show strong cost recovery for refinishing compared with many other interior upgrades. Beyond resale value, refinished floors offer immediate visual improvement and homeowner satisfaction — they brighten and modernize spaces in a way few other projects do.
Although it’s inconvenient and can be costly, every time we’ve refinished floors we’ve wished we’d done it sooner. The transformation is often surprisingly dramatic.
What is the process like?
If you hire professionals, here’s what you can expect as a homeowner. (Refer to the DIY checklist above for what a solo project typically entails.)
Finding a floor refinishing professional
Ask friends, neighbors, or contractors you trust for recommendations. Local community boards or review sites can help identify reputable refinishers. We found our best pros through word of mouth.
Getting an estimate
Invite contractors to measure the space and ask questions in person. Use this meeting to gauge their professionalism and to collect multiple estimates. Prepare questions about timeline, scope, and what’s included so bids are comparable.
Acclimating the wood
If new boards are being added, they should acclimate indoors to your home’s humidity before installation — typically a minimum of three days and sometimes up to two weeks, depending on installer recommendations.
Emptying your space
Clear rooms completely of furniture, rugs, appliances, and fixtures that block access. For whole-house projects you may need temporary storage such as a POD or storage unit. If refinishing a single room, moving adjacent items into nearby rooms often suffices.
Picking a stain color
Ask your refinisher to test stain samples directly on the floor. Seeing larger swatches in your actual light and surroundings makes choosing a color more reliable than selecting from a small booklet.
Waiting and curing
Refinishing takes multiple days: stains and finishes need drying and curing time. You may need to stay elsewhere for several nights during intensive work and should expect to wait additional days before moving heavy furniture back in.
Cleaning & touch-upss
Contractors typically capture most dust, but you should plan to do a final clean. Reinstalling baseboards, caulking and painting are often part of the wrap-up and may be included in the bid or left for you to finish to save cost.
Do I have to move all of my furniture out?
Yes — everything must be removed from rooms getting refinished. That includes furniture, rugs, appliances, and possibly fixtures or cabinetry. Remove artwork and window coverings or cover them well to avoid dust. For whole-house projects, plan on using temporary storage or moving out until the main work and curing are complete.
There aren’t shortcuts here. For quality results, give contractors unobstructed access to the floors they’re refinishing.
How long does refinishing hardwood floors take?
Typical projects take between 3 and 14 days depending on scope. General time estimates:
- Prep (demo, remove molding, uninstall fixtures): 0–2 days
- Repairs or installing new sections: 0–2 days
- Sanding: 1–2 days (about 1,000 sq ft/day)
- Staining: 1–2 days
- Sealing: 3–6 days (one coat per day is common for oil-based products)
- Curing time: additional days beyond final coat
Our fastest job was 4 days for 600 sq. ft., plus three extra days before moving back in to allow finishes to cure and fumes to dissipate. To speed things up, you can skip staining and use a clear coat, or choose water-based finishes which dry faster than oil-based options. Discuss timelines and trade-offs with your contractor so expectations match your needs.
What questions should I ask my floor refinisher?
Before work begins, confirm details so the scope, timeline and responsibilities are clear. Helpful questions include:
- Are my floors good candidates for refinishing?
- Do any areas need repair or replacement?
- How long will new wood need to acclimate?
- What needs to be removed from each room and who will do that?
- What will you protect or seal off and who is responsible?
- Will you remove and reinstall baseboards and trim?
- Are there tasks I can do to lower costs or that you can do to speed the job?
- How long will the job take and how long will I need to be out of the house?
- Can we test stain colors on-site before committing?
- What sealer do you recommend and what are the pros and cons?
- When is it safe for people, pets, and furniture to return?
Asking these questions helps you vet the contractor and prevents surprises around timeline, cost and scope.
Our Hardwood Floor Refinishing Projects
We’ve documented several of our refinishing projects, from matching new and old hardwoods to restoring vintage heart pine. If you want more detail about specific jobs, look for project posts about mid-century oak, matching new and old floors, historic pine, duplex repairs, and light clear-sealed finishes.
- Refinishing Mid-Century Oak Floors in our first house
- Matching new & old hardwood floors in our third house
- Refinishing historic heart pine in our beach house
- Repairing historic oak & pine floors in our duplex
- Clear sealing refinished floors in our Florida house
More Flooring Projects
We’ve also written about installing hardwood, selecting flooring, nail-free installations, click-and-lock cork, painting floors, staining concrete, and removing carpet. These posts dive into techniques and decision-making for a variety of flooring projects.
Note: This guide was originally published in 2009 and has been updated with additional information and photos to reflect a wider range of projects through 2024.