Once your floors are sanded and stained, the final step is adding a long-lasting topcoat finish of oil- or water-based polyurethane. Recoating costs between $1 and $2 per square foot and ranges based on labor cost and the type of coating you choose (oil or water-based):
Oil-based topcoats cost around $20–$40 per gallon, add a slight amber hue to your floor, and take up to 10 hours to dry.
Water-based topcoats dry clear but cost a bit more at around $25–$50 per gallon and only take two to four hours to dry.
You’ll coat your floors two or three times by applying a topcoat finish with a brush or roller. Topcoat finishes run the gamut from flat to high-gloss. You can also buff the final coat for added shine.
Adding a topcoat of polyurethane finish protects your floor from future damage while providing that high-quality shine. Depending on the initial state of your floors, recoating is either the final step in the larger process or the only step you need.
Hardwood Flooring Refinishing Cost Factors
The average cost to refinish hardwood floors depends on several factors, including materials, labor, moving furniture, dustless options, and the type of hardwood floors you currently have. In addition, you may want to consider refinishing other areas of your home at the same time to save on equipment and labor costs. For example, the cost to refinish a deck will run you an additional $3 to $6.80 per square foot.
Materials
Flooring professionals will include the cost of tools and materials in their price, which is essential when weighing the pros and cons of refinishing your floors yourself. As we mention in our DIY section, DIY costs for renting a sander and gathering tools can cost upwards of $1,000.
When working with a pro, material costs will only vary by the room size, the type of stain and topcoat you choose, and your local prices.
Labor
The average cost for labor is between $2 and $8 per square foot or $60 to $160 per hour. Labor plays a significant role in the cost of refinishing hardwood floors. You can expect to pay as much as 80% of the overall project price.
Be sure to get a few estimates to compare prices. The cost will come down to the following:
Labor prices where you live, with metropolitan areas and the Northeast corridor charging more for labor
The extent of the refinishing process
The size of the room (some pros offer bulk discounts)
Other factors affecting the project length (e.g., drying time, local humidity, type of wood)
Moving Furniture
Before starting your hardwood floor refinishing project, you’ll need to move all furniture, decor, and furnishings out of the room. If you don’t handle this task, you can expect companies to charge between $20 and $50 per room for this service. If you’re up for moving these items yourself, this will cut down on your final bill and the overall project timeline.
Traditional vs. Dustless
Choosing a dustless finishing technique will require higher-tech equipment, costing between $5 and $8 per square foot. Refinishing hardwood floors is a messy job that creates a lot of dust. With dustless refinishing, pros attach a vacuum to the sander, which collects and reroutes the dust as it sands. Consider dustless over traditional sanding if you have allergy sensitivities or breathing difficulties.
Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood
Solid hardwood flooring has the same wood throughout, while engineered hardwood has a thin top layer of hardwood attached to a plywood base. While the price to refinish engineered floors is about the same at around $3 to $6 per square foot, it does take professional experience to pull off the delicate removal. This costs less than $3 to $25 per square foot, the cost to install new engineered hardwood floors. To avoid damaging the surface layer, leave engineered floor refinishing to the pros.
In terms of prolonged refinishing, solid hardwood flooring can withstand several refinishes over its lifetime. In contrast, engineered hardwood floors can only take one or two refinishes before the lower layers are exposed.
Type of Hardwood Flooring
No matter the type of wood you’re working with, the cost to sand and finish hardwood floors remains about the same, typically from about $3 to $8 per square foot. The price fluctuations come down to the unique needs of each wood or manufactured material. Flooring professionals may also have more experience with common materials such as oak. For example, these materials might cost less than the cost to refinish bamboo floors.