In most instances, refinishing your hardwood floors will be a much more affordable option than totally replacing them. Refinishing could save you roughly $4 per square foot compared to replacing the floors. For a 1,000 square foot area, that's a potential savings of $4,000.
It is almost always cheaper to refinish your floor than to replace it. When replacing, you must consider the cost of the new wood as well as the installation. Aesthetics – If your only goal is to brighten your floors and restore their original shine, consider refinishing them.
Installing hardwood floors in a 1000 sq ft area typically costs between $7,000 and $25,000, with most homeowners paying an average of $16,000.
Recoating only restores the existing finish of your hardwood floors and cannot change their color. If you want to change the color of your floors, refinishing is the better option. Keywords: recoating, existing finish, color, refinishing, hardwood floors.
When over 30% of your hardwood floor has received damage, it is more cost-effective to replace the flooring rather than trying to refinish the hardwood. Common severe floor damage comes in the form of warping, chipping, stains, or termite infestation.
Refinishing can make the floor look new again and a new stain color can change the look entirely. However, if you're not happy with the wood floor design – type of wood, size of the planks, or basic layout – you will have to replace the floor itself.
Due to the potent fumes, many homeowners stress how important it is to leave the house while polyurethane is being applied. Some people have stayed in their homes throughout the process, but they advise against it due to the unpleasant stench.
Although refinishing won't change the pattern, design, or type of wood, it can do a lot more than simply add a new layer of shine. Refinishing your hardwood floors allows you to: Fix stains, chips, and other surface-level problems. Change the color and tone of your existing flooring.
Traditional refinishing costs $3 to $8 per square foot. During traditional refinishing, your contractor will sand down the top layer of your hardwood floor. This creates a lot of dust, which can be difficult to fully clean after-the-fact and can trigger allergies for some homeowners.
When comparing the cost of installing hardwood floors over carpet, quality hardwood flooring will almost always be a larger investment compared to carpet. Installing hardwood floors can cost between $12 and $20 per square foot installed, while carpet often cost about $6 to $12 per square foot installed.
While the project may seem daunting and time-consuming, with proper planning and execution, it can be completed in less than a week. For example, a thousand square feet of hardwood flooring generally takes about a week to install.
Next, you will need to determine whether the wood floors in your house are solid hardwood or engineered wood. That is an essential distinction because engineered flooring cannot be sanded and refinished like solid hardwood flooring can.
Floor refinishing can vary in duration, but a standard 3-4 days is the typical timeframe for a 1,000 square foot job. The time that is actually needed depends on some factors like your home layout, as we will explore in this blog post.
While hardwood flooring can last for centuries, there are circumstances like incorrect installation, high traffic, poor conditions, and pets that can require homeowners to replace their flooring sooner than anticipated. A hole in the floor is an obvious sign that something's up.
Ultimately, aim for a season where you have free time and the climate supports a smooth refinishing process. For most, spring or fall are the best choices.
So, when all is said and done, refinishing hardwood is definitely the more affordable option. Even if it requires removing a few severely damaged planks here and there, refinishing will generally always be less costly than tearing out the entire floor.
Short Answer: Yes – Old Flooring Should Be Removed
Any time you hear “renovation” it means there's some demo involved. In the case of a flooring renovation the bulk of the demo work is usually removing the old flooring. (Removing old quarter-round and trim might also be necessary.)
Before the hardwood floors can be refinished, you will need to prepare your home by removing all existing base shoe (that small piece along the bottom of your trim), appliances, and furniture.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, hardwood floor refinishing has an impressive ROI of 147%. This means that for every $3,000 you spend on refinishing, you could add approximately $4,410 to your home's resale value.
We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours before you walk on your floors– and 48 hours is even better. Start with socks only and keep pets off the floors for a few days. Wait at least two days for water-based finishes and four days for oil-based finishes before carefully putting furniture and back into the room.
On average, homeowners can expect to pay between $3 to $8 per square foot to refinish their hardwood floors. This cost typically includes both labor and materials. For an average-sized room of about 200 to 250 square feet, the total refinishing cost would likely fall within the range of $600 to $2,000.
Whether it's to repair the damage, to change the stain, or just as part of your regular maintenance process, you might find yourself needing to renew your floor's finish. Before it's time to sand the floors, many homeowners ask: “Can I stay in my house while my floors are refinished?” The answer is usually yes.
In the short term, carpeting is often the cheaper option. Even with installation costs, a new carpet is generally more affordable than sanding and refinishing floors. However, in the long term, sanded floors are the more economical choice. Their durability and minimal maintenance costs can save you money down the line.