How much does it cost to refinish 1000 square feet of hardwood floors
Mia Lopez
Updated on April 23, 2026
Flooring square footageAverage cost100 – 250 sq. ft.$600251 – 500 sq. ft.$750501 – 750 sq. ft.$1,601751 – 1000 sq. ft.$2,100
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?
In general, it will almost ALWAYS be less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors. If you replace them, you need to pay for additional wood as well as ripping up and hauling away existing hardwood. … Even if you have this, it will still be less expensive then replacing the whole floor.
How much does it cost to refinish 500 square feet of hardwood floors?
Professional hardwood floor refinishing costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot without staining. The average cost to sand, restain, and refinish wood floors is $2 to $7 per square foot. Refinishing hardwood stairs costs $25 to $85 per step. DIY costs to redo and resurface wood floors is $600 to $1,100.
How much does it cost to sand and refinish a hardwood floor?
To completely refinish a hardwood floor—including sanding down the top layer to bare wood, then applying several coats of new finish like polyurethane—expect to pay flooring professionals $1.50 to $4 per square foot, or $340 to $900 for a 15-by-15-foot room.Can you stay in house while floors are refinished?
The strong scent of polyurethane and stain lingers in the atmosphere for very long and can kick-start a migraine any time or all the time. Even if it’s not causing migraines, it’s still uncomfortable to live in a house where the floor is being refinished and there are strong odors in the air.
How long do you have to stay off hardwood floors after refinishing?
Wait 48 to 72 hours after the hardwood has been refinished/ finished before “PLACING” furniture back in its place. Keep a steady temperature and humidity within your home.
Do hardwood floors increase resale value?
Hardwood floors are one of the best flooring options for homeowners looking to increase the resale value of their home, with hardwood typically yielding around a 75% return on investment.
How much does it cost to have hardwood floors installed?
The cost of installing engineered hardwood floors is $4 per square foot. With the inclusion of labour, you may spend $9 on average for a square foot. With cheaper supplies, expect to spend about $6 and expensive ones will cost you $10. To determine your room’s square foot, get a tape and measure the width and length.How much does it cost to rip up hardwood floors?
The cost to remove a hardwood floor is about $353 with average prices ranging from $195 to $865 in the US for 2020, according to RemodelingExpense. The average cost per sq ft for hardwood flooring removal is about $3.52 per sq ft with average prices ranging from $1.95 per sq ft to $4.33 per sq ft.
Should I refinish my hardwood floors myself?If you only have some minor scratches and dings or a dull finish, you might be able to simply buff and add a new coat of varnish. But, even if your floors need a complete makeover, refinishing hardwood is a very manageable and rewarding do-it-yourself job that can save a lot of money.
Article first time published onHow much does it cost to remove carpet and install wood?
Labor rates total $4.25 to $9.25 per square foot to remove the old carpet and replace it with hardwood flooring. Adding on to your cost to install hardwood flooring is another $3 to $14 per square foot for the wood too.
How much does it cost to rent a sander for hardwood floors?
Cost to Rent a Floor Sander Floor sander prices vary a bit from place to place, but you can expect to pay around $60 per day. However, it’s easy to ruin a floor without the right experience or training. If you must DIY, consider hiring out for this step. Commercial drum floor sanders cost $50-$80 per day.
How many times can wood floors be refinished?
Hardwood flooring can be re-sanded up to 10 times, depending on how bad the floor is and how skilled the person doing the sanding is. It costs about $2.50 per square foot to refinish a floor, plus $50 an hour for patching and thresholds.
Can I sleep in my house after refinishing hardwood floors?
If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project …
Should I remove baseboards before refinishing hardwood floors?
As a general rule, we recommend leaving your base and shoe on when having your floors refinished, especially if it is painted. … The only time that we would really want you to remove your base or shoe is if your floors have been refinished multiple times and the base was left on during that process.
How long until Polyurethane is safe?
The initial curing time of the polyurethane after it has been applied to a large portion of your home’s floor can be up to 5 to 7 days. After this 5-7-day timeframe most of the polyurethane should be dry on the surface, and able to be lived on once again.
What flooring adds the most value?
When it comes down to finding the best flooring to increase home value, it all boils down to your market. Hardwood will likely give you the highest return, but laminate and luxury vinyl plank flooring also offer plenty of perks to buyers.
What color hardwood floor is best for resale?
Dark stained hardwood flooring is by far the best selection when it comes to overall popularity and resale value.
Are hardwood floors still in style?
Hardwood flooring continues to grow in popularity, and it is by far the preferred flooring type for homes.
When can my dog walk on refinished floors?
How long do I have to wait to use my room after my floors are refinished? We recommend waiting 6 hours before walking on your new floors in socks. After 24 hours you can walk through with shoes on. Allow 48 hours before setting furniture and returning pets.
How soon can you walk on refinished hardwood floors?
At a minimum, you should wait at least 24 hrs before walking on the floors; for hours 24-48, it’s best to wear socks only (no shoes, no bare feet). Ideally, you should wait a total of 4 days before moving furniture back. This is to allow enough time for the floors to dry and cure.
How many coats of polyurethane should you put on a hardwood floor?
You should apply at least three coats of polyurethane on hardwood floors. Of course, this will depend on the type of polyurethane you are using. Oil-based polyurethane will rarely need more than three coats on floors. Hardwood floors are high traffic areas, so you need a nice, thick layer to protect the wood for years.
How much does it cost for hardwood floors $1500 SF?
Expect to pay between $4,500 and $30,000 for 1,500 square feet of solid wood flooring. The species of wood you choose for your home can be a big determinant of the installation costs.
How much does it cost to install 800 square feet of hardwood floors?
Installing hardwood flooring averages between $6 and $12 per square foot. On average, wood flooring costs between $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor.
What is the cheapest type of flooring?
- Sheet Vinyl. Getty. Sheet vinyl costs, on average, between $0.50 to $2 per square foot, making it a great affordable option. …
- Linoleum. Getty. …
- Laminate. Getty. …
- Carpet. Getty. …
- Polished Concrete. Getty.
What is the best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?
If I had to pick an ideal time, I would say spring or fall when the indoor temperature is most consistent with outdoor temperature and it’s often easy to open the windows (after the work is complete) to help air out the smell faster. But, really, sanding and refinishing hardwood can take place any time of year.
How many coats of stain do I need for hardwood floors?
How many coats will be applied? The standard for a hardwood floor is at least three coats. This consists of one seal coat (which may be the stain) and two coats of finish. Additional costs of finish may be applied depending on the need.
Is redoing hardwood floors hard?
The hardwood floor refinishing process is easier and less expensive than sanding down to bare wood and takes less time. … Buffing hardwood floors can be tricky, so if you’ve never used a buffer before, practice in the middle of the room until you get a feel for how to maneuver it.
How much does it cost to install 2000 square feet of hardwood floors?
Total square footageWood flooring cost per square foot (installed)2,000$8,000-$20,000
How much does it cost to redo flooring in a house?
Cost to Refloor a House The cost to redo floors in a 1,000 square foot area runs from $7,000 to $28,500. This includes the cost to tear out and dispose of old flooring, install a new subfloor and baseboards, purchase new materials and install a new covering.
How much does it cost to screen and recoat hardwood floors?
The process is called “screen and coat” and “buff and coat.” Professional cost to screen and coat hardwood flooring: $1.15-$2.25 per square foot. When to screen and coat hardwood: This method is ideal when only the polyurethane that protects the flooring has been marred but the underlying hardwood is in good condition.