Hardwood floor woes

**sandrark** · 03-13-2016, 02:59 PM

We had our LRm/DRm repaired (a fair amount of replacement), plus stripped, sanded, stained, and 2 coats of polyurethane down. Also added hardwood in the kitchen (insert eyeroll here) so the three rooms "flowed" when we put the house on the market.

It took about a week, and cost about $6k, here in the SF Bay area.

**Permanent Temp** · 03-14-2016, 11:29 AM

Thank you for the reply. That sounds like a fair price considering the addition of wood and the replacement of boards.

In my case I only need sanding and refinishing. One guy quoted me $2500 without even stepping in the place. The guy who did come by and measured quoted me $500.

Quite the spectrum.

**ua_guy** · 03-14-2016, 11:45 AM

A quick google search says anywhere from $1.50 to $4.00 per sqft to refinish hardwood floors, and that seems reasonable.

I've refinished hardwood floors myself, and it's not cheap or easy and there's a learning curve with sanding and applying finish. I'd absolutely pay someone to do it the next time, although my results turned out nicely....it was a lot of effort though. You may also want to factor in spending a night or two in a hotel...those poly fumes are pretty bad while it's drying.

The swing in cost is going to depend on the contractor, the condition of the floor, the kind of finish that's already on the floor. Real thick stuff like old varnishes and really thick polyurethane takes a lot more work to remove (and more sanding pads, because they gum up, etc).

So, while the contractor quoted you a price at the top of the spectrum, not all contractors are the same. The guy at the low end just might be willing to take on smaller jobs, or is actively looking for work.

**Fishindude77** · 03-14-2016, 01:02 PM

The reason you're not getting much interest / response is because it's a small job 4-500 SF. Might not even be too many contractors that want to mess with that. If you can find someone competent that will do the job, you may just have to work with them, pay whatever they charge and hope they treat you fair.

$2500 Is only $5.00 per square foot, so not too bad. Good carpet can easily run $3.00 per square foot and ceramic tile anywhere from $7 - 14.00 per square foot.

**Permanent Temp** · 03-17-2016, 02:29 PM

Thank you for the replies guys. I went with the $500 guy and the floors are beautiful. Having spent 11K + into repairs for the house I couldn't really pony up $2500 right now it was just too much.

Aside from the 11k just for house basics, we already had done carpet as well including pad that did run about $3 per sq ft and it is nice to have been able to pick out what we though would work for us. That carpet that was here was no good anyway, it was old filthy and full of spots and what not.

The hardwood floor had to be done so that we could move furniture in there and what not and not damage them more.

I am very happy with the results and will have to write them a good review as they didn't have any to begin with. Thank for the help guys as always.

Hardwood floor woes