Hardwood floor sanding and refinishing

What's included

• Sanding the main floor area with a drum or belt sander, in three passes from coarse to fine grit
• Edging along walls and hand-scraping corners the big sander can't reach
• Filling gouges, nail holes and small gaps (not seasonal gaps, which open and close with humidity)
• Vacuuming and tacking between coats
• Three coats of finish: a sealer and two topcoats

How many times can a floor be sanded?

A standard 3/4 inch solid hardwood floor has roughly 1/4 inch of wood above the tongue. Each careful sand takes off a small fraction of that, so most solid floors can be done several times over their life. Older floors that have been sanded repeatedly, especially in century homes, need a lighter touch.

Engineered floors are different, because only the top layer is real hardwood. See engineered hardwood before booking a sand.

How long it takes

A typical 500 to 800 square foot main floor takes two to four days with a water-based finish, and a day or two longer with an oil-based finish because each coat needs more drying time. You can't walk on the floor while coats are drying, so plan around the rooms involved.

Price

Typical Ottawa pricing for a full sand with a clear finish runs about $4.00 to $5.50 per square foot. Stain adds roughly $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot. Estimate your floor.