Floor Refinishing Service. Hardwood Floor Sanding & Installation
Floor Refinishing Service. Hardwood Floor Sanding & Installation
Floor Size and Layout: The larger the area to be refinished, the higher the cost. It also depends on the layout of the rooms and the amount of additional work while sanding(for example the floor with the wood cut 45 degrees by the walls, or with the custom frames in the middle will be harder to work on, etc) Contractors typically charge $4 per square foot, but here is an approximate estimate depending on the area size (however remember those prices depend on the geographic area that you live in, costs of living and amount of competition):
– Small areas (up to 500 square feet): $2,000 – $3,000
– Medium areas (500 – 1,000 square feet): $3,000 – $5,000
– Large areas (over 1,000 square feet): $5,000 and above
Floor Condition: The condition of your hardwood floors plays a significant role. The cost will be higher if your floors require extensive repairs or have deep gouges and scratches.
Type of Wood: Different wood species have varying degrees of hardness and may require different levels of effort to refinish. Some exotic hardwoods may cost more to refinish.
Source: thisoldhouse.com
Finish Type: The choice of finish can affect the cost. Water-based finishes are often more expensive than oil-based finishes, but they may have different durability characteristics.
Stain and Color Changes: If you want to change the color of your floors through staining, this will add a little bit to the cost. Especially when using a darker color of stain or changing a dark stain to a bright stain. Here are examples of stain colors that we use.
Additional Services: Extra services like floor leveling (usually $100 per one poured bag), replacing damaged boards, or addressing subfloor issues will increase the overall cost.
Geographic Location: Labor costs vary by region, so where you live can impact the total expense. For example, it will be cheaper for floor refinishing in the suburbs area of Chicago than in Downtown Chicago or Crystal Lake where there is less competition and greater distance.
What you can expect when hiring a hardwood floor refinishing pro in simpler terms:
Initial Chat and Checkup: First, your floor expert will have a chat with you and take a good look at your hardwood floors. They’ll point out any scratches, dings, or other problems and then give you some suggestions on what to do. Afterword, you’ll also get a written plan price estimate.
Detailed Cost Breakdown: You’ll get a clear, written plan that shows you exactly what’s going to happen. It’ll list everything, for example: what materials they’ll use and when they’ll finish the job. This will help you understand what to expect.
Getting Ready: Before they start working, you will have to move or hire someone to move your furniture out of the way and empty the floor of any objects. If there are any damaged areas on your floor, they’ll fix them up like a pro, and even if the floor requires repairs with plank replacement, they will be able to make it match the old floor. You won’t be able to tell the difference.
Smooth Sanding: They’ll use special machines to sand down your floor. This takes away the old finish and any scratches, making the floor super smooth. This means that they will have to sand your floor multiple times with different sanding paper grits. Don’t worry, there might be a little bit of dust, but they’ll keep it under control with special equipment and a dust containment system.
Color Choice (if you want): If you want to change the color of your floors, now’s the time. They’ll chat with you about the options and help you pick the perfect color to match your style. However they will also present you with a natural color options where instead of stain they use sealers, or water and oil base finishes on bare wood.
Finishing Touches: After sanding and, or if you choose, staining, they’ll put on at least 2 coats of new oil-based finish or 3 coats of water finish. They’ll do this while letting it dry in between. Water-base finishes dry much faster to be ready for reapplying in 1-2 hours depending on conditions, while oil-based finish needs at least 8 hours. This not only makes your floors look great but also keeps them strong.
Let It Rest: Your floors need some time to get tough again. After they’re done, you’ll need to stay off them for a bit and avoid putting your furniture back too soon. This makes sure the finish sticks well and hardened enough to protect the floor. Depends on the finish the cure time: Allows for really light foot traffic in 3 hours (when using water base finish, and at least 8h if there is air flow with oil based finish), and normal traffic after 24 hours. Full cure takes about 5 days but furniture can be set after 72 hours and we recommend area rugs in 10-30 days. Although rugs can be set in as little as 5 days.
Clean and Clear: A good pro cleans up after themselves. They’ll make sure there’s no mess left behind, so you can enjoy your new floors right away. They should cover things like cabinets and other things beforehand with the foil.
Final Check: Before they say it’s all done, and apply the last coat of finish, they’ll give everything one last look to make sure that everything looks great and there are no imperfections or rough spots after previous steps.
Easy Care Tips: To keep your floors looking great, your expert will share some easy tips on how to take care of them. Definitely, you should avoid cleaning the floors with a large amount of water, and trying to avoid chemicals that are too strong. Following these tips will help your hardwood floors stay beautiful for a long time.
When you hire a hardwood floor expert, you’re not just getting beautiful floors, you’re getting peace of mind that everything will be finished with integrity. They’ll take care of everything, from the scratches to the cleanup, so you can enjoy your new and improved floors hassle-free.
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Refinishing Service – Northbrook
