Dust-controlled sanding Stain samples on your floor Three coats of finish

Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Toronto

Toronto Flooring Contractors sands and refinishes hardwood floors in Toronto houses and condos, from single rooms to full main floors and stairs.

Refinishing takes worn, grey or scratched oak back to bare wood and gives it a new colour and a fresh protective finish.

Sanded to bare wood

Stain tested before you commit

Water-based or oil-modified finish

Get a Refinishing Quote

Tell us the rooms, the wood type if you know it and the approximate square footage.

What can we help with?

Service

So the right crew reviews your project.

No obligation. We reply within one business day.

$4.50 – $8 Per sq ft refinishing, before HST

30 – 50% Indoor humidity range the NWFA recommends for wood floors

3 coats Of finish over the sealer or stain

Our Process

How we refinish hardwood floors in Toronto

1

Sand to bare wood

A drum or belt sander removes the old finish, followed by an edger and finer grits.

2

Stain samples

We apply two or three stain samples on your floor so you see the colour on your wood.

3

Stain and seal

The chosen stain goes on, or the wood is sealed natural.

4

Three coats of finish

Coats are applied with light buffing between them for a smooth, even sheen.

Water-based vs oil-modified finish for hardwood refinishing

Water-based

Dries clear, has a low odour and allows recoats the same day. Keeps white oak and grey tones from turning amber.

Oil-modified

Warms the wood to an amber tone and builds a thicker film per coat. Stronger odour and usually longer dry times.

Sheen

Matte and satin hide scratches and dust. Gloss shows every mark but reflects more light.

Sand or recoat

Screen and recoat or full hardwood floor refinishing in Toronto

Not every tired floor needs a full sanding. If the finish is dull and lightly scratched but no bare wood shows, a screen and recoat can do the job: we abrade the top coat and apply fresh finish without cutting into the wood. When scratches reach the wood, boards have gone grey or stained, or you want a new colour, the floor needs sanding to bare wood. A recoat will not bond over wax or some polish products, so we test adhesion on a small area first. We tell you which route fits once we see the floor.

Hardwood floor refinishing prices in Toronto, by area and by step

Ranges before 13% HST. Board condition, stain and finish choice and stairs change the price.

Per square foot

$4.50 – $8 / sq ft

Sanding to bare wood
Stain samples and stain
Three coats of finish

Get a quote

Main floor, 500 – 1,000 sq ft

About $3,000 – $6,000

Living, dining and hallways
Water-based or oil-modified finish
Small gaps filled before finish

Get a quote

Stairs

$100 – $200 / step

Treads and nosing sanded
Stain matched to the floor
Risers painted or stained

Get a quote

Preparing your home for hardwood floor refinishing in Toronto

Refinishing takes over the rooms for several days, so a little planning helps.

Empty the rooms fully

Sanding needs bare floor from wall to wall, including closets. Furniture, rugs and floor register covers come out before we start.

Dust barriers go up

We tape plastic over doorways and cover return air vents so sanding dust stays in the work area. Turn the furnace fan off while we sand.

Pets kept away

Wet finish shows every paw print. Arrange for pets to stay out of the refinished rooms until the last coat has dried.

Steady room temperature

Keep the heat or air conditioning at normal settings during the job. Finish dries more evenly in a steady room temperature.

Refinish or replace

Refinishing original hardwood in older Toronto homes

29% of Toronto dwellings were built in 1960 or earlier (2021 Census), and many still have their original oak strip floors under carpet or worn finish. Solid hardwood can be sanded several times, so refinishing often costs far less than replacement. We check board thickness at a floor vent before quoting. Engineered floors can be refinished only when the wear layer is thick enough to sand.

Reviews to read before hardwood floor refinishing

Our old floors were uneven and badly worn, but the crew completely transformed them. We're very impressed with the quality and would gladly recommend them.

Reliable and professional Toronto flooring contractors. They answered all our questions, respected our home, and delivered exactly what they promised.

Timing and cost questions about hardwood floor refinishing

How long does hardwood floor refinishing take in a Toronto home?

Most refinishing jobs of 500 to 1,000 sq ft take three to five days with water-based finish. Oil-modified finish adds drying time between coats.

Can we stay home during hardwood floor refinishing?

Often, if the work is done in sections and you can use other rooms. With oil-modified finish, many families stay elsewhere for the finish days because of the odour.

When can furniture go back after hardwood floor refinishing?

Light foot traffic is usually fine after a day. Furniture typically goes back after a few days, and rugs wait from a few days to about two weeks depending on the finish, per the manufacturer's instructions.

Is hardwood floor refinishing cheaper than new flooring in Toronto?

Usually. Refinishing runs $4.50 – $8 per sq ft before HST, while new solid hardwood runs $9 – $18 per sq ft installed.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Toronto

Get a Refinishing Quote

How we refinish hardwood floors in Toronto

Sand to bare wood

Stain samples

Stain and seal

Three coats of finish

Water-based

Oil-modified

Sheen

Screen and recoat or full hardwood floor refinishing in Toronto

Hardwood floor refinishing prices in Toronto, by area and by step

Per square foot

Main floor, 500 – 1,000 sq ft

Stairs

Preparing your home for hardwood floor refinishing in Toronto

Empty the rooms fully

Dust barriers go up

Pets kept away

Steady room temperature

Refinishing original hardwood in older Toronto homes

Reviews to read before hardwood floor refinishing

Timing and cost questions about hardwood floor refinishing

Book hardwood floor refinishing in Toronto