Toronto price guide
Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost in Toronto: Published Per-Sq-Ft Prices
Hardwood floor refinishing in Toronto costs $3-$5 per sq ft for a standard sand and 3-coat Bona Traffic HD finish, with an overall range of $2-$7. Screen and recoat is $2-$3, engineered refinishing $4-$8, stair recaps $100-$200 per step and installed hardwood $7-$18. Here are the exact tables we quote from.
- 20+ Years Founded 2005
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Price Tables
How Much Does Hardwood Refinishing Cost in Toronto?
Four tables cover every service we offer. All refinishing rates include Festool HEPA dustless sanding.
Table 1: Refinishing (per sq ft)
| Standard refinish (sand + 3 coats) | $3-$5 |
|---|---|
| Sanding (light sand + buff) | $2-$4 |
| Staining + finish | $3-$5 |
| Screen and recoat (no sand) | $2-$3 |
| Engineered hardwood refinishing | $4-$8 |
Table 2: Installation (per sq ft)
| Oak / maple materials | $4-$8 |
|---|---|
| Walnut / exotic materials | $8-$12+ |
| Engineered materials | $4-$9 |
| Labour | $3-$10 |
| Pattern premium (herringbone, chevron) | +$2-$4 |
Table 3: Stairs (per step)
| Basic sand + poly | $15-$30 |
|---|---|
| With custom stain | $20-$40 |
| Carpet-to-hardwood recap | $100-$200 |
| Typical 14-step recap | $2,000-$3,500 |
Table 4: Adjacent Services
| Vinyl installed (per sq ft) | $5-$12 |
|---|---|
| Laminate installed (per sq ft) | $4-$9 |
| Property manager contract (per year) | $15K-$80K |
Estimate
Instant Toronto Cost Calculator
Total square feet of floor to be done
$100-$200 per step
Estimated project cost
$4,000
Estimate only, based on published Toronto price ranges. Your written per-sq-ft quote after an on-site measure is final.
Lock In a Written Per-Sq-Ft QuoteTimelines
How Long Does Each Job Take?
| Job | Typical time |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft refinish | 3 days |
| 1,500 sq ft refinish | 4 days |
| 14-step stair recap | 3 days |
| Engineered refinish | +1 day |
| Pattern install | +1-2 days per 500 sq ft |
Socks after 24 hours, pets and kids at 48 hours, furniture back by day 7.
Deposit and Payment
30/70 Payment Terms
Under $3,000
Net on completion. Nothing up front.
$3,000 and up
30% at scheduling, 70% on completion.
Property manager accounts
Net-30 invoicing, COI within 24 hours, annual contracts $15K-$80K.
97% of residential projects close within 24 hours of walkthrough.
We accept cash, credit card, e-transfer and cheque.
Cost Drivers
What Changes the Price of Your Floor?
Six things move a Toronto job up or down within the published range. Every one of them appears as a line on your written quote.
Square footage
Larger floors spread setup costs, so the per-sq-ft rate tends to drop on bigger jobs.
Species and condition
Maple, Brazilian cherry and heavily worn or waxed floors take more sanding time than clean red oak.
Stain vs natural
A natural finish skips the stain step. Custom colours add water popping and test patches.
Finish type
Water-based (Bona Traffic HD, Loba 2K Supra), oil-based or Rubio Monocoat hardwax oil each price differently.
Board repairs and cupping
Replacing pet-stained or water-damaged boards typically adds $600-$3,000.
Stairs and pattern work
Stairs are priced per step, and herringbone or chevron adds $2-$4/sq ft.
Worked example: a Toronto main floor
A 1,200 sq ft Rosedale heritage semi in red oak: dustless sand on the Lagler Trio, natural tone, 3 coats of Bona Traffic HD. Price: $4,200, or $3.50 per sq ft. Time: 3 days. Compare that with $7-$18 per sq ft to replace the floor with new hardwood.
Got Questions?
Hardwood Refinishing Cost FAQs
How much does hardwood floor refinishing cost in Toronto?
Standard refinishing (sand + 3-coat Bona Traffic HD) is $3-$5 per sq ft. The overall range is $2-$7 depending on stain and repairs. Stair recapping is $100-$200 per step, engineered refinishing $4-$8 and screen and recoat $2-$3. You get a written per-sq-ft tally before any work. A typical 1,000 sq ft main floor in a Toronto semi lands between $3,000 and $5,000 with a natural or single-colour stain. Board repairs, heavy pet staining, a dramatic colour change or a hardwax oil finish push a job toward the upper end, while a clean, previously well-kept red oak floor usually sits near the bottom. The written quote lists each line, so nothing grows after work starts.
What are your deposit and payment terms?
Projects under $3,000 are paid on completion. For $3,000 and up, 30% is due at scheduling and 70% on completion. Property manager accounts are Net-30. We accept cash, credit card, e-transfer and cheque, and 97% of residential projects close within 24 hours of the final walkthrough.
How much does hardwood floor installation cost in Toronto?
Installed hardwood is $7-$18 per sq ft: materials $4-$8 for oak or maple and $8-$12+ for walnut or exotic, labour $3-$10, plus $2-$4 for herringbone or chevron patterns.
Why do some Toronto quotes seem much cheaper?
Low quotes usually leave out stain, the third coat, edge and corner hand-detailing, HEPA dust extraction or board repairs, then add them once work starts. Ask every contractor for a written per-sq-ft quote that names the grit sequence, the finish product and the number of coats. Ours lists all of them.
Is there a minimum charge?
Small jobs such as a single hallway or a few stair treads carry a minimum charge to cover setup, travel and equipment. We tell you the minimum up front in the written quote.
Do you charge for the quote or the on-site measure?
No. The measure, moisture check, wear-layer check on engineered floors and the written per-sq-ft quote are free and come with no obligation.
Is refinishing cheaper than replacing?
Almost always, if the floor has wood left to sand. Refinishing solid hardwood costs $3-$5 per sq ft, while new installed hardwood costs $7-$18 per sq ft before removal of the old floor. Original oak in older Toronto homes is often better wood than new builder stock, too.
Still have a question about your floor?
Phones are answered 24/7. Live crew Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm.
Phones answered 24/7 . Crews Mon-Sat 7am-7pm
Get Your Written Per-Sq-Ft Quote Within 24 Hours
Tell us the rooms, the approximate square footage and what bothers you about the floor. We measure on site within 2-3 days and put every line in writing before any work starts.
- Written quote before work
- Festool HEPA dustless
- $2M liability + WSIB
- 5-year warranty