What Is Dustless Hardwood Refinishing in Toronto?
Dustless hardwood refinishing in Toronto is how we sand every floor, not an add-on. Traditional floor sanding uses a drum sander with a cloth bag that lets the finest dust, the particles that hang in the air and get into ducts, escape into the house. Dustless sanding connects every machine to a HEPA extractor that pulls dust away at the sanding pad.
Our setup is built around Festool HEPA extraction. The Festool CTM dust extractors are rated to capture 99.97% of particles. We connect them to the Lagler Trio planetary sander for the main floor, the Clarke American edger along the walls, and Festool palm sanders for corners, closets and stairs. The edger and the palm sanders matter most, because hand-held edge work is where most of the dust in a traditional job comes from.
We are honest about the number. 99.97% is not 100%. You may see a faint film on surfaces right next to the work area, which we HEPA vacuum before finishing. You will not see the haze that settles through a house after drum sanding.
Who Benefits Most From Dustless Sanding?
- Occupied homes. Families who want to stay home during sanding days keep bedrooms and furniture clean.
- Condos. Dust stays out of shared hallways and building ventilation, which makes condo approvals easier.
- Allergy and asthma households. Fine oak dust is a known irritant. HEPA capture plus low-VOC finishes makes refinishing possible for sensitive lungs.
- Homes with pets and kids. Less dust to track around, and water-based finishes are safe at 48 hours.
- Heritage homes. Older Toronto houses have plaster walls, radiators and gaps where dust hides for years.
How Does Dustless Sanding Compare?
| Traditional drum sanding | Our dustless sanding | |
|---|---|---|
| Dust capture | Cloth bag, fine dust escapes | Festool HEPA, 99.97% capture |
| Edger and palm sanders | Often bag only | Connected to HEPA |
| Dust in other rooms | Common | Minimal |
| Finish quality | Dust can settle in wet coats | Cleaner surface, smoother finish |
| Price | Often cheaper, plus cleanup | Included in $3-$5/sq ft |
Low-VOC Finishes to Match
Dustless sanding is only half of a healthier refinish. The other half is the finish. Our default is water-based Bona Traffic HD or Loba 2K Supra, both under 50 g/L VOC with a 24-hour cure and low odour. For households that want certified products, we specify finishes carrying GREENGUARD Gold or FloorScore certification. Oil-based polyurethane is available on request, but it has more odour and a 48-72 hour cure.
How Much Does Dustless Refinishing Cost in Toronto?
The same as our standard refinishing: $3-$5 per sq ft for solid hardwood, $4-$8 for engineered and $15-$40 per step for stairs. There is no dustless surcharge. A 950 sq ft Leaside bungalow was refinished in 3 days and the family was back on day 4. A 520 sq ft Yorkville condo for a family with a dust-allergic child took two days.
What to Expect on Sanding Day
We close doors and cover vents, set up zip walls in open-concept spaces, and run hoses from the extractors to each machine. It is still loud, so we stay inside reasonable working hours and condo rules. At the end of each sanding day, the work area is HEPA vacuumed. Then we move on to stain and finish, as described on our hardwood floor refinishing page. The same dustless setup is used on every stair refinishing and recapping job.
