Flooring Questions, Answered

Every project is different, but these are typical starting labor prices:

• Hardwood floor refinishing: $4–$6 per sq ft, including 3 coats of finish
• Stain color: $0.75–$1.50 per sq ft, depending on the color
• Prefinished hardwood installation: $3–$6 per sq ft, depending on the installation method (glue-down over concrete about $8 per sq ft)
• LVP and LVT installation: $2.50–$4.50 per sq ft (glue-down over concrete about $6 per sq ft)
• Laminate installation: about $3 per sq ft

These are labor ranges, not quotes. Flooring materials are quoted separately, and removal, preparation and trim are listed as their own line items. Try our free flooring calculator for a rough number.

Yes. Our minimum project price is $800. We generally don’t take very small jobs, such as a single small room, hallway or bathroom on its own, although exceptions are sometimes possible. Combining nearby rooms often gets you more floor for your budget.

Yes. We come to your home, measure, check the floor and subfloor, show real samples, and give you a clear written estimate with every item listed. Request a free estimate.

Yes. Text or email a few photos of the floor with rough room sizes. It helps us answer faster and prepare for the visit. We still come out to measure and check the floor and subfloor before we write your estimate, and estimates are free.

Flooring and pad materials, removal of the old floor, subfloor repairs or leveling, stain, stairs, furniture moving and trim are priced separately so you can see exactly what each part costs. Removal is priced by flooring type.

Our standard deposit is 50% of the approved estimate. Very large or multi-stage projects may use progress payments instead.

A screen and recoat adds a fresh protective coat when the floor is dull but not worn through. We generally recommend it every 5–7 years. It keeps the same color and won’t remove deep scratches. A full sand and refinish takes the floor down to fresh wood and is typically needed every 15–25 years, depending on use. Read refinish, recoat or just clean?

Three finish coats are standard on every full refinishing project, unless you ask for something different or the product requires another approach.

Yes. We refinish stair treads and risers, and sometimes the rails too. This work varies from job to job, and not every staircase can be refinished, so we look at yours during the free estimate.

Yes. Refinishing is how you change the color of existing hardwood. We apply stain samples right on your floor so you can see real colors before deciding. Browse stain and sealer colors.

No one can walk on the floors while stain and finish coats are being applied, so plan to be out during that time. You can generally return the day after we finish, following the product’s instructions. With Swedish Finish, everyone must leave the home during application.

You can generally walk on the floor the day after the finish is applied. Wait at least 3 full days before putting furniture back. Area rugs: at least 1 week for water-based finishes and the full 3 weeks for Swedish Finish.

Yes, most are temporary and fade as the finish cures. Give blemishes, slight color differences and screen or brush marks 60–90 days, and an uneven sheen up to 120 days. Judge the floor standing up in normal light, not in window glare. If marks are still obvious after that, call us. See what’s normal in a new finish.

Water-based finishes have a lower odor, and you can usually return home sooner. Swedish Finish is very durable but has a strong odor, so the home must be empty during application, and rugs wait longer. We’ll help you choose, along with your sheen: matte, satin or semi-gloss.

Not always. Deep pet stains and water-damaged wood often need board replacement, which is quoted separately when you request it. We’ll show you what we find during the estimate.

We use dust-control equipment and mask the work area to keep dust to a minimum. It greatly reduces dust, but no sanding process is completely dust-free.

Not on a Swedish or water-based finish. Wax and oil soap leave a residue that can stop a future coat from bonding, which may turn a simple recoat into a full refinish. See our wood floor care guide.

Hardwood is generally delivered 3–5 days before installation so it can acclimate inside your home, not in the garage. Some products need longer; the manufacturer’s requirements come first.

Yes. We check the moisture in both the subfloor and the new hardwood. Our standard is that they should be within 5 percentage points of each other, along with any stricter manufacturer requirements.

It depends on the product and the subfloor: nail-down or staple-down for standard hardwood over plywood, glue-assist for wide planks, glue-down over concrete, or floating for certain engineered products. See hardwood installation methods compared.

Often, yes. New boards can be woven in and sanded and finished together with the existing floor. Wood varies by production run, age and wear, so a perfect match can’t be guaranteed.

Yes, hardwood treads and risers, priced per step. We don’t install railings, newel posts, balusters or skirt boards ourselves; on larger flooring projects we can coordinate that work with trusted contractors.

Yes, if the subfloor is stiff enough. Perpendicular is the preferred direction. Read can hardwood run parallel to the floor joists?

Furniture and area rugs can go back right away; put felt pads under every furniture foot. Vacuum or dust-mop weekly and clean with Bona Floor Cleaner (not the polish). Prefinished hardwood usually can’t be recoated, and most engineered hardwood can’t be refinished, so everyday care matters most. Printable care sheet (PDF).

LVP and LVT handle everyday spills very well, but water ratings depend on the exact product, and water can still get underneath through edges and seams. Quality matters: very cheap planks can have weak locking systems.

Usually not. LVP and LVT can usually be installed the same day they are delivered, unless the manufacturer says otherwise.

We install click-lock (floating), glue-down and peel-and-stick LVP and LVT, depending on the product and the room. It can go over properly prepared concrete. We don’t install it over carpet or other soft flooring.

Thin planks show dips and bumps underneath, and an uneven surface can make the locking system fail. Light preparation is normal; bigger leveling work is quoted separately.

Furniture and area rugs can go back right away; put felt pads under every furniture foot. Vacuum or dust-mop weekly and clean with Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner. Don’t wet-mop, and don’t use rubber-backed mats, which can discolor vinyl. LVP can’t be recoated or refinished. Printable care sheet (PDF).

Laminate gives you a wood look for less and has a hard-wearing surface, but it is sensitive to moisture, so it is best in dry living areas and bedrooms. LVP is the better choice for bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. Compare them in our flooring guide.

We install floating click-lock laminate over a pad. A pad is always required, either attached to the planks or installed separately. Laminate acclimates inside your home for 3–5 days, and concrete slabs are sealed first.

Furniture and area rugs can go back right away; put felt pads under every furniture foot. Vacuum or dust-mop weekly and clean with Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner. Go easy on water: wipe up spills right away, because water left at the seams can make laminate swell. Laminate can’t be recoated or refinished. Printable care sheet (PDF).

Yes. We install baseboards, quarter round and shoe molding with new floors or as a standalone project. The $800 project minimum applies to baseboard-only work. Read baseboard questions answered.

Nail-hole filling and caulking are available as separately quoted work. We don’t normally paint; painting is not included unless your estimate says so.

We usually reply the same business day. Our hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 am–8:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am–5:00 pm. Messages sent on Sunday are answered on Monday.

Material availability and delivery, acclimation time and site conditions all affect scheduling. We’ll go over timing with you when we prepare your estimate. Summer and early fall are our busiest months, so ask early if you’d like a date between July and September.

Please remove furniture and personal items from the work area unless furniture moving is included in your estimate. We offer furniture moving as a separately quoted option. When the flooring work requires it, we disconnect and reset appliances, and the charge is listed in your estimate.

Yes. We’ll check the product and its installation instructions first, since very cheap or discontinued products can carry risks. Materials must acclimate inside the home, and a delivery fee may apply if we pick up or transport them for you.

Unless your estimate says otherwise, our work is covered by a Limited One-Year Workmanship Warranty for the original client. Flooring products may also have their own manufacturer warranties, which are separate. Full terms come with your project documents and Warranty Certificate.

We walk through the finished floor with you whenever possible and give you a customer project and warranty package with care instructions and project details.

No. For anything bigger than a small spot, call a water mitigation company and your insurance company first. They remove wet materials and dry the home. We repair and replace floors and baseboards once everything is dry. Read water-damaged floors: top questions answered.

Often, yes, once the wood and subfloor are fully dry. Sanding too early causes new problems. Boards that are too damaged can be cut out and replaced, then the floor is sanded and refinished so old and new blend together as closely as possible.

It depends on your policy and the cause of the damage. We prepare a detailed written estimate your adjuster can review line by line.

We are based in Everett, Washington, and serve Snohomish County and parts of King and Skagit Counties.

Not anymore. After more than 20 years of residential construction, we now focus only on flooring and baseboards. That experience still helps us plan floors around cabinets, stairs, appliances and other trades. Learn about our experience.

Use felt pads under furniture, lift instead of dragging, and use entry mats with watertight backing. Vacuum or dust-mop regularly and avoid too much water when mopping. See our wood floor care guide.