The short answer
- Empty the rooms being refinished: furniture, rugs, curtains that touch the floor and anything on the walls near the floor.
- Plan to be out of the house while stain and finish coats go on. You can't walk on the floor during that time.
- Most people come back the next day after we finish, if the product instructions allow.
- Wait at least three full days before furniture goes back, and longer for area rugs.
A hardwood refinish is one of the best-value updates you can make to a home, and a little preparation makes it go faster and smoother. This is the same checklist we walk through with customers before every project.
We're Vision Flooring in Everett, WA, refinishing hardwood floors across Snohomish County and parts of King and Skagit Counties. Every full refinish includes three coats of finish.
What happens during a hardwood refinish?
We inspect, protect the house, sand to fresh wood, then apply stain (if you choose one) and three coats of finish.
1. Inspect and protect
We check the floor, then mask off doorways, cabinets and nearby rooms with plastic and tape, and set up dust-control equipment.
2. Sand
The old finish, scratches and worn areas come off, down to fresh wood. Damaged boards are repaired at this stage when that's part of your estimate.
3. Stain (optional)
If you're changing the color, the stain goes on after sanding. It's always its own line item on your estimate.
4. Seal and finish
Sealer and finish coats go on, with buffing between coats when the product calls for it. Then a final cleanup and inspection.
For the details on finish types and sheens, see hardwood floor sanding and finishing.
What should I do before the crew arrives?
Clear the rooms completely, and plan where you'll be while the finish goes on.
Before
AfterEmpty rooms let the whole floor be sanded and finished evenly, edge to edge.
- Move out all furniture and belongings from the rooms being refinished, including small items in closets if the closet floors are included. Furniture moving can be added to your estimate if you'd rather we handle it.
- Take up area rugs and take down curtains that reach the floor.
- Remove floor vent covers if they're loose, and items stored under stairs or in corners.
- Appliances that sit on the floor being refinished are moved and reset as part of the job when the work needs it.
- Plan for pets and kids. They need to stay off the floor and out of the work area for the whole project.
- Clear a path from the door to the work area for the equipment.
Changing the color?Choose your stain before the project starts. We put real samples on your own floor, because the same stain looks different on every floor. Browse the options on our floor colors page first.
Do I need to leave my house during refinishing?
You can't walk on the floor while stain and finish coats are being applied, so plan to be away during that time. If the refinished floor is the only way to reach the bedrooms or the kitchen, plan to stay somewhere else for that part of the project.
- Sanding days are noisy, but with masking and dust control you can often stay in other parts of the house.
- Stain and finish days: the floor can't be walked on, and the finish has an odor while it dries.
- Swedish finish is different. It's an oil-based, very durable finish with strong fumes, and everyone has to leave the home while it's applied and follow the product's ventilation and reentry instructions.
Most customers can come back the next day after we finish, unless the product instructions say otherwise.
Is refinishing dusty?
Much less than people expect. We use dust-control equipment and mask off the work area with plastic and tape. Masking is its own line on your written estimate. You shouldn't expect dust all over the house, though no one can promise there will be none at all.
When can I put furniture and rugs back?
Furniture after at least three full days. Area rugs after at least a week, or three weeks with Swedish finish.
Walking in socks
Once you're back in the house the next day, unless the product instructions say otherwise.
Furniture
At least three full days. Put felt pads under every leg and lift furniture into place. Never drag it.
Area rugs, water-based finish
At least one week.
Area rugs, Swedish finish
A full three weeks.
Coming home, placing furniture and putting rugs down are three different milestones. The finish keeps curing for a while after that, so treat the floor gently for the first few weeks. Our wood floor care guide covers what comes next.
What will refinishing cost?
Typically $4–$6 per sq ft for sanding and three coats of finish. Stain adds $0.75–$1.50 per sq ft. Masking, board replacement, furniture moving and other extras are listed separately, and there's a $800 project minimum. These are labor guidelines, not quotes; your written estimate lists every item.
Floor in fairly good shape with no deep wear? A screen and recoat (about $2 per sq ft) may be all it needs. See refinish, recoat or just clean?
Frequently asked questions
Will refinishing remove pet stains and water marks?
Not always. Surface marks usually sand out, but stains that soaked into the wood can stay visible. The only sure fix is replacing those boards, which can be added to your estimate.
Can you refinish only one room?
Yes, as long as the project meets our $800 minimum. We generally don't take very small patch-sanding or color-matching-only jobs.
Can I stay home with my pets during refinishing?
On sanding days, often yes, in a part of the house away from the work. During stain and finish coats, pets need to be kept fully off the floor, so most families plan to be away.
