Norfolk County 14 towns and cities
- Braintree
- Brookline
- Canton
- Cohasset
- Dedham
- Dover
- Milton
- Needham
- Norwood
- Quincy
- Randolph
- Wellesley
- Westwood
- Weymouth
Floors and stairs
Hardwood Floor Refinishing
Hardwood floor refinishing for floors and staircases across Greater Boston: careful sanding down to fresh wood, the stain color you choose, and new coats of finish, from a licensed and insured local team in Norwood.
- Free In-Home Estimate, No Obligation
- Licensed and Insured
- Local Company in Norwood
- 17+ Years of Team Experience
The scope
What Our Hardwood Floor Refinishing Includes
Hardwood floor refinishing removes the old, worn finish and a thin layer of wood, so the floor gets a fresh, even surface. Then we color it, if you want a stain, and seal it with new coats of finish. The boards stay in place: what changes is the surface you see and walk on every day.
- Sanding in stages, from a coarse grit to a fine one, across the whole floor
- Edges and corners sanded to blend with the middle of the room
- Small gaps and nail holes filled with wood filler before the finish
- Stain in the color you choose, or a natural look with no stain
- Coats of finish in the sheen you prefer, from matte to glossy
The sunroom in the photo shows what a careful job looks like when the light hits it: an even color, no swirl marks, and a clear finish from wall to wall. More examples are on our projects page. If you are thinking about new floors in other rooms, our hardwood floor installation page explains that service.
When to refinish
Signs Your Hardwood Floors Are Ready for Refinishing
Hardwood floors wear slowly, so it is easy to stop noticing how tired they look. Refinishing makes sense when the finish no longer protects the wood or when the color no longer suits the house. These are the signs homeowners mention most often when they call us for an estimate.
- Gray or bare spots in walkways where the finish has worn through
- Scratches and dull areas that cleaning no longer hides
- An orange or yellow tone from an old finish that has aged
- A stain color that no longer matches your furniture or your taste
- Oak floors found under old carpet that were never refinished
Color and sheen
Choosing a Stain Color and a Finish
Stain changes the mood of a room more than almost anything else, and red oak and white oak take color differently. Before the whole floor is stained, we apply samples on your own floor, so you choose the color in your light, next to your walls and trim, and not from a small card.
- 01
Natural
No stain, only finish: the real color of the oak, light and bright.
- 02
Honey and Warm Tones
Classic warm colors that suit traditional New England homes.
- 03
Gray and Brown Tones
Softer, cooler colors that work with modern paint and trim.
- 04
Dark Walnut and Deeper
Rich dark floors, striking next to white walls and stairs.
The finish matters as much as the color. A matte or satin sheen hides small scratches and dust better, while a glossy floor reflects more light. We talk through the options during the estimate and put the choice in writing, so there are no surprises on the last day.
Staircases
Stair Refinishing as Part of the Job
Stairs get more wear than any other wood in the house, and they are the first thing many visitors see. Our stair refinishing is part of the same service: the treads are sanded by hand and with smaller machines, then stained to match or contrast with the floors and finished with the same care.
- Treads and landings sanded and stained to match the refinished floors
- Handrails and nosings blended with the treads
- A dark tread with white risers, or one color top to bottom
- Stairs and floors scheduled together, so the house is closed once
The staircase in the photo pairs dark stained treads with white risers and black iron balusters, a combination that works well in many colonial and newer homes in the area. You can see more staircases on our projects page.
Our process
How a Hardwood Floor Refinishing Project Runs
Refinishing goes smoothly when you know which rooms are closed, for how long, and when you can walk on the floor again. We plan the order of the rooms with you at the estimate, so you can keep using the rest of the house, and we explain each step before it starts.
- 1
Free In-Home Estimate
We look at the floors, measure the rooms, and talk about color and sheen.
- 2
Sanding
The old finish comes off and the wood is sanded smooth in stages.
- 3
Filling and Stain
Small gaps and nail holes are filled, then the stain goes on.
- 4
Finish Coats
Coats of finish are applied, with drying time between them.
Before we start
Preparing Your Home for Floor Refinishing
A little preparation makes the work faster and keeps your belongings safe. The rooms being refinished need to be empty, and the house needs a plan for where everyone will walk while the finish dries. We go over this list with you during the estimate and answer any questions about your home.
- Furniture, rugs, and small items moved out of the rooms we refinish
- A path planned around the work area, including the stairs
- Pets and children kept away from the rooms while we work
- Windows and doors discussed, so the finish dries clean and evenly
Plan to keep furniture off the new finish until we say it is ready, and use felt pads under the legs when it comes back. GB Hardwood Floor Inc is licensed and insured, and proof of insurance is available before the work begins. We are a local company with our office in Norwood, and our team brings more than seventeen years of experience with hardwood floors.
Pricing
How Much Does Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost?
There is no honest single price for hardwood floor refinishing, because every floor is different. The total depends on the square footage, how worn the current finish is, whether you want a stain or a natural look, how many coats of finish you choose, and whether a staircase is part of the job.
- Square footage and the number of rooms
- Natural finish or a stain color, and the sheen
- Stairs, landings, and handrails included or not
- Furniture to be moved and access to the rooms
We do not quote over the phone. At the free in-home estimate we measure the rooms, look at the wood, and send a written price, so you can compare it line by line with other quotes and decide with no pressure and no obligation.
Where we work
Hardwood Floor Refinishing Across Greater Boston
We offer hardwood floor refinishing in thirty-two cities and towns across Greater Boston, in Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Plymouth Counties, working out of our office in Norwood. Many homes here have red or white oak under carpet or under an old finish, and refinishing brings it back.
Middlesex County 13 towns and cities
- Arlington
- Belmont
- Cambridge
- Everett
- Lexington
- Malden
- Medford
- Newton
- Somerville
- Waltham
- Watertown
- Weston
- Winchester
Suffolk County 4 towns and cities
- Boston
- Chelsea
- Revere
- Winthrop
Plymouth County 1 town
- Hingham
Free estimate
Get a Free Hardwood Floor Refinishing Estimate
Tell us which rooms and stairs you want to refinish and the color you have in mind, even if you are still deciding. We will visit your home, look at the floors, take measurements, and send a written estimate with the scope and the price, with no cost and no obligation to hire us.
- Free In-Home Estimate, No Obligation
- Licensed and Insured
- Local Company in Norwood
- 17+ Years of Team Experience
Prefer to talk? Call (857) 540-2447
FAQ
Hardwood Floor Refinishing Questions and Answers
These are the questions homeowners ask most often about hardwood floor refinishing before they hire a flooring company in Greater Boston: what the work includes, stain colors, stairs, timing, preparation, and cost. If your question is not listed here, send it with your estimate request and we will answer it before any work is scheduled.
What is hardwood floor refinishing?
Hardwood floor refinishing is the process of sanding off the old finish and a thin layer of wood, filling small gaps and nail holes, applying stain if you want a color, and sealing the floor with new coats of finish. The boards stay in place, and the result is a floor with a fresh, even surface and color.
How often can hardwood floors be refinished?
Solid hardwood floors can usually be sanded and refinished several times during their life, because each sanding removes only a thin layer of wood. The number depends on the thickness of the wood above the tongue and how the floor was sanded before. We check the floor during the estimate and tell you honestly whether it is a good candidate.
Can you change the color of my floors?
Yes. Sanding removes the old finish and color, so we can take the floor back to natural wood or stain it a new color, lighter or darker than before. Red oak and white oak react differently to stain, so we apply samples on your floor first and you choose the color before the whole room is stained.
Do you refinish stairs too?
Yes. Stair refinishing is part of this service. We sand the treads and landings, stain them to match or contrast with the floors, and apply the same finish. Many homeowners choose dark treads with white risers, as our photos show, and scheduling stairs and floors together means the house is closed only once.
How long does hardwood floor refinishing take?
It depends on the size of the area, whether you choose a stain, the number of finish coats, and the drying conditions in the house. A few rooms take less time than a whole floor with stairs. We give you a realistic schedule in the estimate, including when you can walk on the floor and when furniture can return.
Can I stay at home while you refinish the floors?
Often you can, as long as the rooms being refinished are closed off and you have another way to move around the house. Some homeowners prefer to be away while the finish is applied and dries. We plan the order of the rooms with you at the estimate, so you know which areas are available each day.
Do I need to move the furniture myself?
The rooms we work on need to be completely empty before sanding starts, including rugs and small items. Tell us during the estimate what is in the rooms and whether you need help planning the move, so we can include it in the schedule. Furniture should stay off the new finish until we tell you it is ready.
What finish sheen should I choose?
It comes down to taste and how the room is used. Matte and satin finishes look softer and hide small scratches, footprints, and dust better, which suits busy homes. Semi-gloss and gloss finishes reflect more light and look more formal. We show you examples during the estimate and help you pick the sheen that fits each room.
Can floors found under old carpet be refinished?
Very often, yes. Many homes in Greater Boston have oak floors hidden under carpet that were never exposed to daily wear. Once the carpet and padding are gone, we look at the wood, the staples, and the condition of the surface, and tell you what refinishing can do for that floor before you decide anything.
How much does hardwood floor refinishing cost?
The cost depends on the square footage, the condition of the current finish, a stain or natural look, the number of finish coats, whether stairs are included, and access to the rooms. Because every floor is different, we do not quote over the phone. We measure and look at the floors at a free in-home estimate and send a written price.