Refinish or Replace Hardwood Floors in Madison WI
The question is not how bad the floor looks, and it is how much good wood is left; here is how to tell.
Licensed and insured, and many years in business serving the greater Madison area.
The one measurement that matters
Sanding wears the wood down, and a solid floor usually has a wear layer of about 1/4 inch or more, and a sanding takes off 1/32 to 1/16 inch (Hardwood Floors magazine). Sanding is not recommended once less than 3/32 inch is left (same source).
Where do you measure? Floor pros often look at a floor register, where a board edge shows (Hardwood Floors magazine), and we bring a gauge and check it for you.
Signs you should refinish
- Wood is thick enough and boards are solid
- The problem is finish: dull, scratched or the wrong color
- Gaps and stains are limited to a few spots
- You like the wood and layout you have
Signs to consider replacing
- Nail heads show through after earlier sandings
- Boards are split, cupped or soft from long-term moisture
- Very thin engineered wood with little wear layer left
- You want a different style, such as new plank width
What about engineered floors?
Engineered wood has a thinner top layer, often 1/16 to 1/4 inch (Hardwood Floors magazine), and some can be sanded once or twice, and some cannot. For factory-finished floors, a recoat is sometimes enough if there are no dents, wear patterns or cupping (Hardwood Floors magazine); ask us before you decide.
| Factor | Refinish | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Wood left | At least about 3/32 inch above the limit | Less than that |
| Damage | Spot repairs | Widespread moisture damage |
| Style | Keep what you have | Change the look |
| Cost | Often lower | Often higher |
Compare real prices in the cost guide.
Refinish, screen and recoat, or replace: side by side
Cost, time and dust for the three paths, and figures are outside estimates, not our prices.
| Compare | Full refinish | Screen and recoat | Replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per square foot | $3 to $8* (HomeAdvisor*) | About $2 to $4.50*: screening $1 to $2.50 plus topcoat $1 to $2 (HomeAdvisor*) | $6 to $18* installed (This Old House*), plus about $1.50 to $3.50* to remove old flooring (BuildDirect, citing Angi*) |
| Cost for 1,000 square feet | $3,000 to $8,000* from the rates above; HomeAdvisor's own sample is $3,000 to $5,000 (HomeAdvisor*) | $2,000 to $4,500* from the rates above | $6,000 to $18,000* from the rates above, before removal |
| Time | About 5 hours of work per 100 square feet; water-based topcoat dries in 2 to 4 hours and oil-based in up to 10 (HomeAdvisor*). One waterborne finish lists 3 days to full cure (Bona data sheet) | Shorter than a full refinish because the wood is not sanded to bare; the coat still has to dry and cure (Solid Shape) | Prefinished boards often install in 1 to 3 days; unfinished boards that are sanded and finished on site can take 7 to 10 (Flooring Clarity) |
| Dust level (our plain rating) | High to medium. Sanding always makes dust, even with dustless gear (HomeAdvisor*) | Low. The old finish is lightly abraded, not sanded off (Solid Shape) | Low to high. Prefinished boards skip sanding dust; boards finished on site do not (Flooring Clarity) |
| Best when | Wear is through the finish, scratches are deep or you want a new color | The finish is dull but still sealed and the color is fine | Little wood is left above the tongue and groove, or the boards are damaged beyond repair |
| Uses up wood? | Yes, about 1/32 to 1/16 inch per sanding (Hardwood Floors magazine) | No sanding to bare wood | Starts a new wear layer |
Want numbers for your own floor? Use the cost estimator, then check how much wood you have with the sanding-count checker.
Madison houses with old floors
Many Madison homes are around 100 years old (Mad City Dream Homes), and floors from that era were often thick solid wood. That is good news for refinishing, and just remember the lead rule for pre-1978 homes (Wisconsin DHS); start at the home page to see our services.
A customer who kept the old floors
We wanted to update the appearance of our older hardwood floors without replacing them. Madison Floor Refinishing helped us accomplish exactly that. The finished floors look beautiful, and the workmanship was excellent. Professional service, fair communication, and a great overall experience.
Refinish or Replace: questions answered
Can any hardwood floor be refinished?
Most solid ones can, within the sanding limit (Hardwood Floors magazine), and thin engineered floors vary.
How do I know how many sandings are left?
See how many times a floor can be sanded for the formula.
Is replacing ever cheaper?
Rarely, if the wood is sound, and see the cost guide.
What if only part of the floor is damaged?
Repair the part, then refinish the room, and see repair.
Can a recoat save me from replacing?
Sometimes, if the finish is intact, and see screen and recoat.
Do I need to replace to change the color?
No. Sanding and staining can change the color, and see staining.
What is the cost to refinish hardwood floors in Madison WI compared with replacing them?
A refinish runs about $3 to $8 per square foot, while new installed floors run about $6 to $18 (HomeAdvisor*, This Old House*). See the side-by-side table above.
Not sure if your floor is worth saving?
Let us measure it and tell you straight, and send the form or call; you can also go to the home page.
* Cost figures are estimates from the linked third-party guides, not a quote from us, and Madison prices vary with floor size, wood, condition and the finish you pick.