Wooden Floor Restoration Cost

Trying to find out how much it costs to restore wooden flooring?

The average cost of restoring wood flooring is typically £240, but this figure can change based on your individual project needs, and whether you need sanding, oiling, varnishing, or staining to restore your wooden floors.

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How Much Is Wooden Flooring Restoration?

The average cost of restoring wood floors is normally around £4 to £25 per m², although this will depend on the type of restoration required.

For instance, sanding a 10 m² space costs around £120 to £160, while the price to sand a 30 m² room ranges from £360 to £480.

For a complete floor refurbishment, you may also want to have it sanded and oiled, which costs around £18 to £23 per m² while sanding and varnishing is typically priced at £15 to £20 per m².

Other options include staining to improve the colour of the wood, which ranges from £4 to £8 per m², while gap filling costs anywhere from £4 to £25 per m².

A typical wood floor restoration cost will vary depending on the type of wood floor you have, with straight flooring being much more straightforward than parquet flooring restoration. The type of wood may also determine the cost with the most popular options, including oak, pine, and walnut.

Wooden Floor Restoration Prices

Here is a price breakdown of the various types of wooden floor restoration practices for different floor sizes.

Wooden Floor Restoration Supply Costs

If you wish to restore your wooden floor on a budget, then you could always purchase the supplies yourself. To help you understand the supply costs, the table below sets out the prices for different wooden floor refurbishing products.

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Additional Wood Floor Restoration Costs

There are several other expenses you may want to consider when calculating your overall restoring wood floor cost.

Cost to Remove a Carpet

If you wish to restore the wooden floor underneath a carpet, then you will need to have the existing carpet removed, and you can pay a qualified carpet fitter to do this for you. The cost of removing old carpet is typically between £1 to £3 per m².

Cost to Paint Skirting Boards

Another great way to enhance your floor’s aesthetic is by updating and painting the skirting boards. You can do this yourself or hire a professional, with the cost of painting skirting boards starting at around £200 to gloss skirting boards in an average-sized room.

This will not only make your floor look tidier but will also complement your wood flooring, especially if you use white gloss paint, which will stand out against a wooden floor.

Cost to Install Skirting Board Heating

To improve the heating in your living space, you may want to try something different by installing a Thermaskirt, a skirting board heating system. This is a great space-saving solution compared to radiators, which tend to take up a lot of wall space.

In contrast to underfloor heating, it is much easier to install and is also more affordable. Skirting board heating systems cost around £40 m².

Cost to Remove or Move a Radiator

If you wish to remove your radiator to make up space, then you can hire a professional to do this for around £80 to £120. However, if you would prefer to keep your radiator but want to move it elsewhere, the cost to remove and re-install the radiator will be closer to £200, with higher costs for more complex installations and removals.

Wooden Floor Restoration Labour Costs and Timescales

The majority of floor specialists tend to charge per m² depending on the job. However, some charge around £100 to £200 for the day.

The time frames for each job will vary, with a sanding and refinishing job usually taking about 2 to 3 hours, while oiling, staining, and varnishing normally take around 1 hour for an average-sized room.

The timescales will, of course, increase for a larger room, which could take a full day to sand and treat.

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What Impacts Wooden Floor Restoration Costs?

There are various cost factors you need to consider when calculating the overall cost of wood floor restoration, including:

Type of Wood

One of the most critical factors you need to consider is the type of flooring that you wish to restore, as some are harder to sand than others. For instance, parquet flooring usually takes a lot longer to polish as extra care is required to ensure the pattern is not ruined. You also have to add additional protection to untreated wood or engineered wood to ensure it is long-lasting.

Size of Flooring

Another important factor is how much flooring you have, as the more you have, the more expensive the restoration will be. For example, the cost of sanding and varnishing a 10 m² room only costs around £150 to £200, while a 30 m² room is generally priced at £450 to £600.

State of Existing Wood Flooring

The condition of the floor itself is also a considerable element, as the state of the floor will determine how long the job will take. If you’re lucky, your wood floor won’t need a lot of work done to get it safe, but some installations with neglected floorboards will need to have a lot more work done.

If your floor is in bad condition, then you should double-check whether floor restoration is worthwhile or you are best opting for a brand new wooden floor installation.

Location of Property

Where you live is also an essential factor, as labour rates will vary depending on your location. For instance, tradespeople in London tend to charge around £220 per day while companies or labourers in the surrounding areas tend to set their daily rate at about £180.

Ease of Access

Some tradesperson may charge more if they have limited access to the floor, so they usually add costs on for clearing out furniture and items from the room to make the job easier. If you wish to save a bit of extra money, then you should consider clearing out the space yourself if you are capable.

How Much Does It Cost To Remove Wood Flooring?

If your wooden floor is far too damaged to be restored, then you may need to have it removed by a professional floor specialist, which generally costs around £100 to £200 per day. Once the old floor has been ripped up, they will then be able to fit your new wood flooring.

You can also do it yourself, although this may take a lot longer, and you need to be careful when removing the floor as you do not want to cause any damage to the subfloor. You will also pay for waste disposal, which typically costs around £70 to £290.

What's Involved in Wood Floor Renovation?

To help you understand the process of restoring a wooden floor, here is a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Cleaning the Wooden Floor

Before the tradesman restores your wooden floor, they will clean it. This will involve removing everything out of the room, including old carpet and furniture. Once this is out of the way, they will then vacuum and mop every corner of the floor to remove any dirt and debris.

2. Sanding the Wooden Floor

Once the floor is immaculate, they will then put on their protective eyewear and use a specialist sander to refinish the floor.

This will involve manoeuvring the sander in the direction of the grain until every inch of the floor has been sanded down. They will then use a lighter grit sander or sandpaper to get an even finish across the entire wooden floor.

3. Staining the Wooden Floor

After the sanding is complete, the tradesman will then vacuum the floor once again to remove any dust. They will then start to stain the floor (this step should be skipped if you prefer a natural aesthetic.

Although, before applying the wood stain, they will test it on the floor to check you are happy with the colour. If you are happy for them to proceed, they will then apply the stain across the floor.

4. Oil/Varnish the Wooden Floor

Once the stain is dry after around 24 hours, the tradesman will then finish off the floor with either oil or varnish. This should be applied and then left for approximately 4 to 5 hours before another layer is applied.

Can I Restore Wood Flooring Myself?

You can restore your wooden floor yourself, but we recommended to get a professional in to avoid any mistakes and safety hazards, such as splintered rough surfaces, which could cause an accident, especially if you have children or pets.

Hiring a professional will have many years of experience in restoring old floors and will save you a lot of stress along the way.

Although we recommend getting in a professional to restore your old wood floors, it can be done yourself. For a DIY floor restoration, you will need the following equipment and supplies to bring those floorboards back to life successfully:

• Electric floor sander
• Varnish
• Oil
• Brushes
• Sandpaper
• Hammer

Types of Wood Flooring Restoration

There are various ways to restore your wooden floor, so to help you decide which type of restoration is right for your floor, here is a breakdown of the different types of refinishing jobs, along with their costs and pros and cons.

Sanding Wood Flooring Costs

One of the most basic types of wooden floor restoration is sanding, which involves the use of a sander machine or sandpaper and costs around £12 to £16 per m². By sanding down the surface, it can fix any scratches or scuffs while also smoothing out the floor.

The main benefit of sanding your old wooden floor is that it can easily remove any slight wear and tear while also helping to repair a tired appearance. It also helps to remove the existing surface, which is ideal if you prefer a different aesthetic.

A downside of sanding your wooden floor is that it may remove the natural wood appearance, so you may not get the aesthetic you are looking for.

You also need to be very careful when sanding an old wooden floor, especially if it is engineered wood, as this will require at least 1.5mm of wear layer to be sanded; otherwise, it may damage the floor permanently, and you may need to pay to replace it.

Staining Wood Flooring Costs

If you wish to enhance or change the colour of your wood flooring, then you should consider applying wood stain, which costs around £4 to £8 per m².

Wood stain is a mixture of dissolved or suspended colourants which are used to alter or enrich wood flooring.

One of the main advantages of staining your wooden floor is that it provides overall protection from rot and sunlight while also preserving its natural beauty. It can also replicate different types of wood depending on the shade you choose, which can save you a significant amount of money on floor replacement.

You should avoid staining your floor if it is made from maple, pine birch or any other coniferous woods, as these are very difficult to stain evenly. Staining can also highlight sanding marks, which can be unsightly, which is why it is best to seek a professional’s help when refurbishing your wooden floor, as they know exactly how to avoid problems like this.

Varnishing Wood Flooring Costs

Wood varnish is a hard-wearing and transparent finish which is usually applied to wood flooring after it has been sanded and stained. To have your wooden floor sanded and varnished, you should expect to pay around £15 to £20 per m².

Wood varnish is the strongest of all wood flooring finishes as it provides a permanent seal which helps to protect the wood from further damage while also prolonging its lifespan. It is also extremely low-maintenance, so there is no need to clean it excessively.

The main downside of varnishing your wooden floor is that once it is applied, your floor cannot be spot-repaired, so if any damage occurs, you will need to have your floor replaced. You also need to be careful about spilling anything on your floor, as any spillages that are left can cause permanent damage.

Oiling Wood Flooring Costs

Oiling is another finishing technique which is used on the majority of wood flooring and costs around £18 to £23 per m². Wood oil is typically made from natural oils such as linseed, Danish and teak, which all provide a nice sheen.

The great thing about oiling your wooden floor is that it provides the most natural aesthetic, which just enhances the natural beauty of your wooden floor. It is also very easy to repair even after it is applied, so there is no for a complete replacement for small surface scratches.

In comparison to wood varnish, oil is not as robust and will, therefore, not protect the wooden floor as much. They are also susceptible to water damage as they are made of non-porous materials which causes liquid to leak through the floor, which can have a detrimental effect on the floor’s lifespan.

Benefits of Restoring Wood Flooring

To help you decide whether restoring wood flooring is right for you, take a look at the following benefits:

Enhanced Aesthetic

One of the most obvious benefits of restoring your wooden floor is that it can instantly improve the look of your home. This is especially true if you are removing your old carpet to rejuvenate the wooden floor underneath or you are just merely sprucing up your old hardwood floor.

Money-Saving

Restoring old wood floorboards is a cheap way to update and is an excellent alternative to putting down new flooring or carpet, as well as keeping up with the rustic look that original floorboards boast.

Environmentally-Friendly

Restoring your wooden floor is great for the environment as instead of having a new floor manufactured and fitted, you are breathing life into your old one. While it may not seem like you are making a difference to the planet, your choice to renew your floor could even save a tree.

Increased Safety

Having your floor sanded can help to make your floor safe and prevent any sharp pieces of wood from injuring anyone. A wooden floor refurbishment can also help to reduce allergies, as the floor will be cleaned and finished to ensure to prevent a build-up of dust.

Low-Maintenance

Looking after a wooden floor is a lot easier to maintain than carpet, so you can save yourself a lot of time hoovering and wiping up any stains. Instead, all you need to do is vacuum and mop the floor to ensure it is kept clean and free of dust.

Kerb Appeal

As well as refreshing your home, wooden floors will be an attractive feature when it comes to selling your home. This is because wooden floors are a great selling point, especially for homeowners or tenants who appreciate the natural wood aesthetic. It will also entice buyers as wooden floors are much easier to clean, and they also provide better air quality inside the property.

Does My Wood Flooring Need Restoring?

If you have had your wooden floor for over 20 years, you may start to notice some scratches or dents in the floor that may not be irreparable, so instead of having a new floor installed, you may just need to have your wooden floor sanded and refinished.

Other signs that you may need your floor restored include discolouration, which can easily be remedied with sanding and a colour stain application, which will bring life back into your old wooden floor.

However, for this to be possible, you need to make sure that your floors have not been sanded more than eight times and have at least 1/32 of an inch of wood at the top of the floor for the restoration to be successful.

Checklist: Hiring a Wooden Flooring Specialist in the UK

The following checklist will help you choose the right person to restore your wooden flooring:

• Check to see if they have official qualifications such as a Level 1 award in flooring operations or basic construction skills.
• Ask about their previous restoration experience and try to hire someone who has at least five years’ experience refurbishing wooden flooring.
• Check if they are a member of an accredited association such as the National Institute of Carpet and Floor Layers or The Floor Industry Training Association.
• Look at reviews from their customers and, if possible, ask for photographic evidence of previous wood floor restoration projects.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/blog/wood-oils-best-used/