- Rent a sander and edger and buy several grits of abrasives. Drum sanders remove wood fast and can leave permanent gouges if you pause or tilt.
- Sand the whole floor in multiple passes, then the edges and corners by hand, then the stairs if you have them.
- Deal with dust. Rental sanders without good dust control spread fine dust through the whole house, including vents.
- Stain evenly if you are changing color. Uneven stain and lap marks are the most common DIY complaints.
- Apply finish in several coats with proper dry time between coats, in the right temperature and humidity.
- Stay off the floor while it dries, and wait for the finish to cure before moving furniture.
Honest advice from a family flooring business with 30+ years of experience
Refinishing Hardwood Floors: DIY or Hire a Pro?
Short answer: you can refinish a small, simple floor yourself, but it is a hard, messy, unforgiving job, and mistakes are expensive to undo. A professional refinish in Maryland typically costs $3 to $5 per square foot, with most projects between $2,000 and $5,000. Here is how to decide.
What DIY Refinishing Really Involves
Costs: DIY vs Professional
| DIY | Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Equipment rental, abrasives, stain and finish, plus your time. Savings shrink fast if you make a mistake. | Typically $3 to $5 per square foot. Most Maryland projects land between $2,000 and $5,000. |
| Time | Many weekends for most homeowners | Typically 2 to 3 days |
| Dust | Heavy unless you rent a dust-contained machine | Dustless system captures the vast majority of dust at the machine |
| Risk | Gouges, uneven stain, bubbles and lap marks | Insured, with a personal guarantee on workmanship |
For a full breakdown of what drives price, read our hardwood floor refinishing cost guide.
Common DIY Mistakes
- Sanding too aggressively and removing too much wood, which shortens the life of the floor.
- Skipping grits, which leaves scratches that show through stain.
- Not removing all dust before finishing, which leaves bumps in the finish.
- Applying finish too thick or in poor conditions.
- Not testing stain on the actual wood first. The same stain looks different on oak, maple and pine.
When DIY Can Make Sense
- A small room with solid, thick hardwood and no major damage.
- You only need a light refresh, not a color change. A buff and recoat may be enough; ask us.
- You have the time, strength and patience, and you are comfortable with the risk.
When in doubt, send us photos at (240) 277-5953. We will tell you honestly whether the floor needs a pro, even if the answer is that you can handle it.
When to Call a Professional
- You want a stain color change, especially a dark or custom color.
- The floor has pet stains, gaps, water damage or past bad repairs. See hardwood floor repair.
- You have stairs, a large area or an open floor plan.
- You want a cleaner job with dustless sanding.
- The floor may already have been sanded several times.
Maryland Home Improvement License #137004 · $1M Liability Insured · Bona Certified · NWFA Member · 30+ Years Experience
Contact Us
Ready for a fast, free estimate? Contact us today—calls, texts, and emails answered quickly, even outside business hours. We proudly serve Montgomery County (Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, Chevy Chase) and Baltimore County (Windsor Mills, Randallstown, and more).