How Long Does Hardwood Floor Refinishing Take?

1. Day 1: Prep, sanding and stain. We protect the work area, repair any problem spots, sand the floor to bare wood with dustless equipment, and apply stain if you chose a color.
2. Day 2: Finish coats. We apply the first coats of finish with proper dry time between each.
3. Day 3: Final coat and walkthrough. After the final coat, we walk through the job with you and explain care and cure times.

Smaller projects can finish sooner, and larger or more complex jobs take longer.

• Walking: in socks, usually about 24 hours after the final coat with a water-based finish.
• Furniture: usually 48 to 72 hours after the final coat. We confirm timing for your specific finish.
• Rugs and heavy items: finishes continue to cure for a couple of weeks, so we give you a specific date for rugs based on the finish used.
• Pets: keep pets off the floor until it is safe, and keep nails trimmed.

Read more in our curing process guide.

• Large areas or open floor plans and multiple floors.
• Stairs and handrails. See stairs and handrails.
• Repairs such as board replacement or gap filling. See repairs.
• Custom or dark stains, which may require extra drying and testing.
• Weather. High humidity slows drying.
• Special woods, which may need to be ordered in advance (3 to 7 days).

After you approve an estimate, jobs are usually scheduled within 2 to 5 days. In peak summer weeks the wait can be 3 to 4 weeks, so early booking helps. Read what to expect on service day, and see what refinishing costs.