Wooden Floor Restoration Cost

How Much Is Wooden Flooring Restoration?

The average cost of restoring wooden flooring is normally around £4 to £25 per m² or around £240 in total for a complete restoration job within a medium sized room, although this will depend on the type of wood floor restoration required.

Sanding is the usual starting point for most restoration jobs, smoothing out scratches and levelling the surface before any finish is applied. From there, your final wood floor restoration cost depends on which finish you choose, as oiling, varnishing, and staining are priced differently and each gives a different look and level of protection.

As a rough guide, oiling gives the most natural finish but needs reapplying more often, varnishing is the most hard-wearing and low-maintenance option, and staining is generally the cheapest way to change or deepen the colour of the wood. Gap filling is usually priced separately, as the cost depends heavily on how wide the gaps are and how much of the floor needs it.

Room size and floor type also affect the final price. Larger rooms benefit from a lower cost per m², since the tradesperson's set-up time is spread across more floor space, while straight-plank flooring is generally quicker and cheaper to restore than parquet flooring, which needs more careful, specialist sanding to protect the pattern.

The table below breaks down typical prices for each treatment across three common room sizes, so you have a clearer starting point before requesting quotes.

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Wooden Floor Restoration Prices

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

Wooden Flooring Restoration Cost Calculator

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.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional: Cost Comparison

If you're restoring your wooden floor yourself, your wood floor restoration cost mostly comes down to sander hire and finishing materials rather than labour, which is where most of a professional quote goes.

What type of wooden floor restoration do you require?

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For example, hardwax oil typically covers around 20 m² per litre per coat, and most floors need 2 coats for full protection. This means a 20 m² room would need roughly 2 litres of oil in total. At £18 to £30 per litre, that works out at around £40 to £60 in oil alone.

Add a floor sander hire cost of £44 to £56 per day and sandpaper, brushes, and other consumables at around £20 to £40, and a full DIY sand-and-oil job on a 20 m² room could cost from £100 to £160 in total. This compares to £360 to £460 for the same job carried out by a professional, although a DIY approach takes longer and carries a greater risk of an uneven finish or damage to the boards, particularly on parquet or engineered wood floors.

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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 sanding and refinishing usually taking most of the day. Oiling, staining, and varnishing can take 1 or 2 hours for an average-sized room, although you need to allow additional time for it to dry between coats in order for the job to be completed properly.

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

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 Floor — A major factor to consider is the type of flooring you wish to restore, as some are harder to sand than others. Parquet flooring, for instance, requires extra care to preserve the pattern, and untreated or engineered wood will need additional protection to keep it long lasting.
• Size of Flooring — How much flooring you have will affect your wood floor restoration costs. 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 — If your floor is in bad condition and in need of repairs first, it's worth considering whether wood floor restoration is worthwhile or whether a full replacement makes more sense. Removing old wood flooring typically costs £100 to £200 a day, plus waste disposal from around £70.
• Location of Property — Where you live is also an essential factor in your wood floor restoration costs, as labour prices will vary depending on your location. Tradespeople in London tend to charge around £220 per day, while those in the surrounding areas charge around £180 per day.
• Ease of Access — Some wood floor restoration specialists may charge more if they have limited access to the floor, so costs may be added for clearing out furniture and other items from the room.
• Cost to Paint Skirting Boards — Another great way to enhance your floor's aesthetic is to update and paint the skirting boards. The cost of painting skirting boards starts at around £200 to gloss skirting boards in an average-sized room.

How to Save Money on Wood Floor Restoration

Wood floor restoration cost doesn't have to be fixed. A few small changes to how you plan and book the job can bring the total cost down without affecting the quality of the finish:

• Empty the room yourself before the tradesperson arrives, as furniture removal is often charged as an extra.
• Remove old carpet yourself if you're confident doing so, since carpet removal is typically charged at £6 to £13 per m² if included in the job.
• Get at least 3 quotes so you can compare pricing for the same scope of work.
• Book multiple rooms in the same visit where possible, as some specialists charge a minimum call-out fee to cover setup and travel, which is spread across more square metres if several rooms are done together.
• Choose polishing over full sanding if your existing finish is still in decent condition, rather than paying for a treatment you don't need.
• Schedule the job for a quieter period if your timeline is flexible, as some tradespeople offer better rates outside their busiest months.

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 help with installing a wood floor to replace the old one.

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.

If you are removing your wooden floor, you may be looking at laying a laminate floor instead (the average fitting cost being around £1,200). Alternatively, the average cost of laying carpet is approximately £400, although this can increase depending on the size of room and the quality or style you choose.

What's Involved in Wood Floor Renovation?

You can restore wooden floors yourself, although this can be a tricky job and extremely time-consuming. If you are not an experienced DIY enthusiast, then you are best leaving the job to a professional floor layer, as this will ensure that the job is completed to a high standard.

For projects such as this, it's always highly recommended to request a quote from more than one person. With MyJobQuote, you can find someone that specialises in restoring wooden flooring and get quotes from tradesmen near you with no obligation to hire.

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

• 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.
• Sanding the Wooden Floor – Once the floor is immaculate, they will use a specialist sander to refinish the floor. They will then use a lighter grit sander or sandpaper to get an even finish across the entire wooden floor.
• Staining the Wooden Floor – 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).
• 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.

Note: Before applying the wood stain, the tradesperson should test it on the floor to check you are happy with the colour.

Can I Restore Wood Flooring Myself?

You can restore your wooden floor yourself, but we recommend to get a professional in to avoid any mistakes and safety hazards. As well as from an aesthetic perspective, poor workmanship can result in splintered or rough surfaces, which could cause a potential accident.

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

However, if you do wish to try the DIY approach, 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 wood floor 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

Best for: Fixing scratches or scuffs while also smoothing out the floor.

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. You also need to be very careful when sanding an old wooden floor, especially if it is engineered wood, as the wear layer must be at least 1.5mm thick before sanding to prevent permanent damage.

Pros

• ✔ Removes any slight wear and tear and repairs a tired appearance
• ✔ Helps to remove the existing surface

Cons

• ✖ May remove the natural wood appearance

Staining Wood Flooring Costs

Best for: Enhancing or changing the colour of your wood flooring.

Wood stain is a mixture of dissolved or suspended colourants which are used to alter or enrich wood flooring, and costs around £4 to £8 per m².

Pros

• ✔ Provides protection from rot and sunlight
• ✔ Can replicate different types of wood floors depending on the shade you choose

Cons

• ✖ Floors made from maple, pine, birch or any other coniferous woods are very difficult to stain evenly
• ✖ Can highlight sanding marks

Varnishing Wood Flooring Costs

Best for: A hard-wearing and transparent finish that prolongs the lifespan of your floor.

Wood varnish 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.

Pros

• ✔ Strongest of all wood flooring finishes, and protects the wood from further damage
• ✔ Extremely low-maintenance

Cons

• ✖ Once applied, your floor cannot be spot-repaired, so any damage to your floor requires replacement
• ✖ Any spillages that are left can cause permanent damage

Oiling Wood Flooring Costs

Best for: Enhancing the natural beauty of your wooden floor with the most natural aesthetic.

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.

Pros

• ✔ Very easy to repair, so there is no need for a complete replacement for small surface scratches

Cons

• ✖ Not as much protection as wood varnish
• ✖ Susceptible to water damage, which can have a detrimental effect on the floor's lifespan

Polishing Wood Flooring Costs

Best for: Refreshing a floor's shine without a full sand-down, when the existing finish is still in good condition.

Floor polishing, sometimes called buffing, uses a rotary machine to lightly refresh the existing lacquer or oil rather than sanding down to bare wood. It costs around £8 to £12 per m² and works well as a maintenance option between full restorations, provided the finish hasn't worn through.

Pros

• ✔ Considerably cheaper and quicker than sanding, often finished within a few hours
• ✔ Extends the life of your existing finish without removing any wood

Cons

• ✖ Only suitable if the finish is still intact — floors with bare or worn-through patches will need sanding instead
• ✖ Doesn't fix deep scratches, staining, or gaps between boards

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Parquet Flooring Restoration Cost

Parquet flooring is made up of small wood blocks arranged into geometric patterns, such as herringbone, chevron, or basketweave, rather than long, straight planks. It's a popular period feature, but it's also more delicate to work with, which is why the parquet flooring restoration cost tends to run higher than a standard floor.

Sanding parquet flooring typically costs around £15 to £22 per m², compared with £12 to £16 per m² for straight-plank flooring. A full parquet sand-and-refinish job usually costs from £20 to £35 per m², although this can rise further for intricate patterns like herringbone or chevron, which take longer to sand evenly without damaging individual blocks.

The higher cost comes down to the equipment and technique involved. A tradesperson will typically use a smaller, more manoeuvrable sander around the edges and pattern joins, then hand-sand the corners, which takes considerably more time than running a single sander across an open plank floor.

Common Parquet Repair Jobs

As well as sanding and refinishing, parquet floors often need one or more of the following repairs before they're restored:

• Re-adhering loose or lifting blocks, which is usually a straightforward, low-cost repair.
• Replacing rotten, cracked, or missing blocks with reclaimed or new timber cut to match.
• Removing old concrete patches, as some previous owners filled gaps left by missing blocks with concrete rather than matching timber.
• Re-levelling areas where blocks have shifted or the subfloor has moved over time.

Block replacement typically costs from £10 to £25 per linear metre, plus the cost of reclaimed or new timber to match your existing floor. If you're planning to replace parquet flooring entirely rather than restore it, our parquet flooring cost guide covers full installation prices.

Benefits of Restoring Wood Flooring

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

• Enhanced Aesthetic — Wood floor restoration 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 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 — Wood floor restoration is great for the environment, as instead of having a new floor manufactured and fitted, you are breathing life into your old floor.
• Increased Safety — Having your floor sanded can help to make your floor safe and prevent any sharp pieces of wood from injuring anyone. A wood floor restoration can also help reduce allergies, as the floor will be cleaned and finished to prevent a build-up of debris.
• Low-Maintenance — A wooden floor is 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, as they are much easier to clean and also provide better air quality inside the property.

Wood Floor Repair vs Restoration

Signs You Need Wood Floor Restoration

If you've had your wooden floor for a long time, you may notice it looking tired due to natural wear and tear. Dents from everyday use or accidental damage can also become more apparent. However, instead of replacing the entire wood floor, you may only need to have it sanded and refinished to give it a new lease of life.

Other signs that your wood floor may need restoring include:

• Discolouration, which can often be resolved through sanding and the application of a colour stain.
• Water damage, causing grey or black staining on the boards.
• A finish that has begun to peel or flake.
• Fading from sunlight exposure.
• Widening gaps between boards.
• Splinters on the surface.

Wood Floor Repairs

In some cases, wood floor repair is all that is needed. Minor repairs such as filling small cracks, fixing minor scratches, or replacing damaged planks can bring your floor back to a good condition without the full wood floor restoration cost. Gap filling is also a common standalone repair, particularly in older properties where the boards have shrunk over time.

For more extensive wooden floor repairs, a specialist will need to assess the damage before any work can be done. Floor repairs of this kind may involve replacing individual planks, including reclaimed original pine or reclaimed parquet blocks to match existing boards.

Checklist: Hiring a Wooden Flooring Specialist in the UK

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

• Do they have relevant qualifications? Check to see if they have official qualifications such as a Level 1 award in flooring operations or basic construction skills.
• How much experience do they have? Ask about their previous wood floor restoration experience and try to hire someone who has at least five years’ experience refurbishing wooden flooring.
• Do they have public liability insurance? Although not a legal requirement, most reputable companies will be covered. It protects you in case of accidental damage or injury during the wood floor restoration process.
• Are they a member of a recognised trade body? 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.
• Can they provide evidence of their work and reviews? Look at reviews from their customers and, if possible, ask for photographic evidence of previous wood floor restoration projects.
• Is waste removal included? If it's not directly mentioned within the quote, confirm whether the tradesmen will handle disposing of any old flooring or general waste created during the wood floor restoration process.

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