Hardwood refinishing questions, answered straight

Full sand and refinish runs $3.50 to $5.00 per square foot depending on condition and stain. Screen and recoat runs $1.25 to $2.00. A typical Bay County main floor lands between $2,800 and $4,500. Full breakdown on our cost page, published so you can check our math.

Usually, yes. Dustless equipment keeps the mess contained, and we can sequence rooms so you always have somewhere to sleep and a path to the kitchen. The hard constraint is finish dry time: nobody walks on a wet coat, so we plan coats around your household schedule.

Board thickness. A solid oak strip floor can take five or six sandings over its life, and most Bay County floors have had one or two at most. We measure at a floor vent during the quote visit. If the wear layer is too thin, we say so and talk about recoating instead.

Yes. Oak is the county standard and the most forgiving. Maple, common in Pinconning and the farmhouses, is harder, sands smoother, and takes stain unevenly, so we usually finish it clear. Old growth pine is soft and gets a gentler schedule and different finish. We identify the wood before quoting.

Gray and light brown marks usually sand out. Black marks mean the stain reacted with tannins deep in the wood: oxalic acid lightens some, and board replacement handles the rest. We flag which yours are before work starts, so there are no reveal-day surprises.

All winter. The house needs to hold normal temperature and some humidity, which any working furnace does. Winter is actually our quietest season, so scheduling is faster. Gap filling gets planned around the seasonal wood movement, which we explain at the quote.

Waterborne for most homes: low odor, next-day socks, no yellowing over time, and modern commercial waterbornes are as durable as anything. Oil-based still makes sense if you want the classic amber glow on red oak and can give the house longer cure time. We quote both when asked.

Michigan requires a residential builder or maintenance and alteration license through LARA for flooring jobs over $600, and any crew working in your home should carry it plus liability insurance. Ask any contractor for both. We provide ours with every written quote.

Two to four weeks in the normal season, faster in winter. Selling a house is the common rush job: if a listing date is bearing down on you, call and say so, and we do what we can to slot you in.

Yes, treads and risers, sanded by hand and machine. Stairs are priced per tread because they are all handwork. They pair well with a main floor refinish since the stain and finish match in one job.