Original hardwood is one of the best features of a New York apartment, but decades of foot traffic, sun, and old finishes leave it dull, scratched, and gray. Refinishing brings it back — often to better-than-new — for a fraction of the cost of replacement.
And there's no better time to do it than during a repaint: the room is already empty and protected, so combining the two saves you a second disruption and a second setup.
What floor refinishing includes
- Dustless sanding to bare, smooth wood
- Gap filling and minor board repair
- Custom stain color or natural finish
- Durable water- or oil-based polyurethane topcoats
- Edge and corner detailing by hand
- Coordination with your repaint for one clean project
Dustless sanding for an occupied building
Traditional floor sanding fills an apartment — and your neighbors' hallway — with fine dust. We use dust-containment sanding systems that capture the vast majority of it at the source, keeping the job clean enough to do in an occupied NYC building.
Refinish during your repaint and save
Floors and walls are a natural pair. With the room already cleared and masked for painting, adding a floor refinish avoids a second move-out and a second setup — and the sequencing (floors and walls in the right order) is handled by one crew.
- One empty-room setup instead of two
- Correct sequencing of sanding, painting, and sealing
- Stain and wall-color chosen to work together
Wood floor refinishing NYC cost
Floor refinishing is priced per square foot, by condition and finish:
| Project | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Refinish existing hardwood (per sq ft) | $4 – $8 / sq ft |
| Average NYC room | $800 – $2,500 |
| 1-bedroom apartment floors | $2,500 – $5,500 |
| Custom stain / repairs | Quoted on inspection |
Floor condition, stain choice, and the number of coats drive the price. Bundled with a repaint it's more economical — every job gets a free, itemized estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Most refinishing runs $4–$8 per square foot, so an average room is roughly $800–$2,500 and a one-bedroom's floors $2,500–$5,500, depending on condition and finish.
We use dust-containment (dustless) sanding that captures the vast majority of dust at the source, so it's clean enough for occupied buildings — though a light final wipe-down is always part of the job.
We sequence it correctly within one project — typically sanding first, then painting, then the final floor coats — so neither finish damages the other. Doing both together saves a second setup.
Yes. After sanding to bare wood we can apply a custom stain — lighter, darker, or a different tone — and seal it with a durable topcoat.