Wooden flooring is popular with minimalists, allergy sufferers and period property renovators.
But whether you’re looking to restore an old wooden floor or apply a new finish to an existing one, knowing the potential price is the best place to start.
Considering some typical scenarios, this guide summarizes the UK’s average floor sanding cost per m2.
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Floor Sanding — What to Consider
Before getting down to floor sanding costs, it’s important to know what’s involved. What condition is the floor currently in? The existing carpet must be pulled up, which is a potential cost if hiring a professional. Waste disposal is another consideration, but this may be included within a labourer’s day rate.
Wooden Floor Repairs
If your floorboards are already exposed, is there any remedial work that needs to be done? For example:
- Are there any dents or grooves that need filling?
- Do any of the boards need replacing?
- Are there any wood knots that need blocking? The colour from knots can bleed into the new stain/finish.
What Type of Finish — Wax, Oil or Lacquer?
The type of finish you go for will also affect the potential cost and determine the required time to complete the work. A floor with an existing finish must be fully sanded for the oil or wax liquid to penetrate the wood. On the other hand, a lacquer should stick to the surface it’s applied to, so it won’t need a great deal of sanding.
How Long Does Floor Sanding and Finishing Take?
The complete job can take 1–2 days but may take up to 4 days, depending on the complexity. Consider furniture removal and whether you’ll do it yourself. Allow 1 day for sanding, repairing, and finishing and 2–3 days for drying out.
DIY or Hire a Pro?
Depending on your DIY/restoration skill level, sanding and staining your floor is something you could do yourself. However, if you’re not confident or are looking at a big restoration project, I recommend hiring a professional.
If the job is relatively straightforward, you can hire a floor sander from your local tool-hire stockists such as HSS Hire or Jewson Hire. Prices range from £46.80 to £70.70 for a floor and edge sander. Your choice of floor stain or finish can be purchased from your local DIY store.
B&Q has a helpful catalogue of DIY videos for floor sanding, including tools and safety items you will need. Start with this video guide to preparation and sanding:
Floor Sanding Costs — 2024 Price Guide
The table below has been put together to give you an idea of how much it may cost to have a professional complete the work.
Costs have been obtained from the Job Prices website and are provided as a guide only. We advise you to request quotations as the price varies depending on the required work and location. You can find a suitable list of tradesmen through Rated People.
Sanding and Staining Price Table
| Description | Price (per square metre) |
|---|---|
| Sanding | £14 |
| Sanding plus lacquer (3 coats) | £17 |
| Sanding plus coloured or clear hardwax (2 coats) | £23 |
| Sanding plus oil (3 coats) | £23 |
| Floor Staining/Dyeing | £6 |
Repairs Price Table
| Description | Price (per square metre) |
|---|---|
| Filling gaps — minor (nail holes and other imperfections) | £2.50 |
| Filling gaps — small, up to 3mm | £5 |
| Filling gaps — up to 6mm | £5 |
| Filling gaps — larger gaps requiring sealant/mastic floor filler | £30 |
Don’t fancy doing this job yourself? Find top-rated floor sanders in your area by clicking the button below:
Final Thoughts
With the information provided above, you can now decide whether to hire a professional or complete this job yourself. When requesting quotations, ensure you obtain at least three and ask for testimonials.
Whether you sand the floors yourself or hire a professional, use this guide to calculate floor sanding costs when creating a budget.
Check out our Vinyl and Laminate flooring cost guides if your floors aren’t quite suitable for restoration and you’d prefer a different finish.