Can You Refinish Prefinished Hardwood Floors: DIY Guide

Prefinished hardwood floors are a popular choice among homeowners due to their durability and finished appearance. However, like any flooring, they can show signs of wear and tear over time. So, the question arises “can you refinish prefinished hardwood floors.”

You can refinish prefinished hardwood floors if you have solid hardwood floors. The process involves sanding down the existing finish and a layer of the hardwood to remove scratches, dents, and other imperfections, followed by applying a new finish.

The Hardwood Flooring Market earned USD 64.8 billion in 2022. According to Mordor Intelligence, the market will grow at a rate of less than 6% in the future years (1).

This market has been growing at a steady pace for a while and it’s expected to continue. The growth is because more houses and buildings are being built, people are choosing eco-friendly floors, and many like the look of hardwood floors.

The above stats shows the growing trend of using prefinished and unfinished hardwood floors in commercial and residential places, increasing the need of refinishing old prefinished floors as well.

I have personally refurbished prefinished hardwood floors and you can also do it yourself (DIY). Let’s get started!

Can You Refinish Prefinished Hardwood Floors?

Prefinished hardwood floors come with a bevel between each board, but you can sand them down to a flat surface and refinish them.

Despite this, it’s important to note that refinishing prefinished hardwood flooring needs extra sanding.

Additionally, there’s a limitation on the number of times the prefinished flooring can be refinished over its lifespan.

As I have mentioned above if you have got solid hardwood floors installed, prefinished hardwood floors can be refinished.

Mostly, consumers are unable to distinguish between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring. Here’s how to do it!

How Do You Know If You Have Solid Hardwood Or Engineered Hardwood?

• If your floor seems thin, it’s likely engineered. Solid hardwood is usually 3/4″ thick, while engineered hardwood is typically 3/8″ or 1/2″ thick.

• A simple way to check the thickness is to see if you have any spare pieces of the flooring.

• Or, if some parts of your home have thicker flooring compared to others, the thinner areas are probably engineered hardwood.

• You might also find clues at places where the flooring changes, like in closets, or by lifting floor heat registers, if they are on the ground.

• If your flooring is laid directly on concrete or tile, it’s probably engineered, because solid hardwood needs to be nailed into plywood, not directly into concrete.

• Lastly, if your floor moves or feels bouncy as you walk because it isn’t attached to the ground, it’s a floating floor. Floating floors are usually engineered and cannot be refinished.

Can You Remove The Bevels When You Refinish Pre-Finished Floors?

When refinishing pre-finished hardwood floors, especially if you want to change the color, it’s essential to remove the bevels.

Bevels are the grooves between the wood planks, and during a typical sanding process, they retain their finish since they’re lower than the floor surface, causing the sanding machine to glide over them.

Removing the bevels will help achieve a more uniform appearance across your floor.

I’ll be sharing a detailed guide on how to refinish pre-finished hardwood floors from scratch, which will also include steps on how to eliminate these bevels. Stay tuned!

How To Refinish Prefinished Hardwood Floors: DIY Guide

Step 1: Gathering The Supplies

• Sanding machine
• Sandpaper (Various grits – start with coarse and move to fine)
• Wood filler
• Vacuum
• Tack cloth
• Stain Color (If you want to change the color)
• Polyurethane (Clear coat)
• Chemical stripper
• Paint brushes or rollers

Step 2: Getting the Room Ready

First, I moved all the furniture out of the room to make space. It’s really important to have a clear area. I also put on a dust mask, safety glasses, and ear covers because there’s going to be a lot of dust and noise.

Step 3: Stripping Away The Old Finish

Before diving into sanding, it was necessary to strip away the old finish to get down to the bare wood.

If you are puzzled, check out this guide to know the difference between sanding vs stripping hardwood floors.

So, how to strip prefinished hardwood floors? Don’t worry, it’s easy peasy. Here’s how I did it.

I geared up with safety gloves and a respirator; safety first! I opted for a Citristrip chemical stripper due to its effectiveness in breaking down old coatings.

I opened up all the windows for good ventilation, and with a paintbrush, I applied a generous amount of the stripper onto the floor, working in sections.

I allowed the stripper to sit for about 30 minutes; it was fascinating to watch it bubble and lift the old finish away.

Following the instructions on the container, I then used a scraper to gently remove the old finish. It came off like butter—so satisfying!

After scraping, I noticed some residual finish and stripper left behind. I dipped a scrubbing pad in mineral spirits and gave the floor a good rub down, which helped to clean off the remaining gunk.

With the old finish off, the raw beauty of my hardwood floor started to show. It was a bit of a workout, but totally worth it.

Now the floor was prepped and ready for sanding. It was on to the next step, and I was one step closer to my dream floor!

Step 4: Starting with Sanding

Now, the real work began. I chose the Festool Rotex RO 90 DX sander for its dual-mode sanding feature. The aggressive mode was perfect for rapid stock removal on the rough edges between the boards, while the random orbital mode was ideal for fine sanding later on.

The Jetstream dust extraction was a lifesaver, keeping the air clean and the sandpaper lasting longer. The FastFix tool-free backing pad changing system was a breeze, allowing me to switch between the 16 different sandpapers effortlessly.

Despite its compact size, the sander’s performance in reaching into tight spaces was impressive, making the task at hand not only quicker but enjoyable too.

Other than Rotex sander, you can also sand hardwood floors using drum sander.

Step 5: Filling in the Holes

Once the sanding was done, there were some small holes and gaps. I used some Gorilla wood filler to fill these in.

It worked wonders in filling small holes and gaps, blending seamlessly with my floor once sanded.

After it dried, I sanded over these spots lightly with the fine-grit sandpaper to level it with the rest of the floor.

Step 6: Cleaning Up

The dust collection feature on the Rotex sander did a commendable job at trapping a majority of the sawdust produced during the sanding process.

However, despite its effectiveness, some dust and small particles managed to escape, settling on the floor and nearby surfaces.

I used a vacuum to clean it all up. Then, I wiped the floor with a tack cloth to pick up any leftover dust. It’s amazing how much dust was there even after vacuuming!

If you have a sander that doesn’t come with dust collection system, you should consider cleaning your prefinished hardwood floor thoroughly.

Step 7: Staining Prefinished Hardwood Floors

If you want to change the color, this is the time. I chose a Rust-Oleum floor coating kit, matte grey color because it was a budget-friendly way to update my old floor.

The water-based formula was easy to apply with a brush, dried quickly, and the matte navy color made my room look brand new.

With the kit covering a good area, it was a practical choice, and cleaning up afterward was a breeze, making my DIY project of refurbishing prefinished hardwood floors less of a hassle.

Step 8: Sealing the Floor

Lastly, I sealed the floor with a clear coat of Minwax water based oil-modified polyurethane because it promised to both protect and beautify my floor.

Applying it with a roller was simple, and it dried to a lovely shine, making my floor look both protected and polished. Polyurethane can last upto 4-7 years on hardwood floors if taken care properly.

Though it took a day to dry, the easy cleanup and the brand’s trustworthiness made it a worthy choice for my project, delivering a fresh, durable finish.

Confused about sealing floors? Go through this blog on if hardwood floors need to be sealed or not.

Cost To Refinish Prefinished Hardwood Floors: DIY Vs Professional

Total Estimated DIY Cost

The estimated DIY cost to refinish prefinished hardwood floors could range from $500 to $700.

These costs could be higher or lower depending on the quality of the materials you purchase or rent, the size of the room, and whether you need to rent or buy any of the necessary tools.

Total Estimated Professional Cost To Refinish Prefinished Hardwood Floors

The total cost of hiring a professional for refinishing your prefinished hardwood floors could range from $1600 to $2800 or more for a 500 square foot room.

Here’s a breakdown of the cost that includes labor, materials and additional services.

Labor

Professional refinishing services of prefinished hardwood floors often charge per square foot, with prices ranging from $3 to $5 per square foot on average.

For a 500 square foot room, this would translate to a cost of $1500 to $2500 for labor alone.

Materials

Professionals will also charge for the materials used, although they may get them at a discounted rate. The material costs can range from $100 to $300 or more depending on the size of the project and the quality of the materials.

Additional Services

Professionals might also offer additional services such as minor floor repairs, which could add to the cost.

Final Thoughts

You can refinish prefinished hardwood floors by sanding them down and applying a new finish.

It can be a DIY project or you can hire a professional. Knowing if you have solid or engineered hardwood is important before you start.

This way, you can bring a fresh look to your old floors without replacing them.