Georgia Cost GuideWhat can refinishing fix?
Refinishing works on the surface. A company sands off the worn finish and a thin layer of wood, then puts on new finish, with or without a stain, without replacing any boards. It is a good fit for:
- Scratches and scuffs that sit in the finish and have not cut deep into the wood.
- A dull, worn finish, especially along the paths people walk most.
- Sun-faded or yellowed finish that has changed the look of the floor.
- A stain color you want to change. Sanding to bare wood lets you pick a new one.
A floor that is only dull may not need sanding at all. Some companies scuff the old finish and coat over it, which is less work than a full sand. Ask which one a quote covers, because the price follows the method.
When is replacing the better choice?
Some damage is in the wood or under it, and a new finish will not reach it.
- Water damage. Boards that have buckled or lifted off the subfloor usually need replacing. Boards that have only cupped sometimes flatten once the floor dries out, so ask whether they can be sanded after the cause is fixed.
- Soft or rotted wood, or a subfloor that is damaged underneath.
- Deep stains, such as pet urine, that have soaked into the wood.
- Too many past sandings. Each sanding takes off some wood, and a solid hardwood floor has only so much to give.
- A thin top layer. Engineered hardwood has a real wood layer over other layers, and only the wood layer can be sanded. How many times it can be refinished, if at all, depends on how thick that layer is.
- A different look. Refinishing cannot change the species, the plank width or the material. Laminate and vinyl plank cannot be refinished at all.
If water caused the damage, the cause has to be fixed first. Otherwise a new floor can fail the same way.
Can you do a little of both?
Often, yes. A company can replace the worst boards and then sand and finish the whole floor. New boards rarely match old ones until the entire floor is sanded and finished together, and even then older wood can look a shade different. Ask for the board repair as its own line so you can see what it adds.
How can you tell which one your floor needs?
Only a company that looks at the floor in person can say for sure, but a few checks help before anyone comes out.
- Look at the damage. Scratches that stay in the finish point toward refinishing. Dark stains that have sunk into the wood, or boards that have buckled or lifted, point toward replacing.
- Look at the edge of a board. Lift a floor vent cover and look at the cut edge of the boards around the opening. You can see whether each board is solid wood or a thin layer of wood on top of other layers, which limits how often it can be sanded.
- Try a few drops of water in a worn spot, then wipe them up. If they soak in instead of beading up, the finish there has usually worn through, which points to sanding rather than a recoat.
What does each option cost in Georgia?
These are estimates from what Georgia flooring companies publish, not quotes, and each one is a price per square foot. Hardwood refinishing typically runs about $5 per sq ft. New hardwood installation typically runs $10 to $13+ per sq ft. Engineered hardwood installation typically runs $10 to $11+ per sq ft. Refinishing sits lower than new hardwood, so it is worth ruling out first.
If you are replacing and do not need hardwood, vinyl plank costs less than new hardwood for a wood look, and it typically runs $5 to $7+ per sq ft. A real job also includes things a range per square foot leaves out. A replacement quote often adds removal of the old floor, subfloor work and stairs, and a refinishing quote may add board repairs and moving furniture. Ask for each as a separate line. See what moves the price for refinishing, hardwood and vinyl plank.
What should you ask before you decide?
- Is this a full sand or a recoat, and what finish and how many coats?
- Can my floor be sanded again, and how much usable wood is left?
- Are board repairs, filling gaps and moving furniture in the price?
- If I replace, does the price include taking up the old floor, subfloor repair, trim and stairs?
- Who buys the material, and is extra for cuts and waste included?
- How long until I can walk on the floor and put furniture back?
Ask two companies to look at the same floor and put what they found in writing.
Prices mentioned here come from our Georgia flooring cost ranges, built from the prices and cost guides Georgia flooring companies publish on their public websites, collected September and October 2026.