Home/Free Tools/Refinish or Replace
The honest answer is usually "refinish" — it's a third the cost of new hardwood. But not always. Check what your floor has, and get the same verdict logic our estimators use on Bellingham's old fir and oak.
Everything updates live — "not sure" is a fine answer.
Solid ¾-inch hardwood typically takes 4–6 sandings over its life; engineered takes 1–2 depending on wear layer. Board edges thinning to the tongue is the tell.
Bellingham's oldest floors — original fir in Fairhaven and the Lettered Streets — are often worth saving; that old-growth wood isn't sold anymore.
Methodology
Refinishing wins by default on cost — $3.30–$5.50 per square foot against $8.80–$15.40 for new hardwood (published Bellingham Floor Pros pricing, reviewed July 2026). So the real question is whether your floor can be refinished, and that comes down to three things:
Refinishing is indoor work. Unlike exterior trades that lose the wet season, a heated Bellingham home refinishes fine in January — we manage indoor humidity during cure, and water-based finishes are walkable in about 24 hours. Winter is actually a smart time to book: install season hasn't peaked, and the wood's winter moisture content is at its low point, so boards sanded flat now stay flat.
Common questions
Refinishing, almost always: $3.30–$5.50/sq ft vs $8.80–$15.40/sq ft for new hardwood (July 2026). On a typical 800 sq ft main floor that's roughly $2,600–$4,400 to refinish against $7,000–$12,300 to replace. Replacement only wins when the wear layer is gone or damage is widespread.
Usually not — black means the moisture reached the wood's tannins, deeper than any sanding can go. The fix is board replacement in the stained areas ($330–$1,650 per project on our published schedule), then refinishing the whole floor so everything matches.
Often no. Cupping is a moisture imbalance, and in Bellingham the culprit is usually the crawlspace. We meter the subfloor, fix the moisture source, and let the boards flatten — many do — before deciding whether sanding is needed. Sanding first is the classic mistake.
Solid ¾-inch hardwood: typically 4–6 times over its life. Engineered: 1–2 depending on wear layer, and thin product not at all. Bellingham's original fir floors have often had a few — we check remaining thickness at a register before quoting.
No — refinishing is year-round indoor work here. Winter bookings often schedule faster. Call or text (360) 873-5667 and we'll take a look.
Free floor evaluation — we check wear-layer thickness, meter the subfloor, and quote whichever job your floor actually needs. Your tool answers come with the request.
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