THE SHORT ANSWER
Estimate hardwood refinishing by measured floor area and existing finish condition. Separate sanding, repairs and the selected finish so damaged boards and colour changes are visible scope decisions.
This guide follows a fictional 600 sq. ft. occupied-home hardwood refinish in Hamilton, Ontario. The linked hardwood floor refinishing PDF example shows the scope and 6 separate costs in Canadian dollars. Treat it as a worked document, then use measurements, supplier quotes and labour inputs from your own project.
1. Measure the refinished rooms
Record exact floor areas, thresholds and any closets to be included. Square footage should describe the wood receiving work, not the full dwelling.
2. Review board and coating condition
Deep damage, loose boards and prior coatings may affect scope. The sample includes only a minor filler allowance and assumes the floor is suitable for sanding.
3. Confirm finish selection
Identify product, sheen and whether colour change is requested. The example does not include stain work; product instructions govern the actual schedule.
4. Plan occupancy and handoff
Agree furniture removal, access, dust protection and when the selected finish can be used. State cleanup and any return work explicitly.
Review the Canadian project address
For the 600 sq. ft. occupied-home hardwood refinish in Hamilton, Ontario, the example uses the measured trade units shown in its PDF. Residential jobs may mix square feet, linear feet, counts and supplier units; keep each line’s measurement basis visible. Inspect substrate moisture and condition, product availability and the chosen finish. Write down the preparation level and any work needed before the selected product can be installed. The figures are fictional CAD inputs, not a local price survey.
Describe which products the customer supplies and which the contractor supplies. State how any site condition outside the visible scope will be assessed and priced. Do not copy an allowance from another city or assume a sample’s tax entry establishes the treatment for this client.
Work through the hardwood floor refinishing quantities
The matching PDF lets the client check each extension of quantity and unit rate. For this example, two useful checks are:
- Floor sanding labour: 600 sq. ft. × C$3.05 = C$1,830.00.
- Finish application labour: 600 sq. ft. × C$2.20 = C$1,320.00.
Adding all 6 lines gives a C$4,605.00 illustrative subtotal. The PDF records 0% tax and C$4,605.00 as its total, before any markup. These are chosen sample inputs, not prices observed in Hamilton, Ontario. The measurement basis matters as much as the rate: a material purchase allowance may be larger than the installed area, while a fixture count is not interchangeable with hours of labour.
Check the scope before sending
- Measure included rooms and closets.
- Inspect board and finish condition.
- Approve product, sheen and colour scope.
- Agree access and furniture responsibilities.
Outside the illustrated scope: No board replacement, floor leveling, stain-colour change, furniture moving or guaranteed removal of deep damage.
Check the business and client names, property location, dates, quantities, unit rates and notes. Confirm tax, markup and any required approvals for the actual job. If selections or site conditions are unresolved, label the line as an allowance and explain how it will be updated.
Common questions
Does refinishing include replacing bad boards?
Only when listed. Inspect and price board repairs as a separate task before refinishing.
Is stain included with finish?
This example excludes a colour change. Add a separate stain product and labour scope if requested.
Open the itemized hardwood floor refinishing example and its app-exported PDF to see these decisions presented to a client. You can adapt the structure while replacing every fictional project input with your own.
