Refinishing Prefinished Hardwood Floors – Everything You Need to Know

Prefinished hardwood floors are popular for their durability and convenience, but over time, they can show scratches, wear, and fading. If your wood floors are looking dull or damaged, you might be wondering: Can you refinish prefinished hardwood floors?

The short answer is yes, you can. However, refinishing prefinished hardwood is a bit more complicated than traditional unfinished hardwood. The factory-applied aluminum oxide coating makes the surface harder to sand, and the beveled edges between planks require extra attention.

Here we’ll cover when refinishing is a good option, the full process, mistakes to avoid, and whether DIY or professional option is best for you.

What Are Prefinished Hardwood Floors?

Prefinished hardwood floors are solid hardwood planks that come ready to install. They’re already sanded, stained, and there is a factory-applied finish, so there’s no need for refinishing work after hardwood floor installation. Unlike traditional hardwood, which is finished on-site, prefinished flooring is ready to use right away. A bit more detailed:

• Factory Finish – These hardwood floors are already stained and have a tough, factory-applied aluminum oxide finish, making them more resistant to scratches, wear, and heavy foot traffic than hardwood floors finished at home.
• Beveled Edges – Most prefinished flooring planks have small grooves (bevels) along the edges. This helps with installation but creates visible gaps between boards and makes refinishing trickier.
• Durability – The strong protective coating makes prefinished hardwood last longer, especially in areas of heavy foot traffic, but it also makes sanding and refinishing more challenging.

Prefinished hardwood floors also have beveled edges, which are small grooves between the planks. These grooves create a slight separation between boards, giving the floor a defined look and making hardwood flooring installation easier.

All these features indeed improve durability greatly, but they can also make refinishing more complicated. The aluminum oxide finish is tough to remove, and the beveled edges require special attention.

Should You Refinish or Replace Your Prefinished Hardwood Floors?

If your prefinished hardwood floors are looking worn out, you have two choices: refinish hardwood floors or replace them. Refinishing can bring them back to life and make them last longer, but sometimes, replacement is the better option.

When Refinishing Is the Best Choice for Prefinished Flooring

• Your floors are solid hardwood – Solid hardwood can usually be refinished up to 5 times, depending on how thick the wood is.
• You want to change the color or do a color match with hardwood floors in another room – Sanding removes the old color layer, so you can choose a new one. You will need to carefully choose a stain color for this.
• The damage is only on the surface – Scratches, dull spots, and small dents on the floor can be fixed with hardwood sanding and refinishing.
• You want to save money – Floor refinishing is much cheaper than replacing the entire floor.

When Replacement Might Be Necessary

• The wood is too thin – If your floors have been refinished too many times before, there might not be enough wood left to sand. A good rule of thumb: If the hardwood layer is less than 1/16 inch thick, floor refinishing could do more harm than good.
• The damage is too severe – If the floor boards are warped, cracked, or have water damage, refinishing won’t be enough to fix them.
• You want a totally different look – If you’re looking for a new wood species, plank size, or finish, replacing the floor is the better option.

Refinishing prefinished hardwood floors usually costs $3 to $8 per square foot, while replacing hardwood can cost $8 to $15 per square foot or more, depending on the wood you choose. Because of this price difference, hardwood floor refinishing is often the better option if the floors are still in decent shape.

Signs Your Prefinished Hardwood Floors Need Refinishing

Over time, your hardwood floors can start to lose their shine and show signs of wear. But how do you know when it’s time to refinish them? Here are some clear signs to watch for:

1. Scratches and Surface Damage. Light scratches are normal, but if you see deep scratches, dents, or spots where the finish has worn off, floor refinishing can help.
2. Fading or Discoloration. Sunlight, cleaning products, and everyday use can cause your hardwood floors to fade or change color, certain areas can look lighter or uneven.
3. Dull or Cloudy Finish. If your hardwood floors have lost their shine and still look dull after cleaning, the protective coating may be wearing down. Refinishing adds a new layer to restore their original glow.
4. Water Damage or Stains. Spills, pet accidents, or humidity can leave dark stains or cause boards to warp. If the damage is only on the surface, refinishing can help. But if the wood is swollen or rotting, some boards may need to be replaced.
5. Worn Areas in High-Traffic Spots. Entryways, hallways, and kitchens tend to wear out faster. If these areas look much more worn than the rest of the floor, refinishing can even out the wear and extend the floor’s life.

If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s probably time to refinish hardwood floors.

How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Prefinished Hardwood Floors?

The cost of refinishing prefinished hardwood floors depends on several things, like the room size, floor condition, and whether you DIY or hire a professional.

DIY Floor Refinishing Costs

If you do it yourself, expect to pay $2 to $4 per square foot. This includes:

• Equipment rental (sanders, vacuums, etc.),
• Sandpaper,
• Stain,
• Finish.

DIY is the cheaper option, but it takes time, effort, and skill to get a smooth finish.

Professional Floor Refinishing Costs

Hiring a professional usually costs $3 to $8 per square foot, depending on:

• Floor damage (deeper scratches may need additional sanding).
• Wood species.
• How many sanding passes are required.
• The type of finish applied.

A professional refinisher will give you a high-quality finish without the risk of costly mistakes.

Budget-Friendly Option: Screen & Recoat

If your wood floors aren’t deeply scratched, you might not need full refinishing. A screen-and-recoat process (light buffing + a new topcoat) costs just $1 to $3 per square foot and can extend your floor’s life without heavy sanding.

Mistakes to Avoid When Refinishing Prefinished Hardwood Floors

Mistakes during the refinishing process can happen to anyone, but prefinished hardwood also has its own set of tricky spots that make the refinishing process more complicated.

1. Not sanding beveled edges properly – If you don’t sand edges (bevels) to remove the existing finish, they may look darker than the rest of the hardwood floor after being stained.
2. Using wood putty on bevels – Putty or wood filler will crack over time, leaving gaps. Sand the bevels instead.
3. Skipping coarse sanding – The tough aluminum oxide finish needs 36-40 grit sandpaper to remove. Starting with finer sandpaper makes sanding take longer and can lead to an uneven surface.
4. Over-sanding – Removing too much raw wood makes the floor thinner, reducing how many times it can be refinished in the future.
5. Applying new stain unevenly – Prefinished wood absorbs stain differently. If excess stain isn’t wiped off properly, some areas may look blotchy or too dark. Always wipe in the direction of the wood grain.
6. Not controlling dust – Sanding creates fine dust that can be harmful to breathe. Use a HEPA-filter vacuum and wear a dust mask.
7. Rushing the drying process – Walking on the floor or moving furniture back too soon can ruin the finish. Follow drying times for the best results.

Should You Refinish Your Prefinished Hardwood Floors Yourself or Hire a Pro?

Refinishing prefinished hardwood floors is a big job that takes the right tools, patience, knowing the right sanding sequence, and attention to detail. Doing it yourself can save money, but hiring a pro can give you better results and help you avoid costly mistakes. Here’s how to decide:

DIY Refinishing – Best If You:

1. Have experience with sanding or home improvement projects – Using a drum sander isn’t easy, and mistakes can leave uneven spots or deep scratches.
2. Have time – The whole process takes 4–6 days, including drying time, and each step needs careful attention.
3. Have the right tools – You’ll need to rent a drum sander, edge sander, HEPA vacuum, and protective gear.

Hiring a Pro – Best If You:

1. Want a perfect finish – Pros know how to avoid common sanding and staining mistakes.
2. Have deep scratches or damage – A pro can tell if any boards need replacing beforehand.
3. Want to save time – A professional team works faster and more efficiently.
4. Are worried about dust and fumes – Pros use dust containment systems and low-VOC finishes for a cleaner, healthier process. In most cases, you won’t even need to leave your home.

Your hardwood floors deserve the best care, and that’s exactly what we provide at Big Bro Hardwood. With 15+ years of experience, we’ve restored everything from lightly worn wood floors to heavily damaged ones. No matter the condition, we know exactly how to bring them back to life.

Thinking about refinishing but not sure where to start? Let’s talk. We offer free, no-pressure consultations to help you figure out the best solution for your home.

Conclusion: Is Refinishing Prefinished Hardwood Floors Worth It?

Absolutely—if the wood is thick enough and the damage isn’t too severe. While refinishing prefinished floors takes extra effort due to the tough factory coating and beveled edges, it’s far more affordable than replacing them.

If your wood floors have scratches, fading, or a worn finish, refinishing can restore their beauty and even let you change the color. But if the wood is too thin, badly damaged, or you’re looking for a completely new style, replacement might be the better option. If there are just a few damaged planks, hardwood floor repair might also be an option.

For DIYers, sanding and hardwood floor refinishing is possible, but it takes the right tools, patience, and proper sanding techniques. If you want a professional, smooth finish without the risk, hiring an expert is a smart choice.

We hope this article was helpful and answered any concerns you had about refinishing your floors. But if you still have questions, just give us a call—we’re happy to help!