Luminous Flooring Hardwood Flooring FAQs

Hardwood floor refinishing in the St. Louis area typically costs between $4.25 and $6.00 per square foot.

The final price depends on several factors, including the size and condition of the floor, the amount of preparation or repair work required, the products and finish system being used, and the difficulty of the project.

When comparing prices, it is also important to understand exactly what is included. The quality of the finish products, sanding equipment, dust-containment system, and experience of the craftsmen doing the work can all affect both the price and the finished result.

At Luminous Flooring, we evaluate each project individually so we can recommend the appropriate refinishing process and provide an accurate price for your floors.

Most hardwood floor refinishing projects take approximately 4-5 days, although smaller projects may be completed in as little as three days.

A good rule of thumb is roughly one working day for every 200 square feet, but square footage is only part of the equation. Removing and reinstalling trim, moving furniture, protecting cabinets and adjoining rooms, making repairs, choosing a stain color, and the layout of the home can all affect the schedule.

Drying time is also important. Even a small project normally requires multiple days because each step of the finishing process needs adequate time to dry. For projects around 1,000 square feet or less, 4-5 days is common. Larger or more complicated projects may extend into a second week.

We generally recommend waiting 48 hours after the final coat before moving furniture back onto the floors.

In many cases, yes, particularly when a water-based finish is being used.

Whether staying in the home is practical depends on which areas are being refinished, whether bedrooms and bathrooms can be accessed without crossing the work area, and the type of finish being applied.

The water-based finishes used by Luminous Flooring have lower odor and VOC levels and dry much faster than traditional oil-based finishes. Floors can generally be walked across in socks approximately three hours after a coat is applied, although traffic should be kept to an absolute minimum during the refinishing process.

Oil-based finishes are different. They have a much stronger odor and typically require significantly more drying time. When oil-based finish is being applied, homeowners should generally plan to remain out of the home while each coat dries.

Before beginning your project, we can help determine whether staying in the home will be practical based on your layout and the finishing system being used.

Most solid hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times during their life. One of the biggest factors is how much usable wood remains above the tongue-and-groove portion of the flooring.

A professional can often evaluate this by looking at the edge of the flooring through a floor vent or by examining the flooring at existing seasonal gaps.

If the upper portion of the board has become extremely thin from previous sandings, another aggressive sanding could expose the tongue or nails or cause the edges of the boards to break. Severe water damage can also make replacement necessary even when enough wood remains to sand.

Engineered hardwood requires a different evaluation because the thickness of its real-wood wear layer varies considerably by product. Some engineered floors can be sanded and refinished, while others simply do not have a thick enough wear layer.

An old or badly worn hardwood floor does not automatically need to be replaced. We recommend having it evaluated by a hardwood flooring professional first.

Sometimes, but for the best result we generally recommend removing at least one layer of trim around the perimeter of the floor.

That may mean removing the baseboard itself or simply removing the quarter round or base shoe when those are present. Trying to sand right up against existing trim can cause the floor to gradually 'ramp' upward near the walls rather than remaining flat and even all the way to the perimeter.

Whenever practical, Luminous Flooring carefully removes the necessary trim and attempts to save it so it can be reinstalled during the finishing process.

Usually much less than homeowners expect.

Modern professional sanding equipment has dramatically reduced the amount of airborne dust created during hardwood floor refinishing. Luminous Flooring's sanding equipment uses powerful vacuum-assisted dust-containment systems designed to capture the vast majority of dust as it is created.

We take additional precautions as well. Cabinets, built-ins, and adjoining areas can be protected with plastic, and return-air vents are covered or filtered to help prevent airborne dust from circulating throughout the house.

Before finish is applied, our craftsmen thoroughly clean the work area and surrounding flat surfaces. This is not just about leaving your home clean. Removing remaining dust is also important because loose particles can settle into wet finish and affect the final appearance and feel of the floor.

Hardwood refinishing is still a construction process, so no process is completely dust-free, but today's professional equipment and proper preparation make a tremendous difference.

Both water-based and oil-based finishes can protect a hardwood floor, but there are significant differences in appearance, odor, drying time, and performance.

Oil-based polyurethane has been used successfully for decades. It provides good protection and is generally less expensive, but it has a strong odor, takes considerably longer to dry and cure, and naturally adds an amber tone to the wood that becomes more noticeable over time.

Water-based finish technology has improved tremendously. While there are lower-quality water-based products available, the professional two-component water-based finishes used by Luminous Flooring provide excellent durability.

Premium water-based systems also offer several advantages: faster drying and curing, lower odor and VOC levels, a clear appearance that does not amber the wood over time, excellent resistance to everyday wear, and much shorter wait times before the floor can be walked on.

For homeowners looking for a high-performance finish, Luminous Flooring often recommends a professional two-component water-based system. Oil-based polyurethane remains a viable and more economical option, but today's premium water-based finishes offer performance that many homeowners do not realize is available.

That depends primarily on the finish system being used.

With the professional water-based finishes used by Luminous Flooring, floors can generally be walked on in socks after approximately three hours. We recommend waiting about 24 hours before normal traffic in shoes and approximately 48 hours before moving furniture back into the room.

Oil-based polyurethane requires considerably more drying time. Depending on the specific product and conditions inside the home, limited foot traffic may require approximately 8-24 hours.

Keep in mind that 'dry enough to walk on' and 'fully cured' are two different things. The finish will continue to harden after it is dry enough for limited use. We provide specific instructions for the finish used on your project so you know when it is safe to walk on the floor, replace furniture, and return to normal use.

A typical 3/4-inch solid hardwood floor can usually be professionally sanded and refinished approximately 4-6 times during its life.

However, there is not one number that applies to every floor. How aggressively the floor was sanded during previous refinishing projects makes a significant difference. The equipment being used and the skill of the craftsman operating it also matter. An unnecessarily aggressive sanding removes more wood and reduces the number of future refinishes the floor can tolerate.

Eventually, the wood above the tongue-and-groove joint becomes too thin to safely sand again. Before refinishing an older floor, Luminous Flooring can inspect the remaining wear layer to determine whether another complete sanding is appropriate.

In most cases, yes - and this is something Luminous Flooring does regularly.

We begin by identifying the width, thickness, species, and grade of the existing hardwood. New unfinished flooring can then be installed and sanded and finished to blend with the existing floor.

The age of the existing floor, sunlight exposure, previous finishes, sanding methods, and the natural aging of the wood can all affect how closely new wood will match old wood.

When possible, the best result is often achieved by installing the new hardwood and then sanding and finishing the new and existing flooring together. Done correctly, the difference between wood installed decades ago and wood installed today can become extremely difficult to detect.

When refinishing the entire area is not practical, we also have techniques and products that allow us to adjust the coloration of the new flooring to closely blend with the existing floor. A perfect match can never be guaranteed with a natural product like wood, but an experienced hardwood flooring specialist can often make the transition virtually unnoticeable.

Yes, although matching an existing hardwood stain requires experience and patience.

Wood naturally changes color as it ages and is exposed to sunlight. Because of this, simply applying the same stain originally used on a floor does not necessarily create the same color years later.

For isolated repairs, Luminous Flooring can sand the damaged area and create a stain color designed to blend with the surrounding flooring. We commonly refer to this as a spot repair.

An exact 100% match is not always possible, particularly on an older floor with significant aging or patina, but an experienced hardwood specialist can often make the repaired area blend extremely well with the surrounding floor.

Absolutely.

Many homeowners assume that significant damage means an entire hardwood floor needs to be replaced. Often, that is not the case.

Individual damaged boards can frequently be removed and replaced without disturbing the entire floor. Once the repair is complete, the area can be sanded and the color adjusted to blend with the surrounding hardwood.

This type of work requires someone experienced in hardwood repairs, board replacement, sanding, and color matching. Luminous Flooring has craftsmen experienced in these types of repairs. When a localized repair is possible, it can save the homeowner considerable money and inconvenience compared with replacing an entire floor.

Sometimes. It depends on how deeply the stain has penetrated the wood.

Some discoloration is primarily near the surface and will disappear during the sanding process. Other stains - particularly pet urine and severe dark stains - can penetrate deeply into the grain of the wood and become permanent.

If a stain remains after sanding, there are usually two options. A darker stain color may help disguise the remaining discoloration, or the affected boards can be individually removed and replaced. We evaluate the severity of the staining before recommending the best approach.

Yes. Repairing and salvaging damaged hardwood floors is one of our specialties.

Damage can often look much worse than it actually is. Many scratches and dents disappear completely during professional sanding.

When damage extends too deeply to sand out - or when water has permanently damaged individual boards - the affected boards can often be removed and replaced rather than replacing the entire floor.

Every floor and every type of damage is different, so the first step is evaluating the floor and determining which areas can be saved and which, if any, need to be replaced. Whenever practical, our goal is to repair and preserve the existing hardwood rather than unnecessarily replacing it.

Absolutely.

This is accomplished using a technique commonly called a lace-in. After the carpet or tile is removed, we do not simply install new hardwood up against the straight edge of the old floor. Instead, individual boards are carefully removed from the edge of the existing hardwood to create a staggered, random pattern.

The new hardwood is then 'laced' into that pattern. Once the new and existing hardwood are sanded and finished together, the transition can become virtually invisible. Rather than looking like two floors that were connected later, the finished floor can look as though it was originally installed as one continuous hardwood floor.

Including materials and professional installation, homeowners in the St. Louis area can generally expect hardwood flooring to cost approximately $9-$16 per square foot, depending on the flooring and installation method selected.

Prefinished hardwood - where the color and protective finish are applied by the manufacturer before installation - can start around $9 per square foot.

Unfinished hardwood that is installed raw and then professionally sanded, stained, and finished in the home typically starts around $12 per square foot and increases depending on the product and project.

Wood species, plank width, installation pattern, subfloor preparation, finishing system, and other project requirements can all affect the final price.

Both can be excellent products. The better choice depends on where the floor is being installed and what you want from it long-term.

Solid hardwood provides tremendous versatility and can typically be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life. That makes it an excellent long-term flooring option in the appropriate environment.

Engineered hardwood is constructed differently and tends to experience less movement and fewer seasonal gaps. It can also be used in certain locations where traditional solid hardwood may not be appropriate.

The tradeoff is that engineered hardwood does not always offer the same refinishing versatility as a traditional solid hardwood floor. Rather than automatically recommending one over the other, we prefer to evaluate the location, conditions inside the home, and the look the homeowner wants before making a recommendation.

Yes, but the type of hardwood matters.

Traditional solid hardwood is generally not installed directly over concrete because of moisture concerns and the challenges associated with attaching solid wood directly to the slab.

Engineered hardwood is designed differently and can be glued directly to properly prepared concrete using the appropriate installation system. If your home has a concrete subfloor, we can evaluate the conditions and recommend a hardwood product and installation method appropriate for the space.

A professional hardwood installation crew can generally install approximately 250-400 square feet per day, although the actual production rate depends heavily on the floor and the home.

Subfloor preparation, room layout, installation method, and plank width all affect the schedule. For example, installing traditional 2.25-inch hardwood requires considerably more individual boards than installing 4-inch flooring over the same square footage, so the narrower floor can take substantially longer.

Quality should always take precedence over speed. As a general planning estimate, approximately 250 square feet per day is a reasonable starting point for many hardwood installation projects.

Often, yes - but proper acclimation is determined by moisture readings, not simply by counting days.

The purpose of acclimation is to allow the moisture content of the hardwood to reach an acceptable relationship with the moisture content of the subfloor and conditions inside the home.

You may hear rules such as 'hardwood needs to sit in the house for a week.' While allowing time for acclimation is often a good practice, time alone does not tell us whether the flooring is actually ready to install.

Luminous Flooring uses professional moisture meters to measure the hardwood and subfloor before installation. Those readings are recorded and kept with the project documentation. In many situations, a week provides sufficient acclimation time. In others, the flooring may require more or less time.

We do not guess - we measure.

Hardwood floor installation and refinishing are specialty trades. Experience and education matter.

Start by looking at the company's history and reviews. Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other review platforms can give you an idea of whether previous customers consistently received quality workmanship and good service. Ask about the contractor's experience specifically with hardwood - not simply flooring in general.

You should also ask whether the company employs professionals who have received education or certification through the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). NWFA education helps flooring professionals stay current on recognized hardwood installation, sanding, finishing, moisture-testing, and repair practices.

Certification is not the only indication that someone is a talented craftsman, but it provides additional confidence that the contractor has invested in learning the trade and recognized industry practices.

Finally, look for good communication, transparent pricing, proper insurance, and a company willing to explain why it recommends a particular process or product.

Before hiring a hardwood flooring contractor, consider asking the following questions:

• How many years have you worked specifically with hardwood flooring?
• Are you properly insured?
• Do you or members of your team have NWFA education or certifications?
• Can I see recent reviews, references, or examples of similar projects?
• What sanding and dust-containment equipment will you use?
• What stain and finish products will you use?
• Are you recommending water-based or oil-based finish, and why?
• What preparation, repairs, trim work, and furniture moving are included?
• Are there additional charges that are not included in the initial estimate?
• How long should the project take?
• When can we walk on the floors and replace our furniture?

We believe NWFA education and certification are valuable indicators when choosing a hardwood flooring professional.

There are certainly talented hardwood craftsmen who are not certified. Certification by itself does not guarantee that every project will be perfect.

What it does tell you is that the professional has taken the time to receive formal education in the hardwood flooring trade and demonstrate knowledge of recognized industry practices.

The National Wood Flooring Association provides training and resources covering installation, sanding, finishing, moisture, repairs, and other important aspects of hardwood flooring. For a homeowner, hiring a company with NWFA-trained or certified professionals provides another level of confidence that the people working on your floor have invested in learning their craft.

The most important thing is to make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

Two hardwood refinishing estimates may appear to be for the same project while actually including very different services and products. Ask each contractor exactly what is included.

Does the price include moving furniture? Removing and reinstalling baseboards or shoe molding? Moving appliances? Removing and resetting toilets or vanities when necessary? Installing flush-mount vents? Stain? Water popping? What type and quality of finish is being used.

Some estimates begin with a low base price and add charges for many of these items later. Luminous Flooring provides an itemized estimate so customers can see the individual costs associated with their project. We believe that makes it easier to understand what you are purchasing and to fairly compare our proposal with another contractor's.

If our estimate differs significantly from another quote, we are happy to go through it with you and explain exactly what is included.

We would love to simply say Luminous Flooring, but homeowners should make that decision for themselves.

When looking for the best hardwood flooring company for your project, consider the company's hardwood experience, reputation, customer reviews, insurance, professional education and certifications, quality of products, transparency of its estimates, and willingness to stand behind its work.

Most importantly, look for a company that specializes in hardwood flooring and can explain not only what it recommends, but why.

At Luminous Flooring, hardwood flooring is our specialty. We have invested in professional education, experienced craftsmen, modern sanding and dust-containment equipment, premium finishing systems, and the skills necessary to install, refinish, repair, and preserve hardwood floors throughout the St. Louis area.

We encourage homeowners to ask questions, compare companies, and choose the hardwood flooring contractor they believe has the experience and expertise to do the job correctly. We believe that when you make that comparison, Luminous Flooring deserves to be on your short list.

Hardwood flooring can last for the life of a home when it is properly maintained. In many cases, the best care is simple, consistent, and preventive.

Wipe up spills immediately. Vacuum using a hard-surface setting with the beater bar or rotating brush turned off. For routine cleaning, use a microfiber mop with a spray cleaner that is approved for your specific hardwood finish.

Avoid wet-mopping. Standing water can lead to cracks, splits, cupping, warping, finish damage, and discoloration. Also avoid steam cleaners, because moisture in vapor form can penetrate the wood fibers and damage both the flooring and the finish.

Use breathable rugs at exterior doors and in high-use areas such as in front of the kitchen sink and stove. Felt or fabric-faced glides under furniture legs can help prevent scratches, and heavy furniture or appliances should be lifted or moved with appropriate glides rather than dragged across the floor.

It is also important to know what type of finish is on your floor. Different finishes require different care products. When the finish manufacturer is known, follow that manufacturer's maintenance recommendations.

We do not recommend using a steam mop on hardwood floors.

Steam is still water. In vapor form, it can penetrate the wood fibers and may cause irreversible damage to the flooring or its finish. That damage can include swelling, cupping, finish degradation, or other moisture-related problems.

For regular cleaning, a microfiber mop and an approved spray wood-floor cleaner are safer choices.

The safest approach is to use a cleaning product recommended for your specific hardwood finish or flooring manufacturer.

Avoid products that promise to 'restore' or 'add shine' unless they are specifically approved for your finish. Many of these products rely on waxes or oils that can change the appearance of the floor and create problems when it is time for a professional recoat.

Do not use sheet-vinyl or tile-floor care products, household dust treatments, or wax on a non-waxed surface finish. Petroleum-based cleaners should not be used on waterborne finishes. We also do not recommend vinegar on finished hardwood floors because its acidity can degrade the finish over time.

Using too much cleaner can also cause problems, so always follow the manufacturer's recommended amount and method.

The exact timing depends on the finish system used, so the manufacturer's instructions should always take priority.

As a general guideline, furniture should remain off newly finished floors for about 48 hours after the final coat. Appliances should generally stay off the floor for at least three days, and they should be moved back using appropriate safety glides rather than dragged across the surface.

Area rugs usually need a longer wait. In general, rugs should not be placed on newly finished floors for a minimum of seven days after the final coat, unless the finish manufacturer specifies otherwise.

When rugs are returned, make sure any non-skid pad underneath is compatible with hardwood flooring and the finish system, since some synthetic pads can imprint or react with the finish.

A few simple habits can make a big difference in keeping hardwood floors looking good.

Place felt or fabric-faced glides under furniture legs and check them periodically for embedded dirt. Do not slide heavy furniture across the floor. Lift it whenever possible, and use proper safety glides when moving appliances.

Keep pet claws trimmed, use breathable entry rugs to reduce grit and sand being tracked inside, and avoid walking on hardwood in cleats or damaged high heels. A small heel concentrates a surprising amount of force into a very small area and can dent a wood floor.

Rugs in high-use areas, especially near exterior doors, the kitchen sink, and the stove, can also help reduce wear as long as the rugs and pads are appropriate for hardwood flooring.

Yes. Hardwood is a natural material that responds to changes in moisture and humidity.

During dry winter months, wood can shrink and seasonal gaps may appear. During more humid months, the wood can expand. Keeping the indoor environment reasonably consistent throughout the year helps reduce excessive movement.

Depending on the home and season, that may mean using a humidifier during dry months and a dehumidifier during humid months. The goal is not to eliminate all seasonal movement, which is normal, but to minimize extreme swings that can lead to larger gaps, cupping, or other movement-related issues.

A good rule of thumb is to pay attention to the finish before the wood itself becomes exposed.

When a hardwood floor starts to lose its luster and the protective finish looks worn or dull, it may be time for a professional recoat. A recoat adds another protective layer of finish without requiring a complete sanding of the floor.

Taking care of the finish before it wears through can help protect the wood underneath and may extend the amount of time before a full sand-and-refinish project is needed.

Because different finishes require different maintenance and recoat procedures, it is important to know what finish is currently on the floor before applying new products.