Every Bay Area homeowner loves the look of gleaming hardwood, but few enjoy the guesswork that surrounds pricing. Searching for the “typical cost to refinish hardwood floors” often delivers numbers that swing wildly from $3 to $12 per square foot. CountBricks eliminates the mystery with AI-driven, real-time estimates delivered during a simple voice conversation. Below, our residential construction team breaks down what you should expect to pay—and why.
• Preserve historic character in older San Francisco homes
• Avoid the demolition mess of a full tear-out
• Boost property value ahead of a sale or refinance
• Remove deep scratches, pet stains, or worn finish layers
• Change the stain color for a modern interior palette
Bay Area range: $5.50–$8.75 per square foot for a standard resurfacing that includes sanding, minor repairs, and three coats of water-based polyurethane. A 600 sq ft living/dining area often lands between $3,300 and $5,250.
National average: $3.50–$6.00 per square foot. Higher labor rates, local permit fees, and stricter VOC regulations explain the local premium.
• Floor condition: Heavy gouges or previous wax layers require extra sanding passes
• Finish type: Oil-based poly adds 10-15 % for longer drying cycles; low-VOC hardwax oils add up to 25 %
• Board width & species: Wide-plank oak sands faster than narrow maple, affecting labor minutes per square foot
• Furniture moving & masking: Empty rooms trim 50-75 ¢ per sq ft from labor budgets
• Access & ventilation: Fourth-story walk-ups and limited airflow slow the crew and raise cost
• Subfloor repairs once top boards are lifted for spot fixes
• Squeak elimination using screws and adhesive
• Post-refinish cleaning services to remove airborne dust from ducts and fixtures
1. You open the CountBricks mobile app and start a voice session. In under 90 seconds the AI captures room dimensions, existing floor condition, and desired finish.
2. Our estimating engine pulls live material pricing from regional suppliers and pairs it with labor productivity rates from CountBricks’ historic project database.
3. Optional tasks—baseboard removal, furniture moving, stain color change—are suggested in real time, allowing you to approve or decline each line item verbally.
4. The result is an itemized quote, downloadable as a branded PDF, along with a construction schedule you can add directly to your calendar.
Visit CountBricks.com/services to see every refinement module in action.
Tool rental & materials: A weekend warrior spends roughly $1.75 per sq ft on sanders, discs, stain, and sealer.
Time: Expect 20–25 labor hours for 600 sq ft, not counting drying windows that keep rooms offline for days.
Risk: Uneven drum marks can shave hundreds off resale value and often lead to hiring a pro to fix the ripples—doubling total cost.
When CountBricks coordinates a pro crew, you receive workmanship warranties and a polished surface free of chatter lines.
• Upgrade to water-based poly for faster re-occupancy—perfect for rental turnovers
• Add perimeter LED baseboard lighting during refinish downtime to modernize space with minimal extra labor
• Bundle stair tread refinishing; equipment is already on site, saving mobilization fees
1. Day 1: Furniture relocation, coarse sanding pass
2. Day 2: Fine sanding, vacuuming, and first coat of sealer
3. Day 3: Light buffing, two finish coats, and job walk-through
CountBricks project managers sync each milestone with your phone, so you always know when rooms can be walked on or furnished.
Whether you own a Victorian in Pacific Heights or a modern condo in SoMa, CountBricks delivers precise, transparent pricing for hardwood floor refinishing. Start a conversation at CountBricks.com/consultation and see your numbers appear in real time.
A recent homeowner in the Richmond District inherited a 480 sq ft white-oak floor blanketed by decades of shellac. Traditional bids varied from $4,000 to $6,400, leaving the client unsure which number reflected reality.
Voice-First Takeoff
Using the CountBricks app, the client measured the room in under three minutes, verbally noting “heavy shellac buildup” and “desire for warm walnut stain.” The AI flagged the need for an additional sanding pass and a stain upgrade, instantly updating costs.
Live Pricing Advantage
Because CountBricks ties directly into Bay Area supplier feeds, the quote reflected an ongoing polyurethane promotion, shaving $0.38 per sq ft off materials—savings traditional spreadsheets would have missed.
Final Numbers
Total cost landed at $3,180, or $6.63 per sq ft—3 % under the client’s target budget. The project wrapped in 2.5 days, thanks to quick-dry water-based finishes recommended by our estimator. A post-project survey rated the service 9.7/10 for accuracy and cleanliness.
