Floor Sanding Prices

Floor sanding and polishing in Australia costs $350–$700 per room for a standard sand and polish, or $2,500–$4,500 for a whole 3-bedroom home. Specialty finishes like staining cost $30–$55/m², while parquetry restoration runs $45–$90/m². All prices include GST.

A single room takes approximately one day to sand and apply coats. A full 3-bedroom house takes 3–4 days including all coats and recoat time. Allow 24–48 hours per coat for the finish to cure before foot traffic, and 72 hours before replacing heavy furniture.

It is strongly recommended to vacate the property during sanding and for at least 24–48 hours after the final coat. Sanding produces fine dust even with dustless equipment, and polyurethane fumes require good ventilation. Water-based polyurethane has lower VOC and dries faster than oil-based, making shorter vacating times possible.

Solid timber floors can typically be sanded 4–6 times in their lifetime depending on board thickness. A full sand and repolish is recommended every 10–15 years in normal residential use, or when the finish is clearly worn through in traffic areas. A maintenance recoat (no sanding) can extend the life of the finish between full sands.

Polyurethane creates a hard protective film on top of the timber that is very durable and easy to clean. Hard-wax oil penetrates into the timber and provides a more natural matte look. Oil finishes are easier to spot-repair but need annual maintenance oiling. Polyurethane is more durable in high-traffic areas but must be fully recoated when worn.

Engineered timber floors can often be sanded once or twice depending on the wear layer thickness (typically 2–6mm). Solid timber floors have a much thicker wear layer and can be sanded many more times. Always check the wear layer thickness before committing to a sand — floors with under 2mm wear layer cannot be sanded without risk of cutting through to the substrate.

Dustless sanding systems capture 95–99% of dust at the source using industrial vacuum extraction attached directly to the sander. Some fine dust still escapes, particularly during edging work. Dustless sanding costs slightly more but eliminates the major cleanup and health hazard of traditional sanding. It is now standard practice for most professional floor sanders.

If the boards are structurally sound with at least 2mm of wear layer remaining, sanding is almost always the better option — it costs a fraction of replacement and restores the original character of the timber. Replacement is only necessary if boards are severely water-damaged, termite-eaten, or the wear layer has been sanded through in previous refinishing jobs.

Yes — floor sanding prices have risen 17–20% since 2023 and are expected to continue increasing 3–6% per year through 2027. The main drivers are higher labour costs due to a shortage of experienced floor sanders, and increased material costs for polyurethane coatings. Booking in autumn or winter when demand is lower can help you secure better pricing.

Remove all furniture from the rooms being sanded — this is the single biggest thing you can do to reduce costs and delays. Take down curtains and wall hangings near the work area. Remove any carpet, rugs, or underlay from the timber floors. Ensure the sander has clear access to powerpoints for their equipment. If you have pets, arrange for them to be elsewhere during sanding and curing.

Water-based polyurethane dries faster (2–4 hours between coats vs 12–24 hours for oil-based), has lower odour, and maintains the natural timber colour. Oil-based polyurethane gives a warmer amber tone, is slightly more durable in high-traffic areas, and costs 10–15% less for materials. Most professionals now recommend water-based for indoor living areas due to lower VOC emissions and faster job completion.

It depends on the wear layer thickness. Engineered floors with a 3–4mm wear layer can typically be sanded once or twice. Floors with a 2mm or thinner veneer generally cannot be sanded safely without risking damage to the core. Check with the floor manufacturer or ask your sander to measure the wear layer before committing. Some engineered floors can be screen-and-recoated without a full sand.