How do I refinish hardwood floors that have been painted over in an older Moncton home?

Refinishing painted hardwood floors in an older Moncton home requires careful assessment and likely professional help, especially given the high probability of lead paint in pre-1978 housing stock.

Painted hardwood floors were common in older Maritime homes when carpet became fashionable in the 1960s-70s, and many beautiful original floors lie hidden beneath layers of paint. However, any paint applied before 1978 likely contains lead, which creates serious health hazards when disturbed through sanding or scraping. In Moncton's older neighborhoods like Sunny Brae, downtown core, and established residential areas, most homes fall into this category.

Start with lead paint testing — you can purchase test kits at Canadian Tire or Home Depot for $15-25, or hire a professional environmental consultant for $150-300 to test multiple areas. If lead is present, you'll need a certified lead-safe renovation contractor who follows Health Canada protocols for containment, specialized equipment, and proper disposal. This isn't a DIY project with lead paint involved.

If the paint tests negative for lead, refinishing becomes more manageable but still challenging. Paint creates an extremely hard surface that clogs sandpaper quickly and requires aggressive initial sanding with 36-40 grit paper. You'll need to rent a drum sander ($60-80/day) and edger ($40-60/day) from equipment rental shops in Moncton. The process involves multiple sanding passes — starting coarse to remove paint, then progressing through 60, 80, and 100 grit to smooth the wood surface.

Maritime humidity adds complexity to the refinishing timeline. Moncton's location in the Petitcodiac River valley means morning fog and elevated moisture levels, especially spring through fall. Plan your project for late summer or early fall when humidity is most stable. Each coat of polyurethane needs 24-48 hours to cure properly in NB's humid conditions — rushing between coats leads to poor adhesion and cloudy finishes.

Professional refinishing costs $3-6 per square foot in the Moncton area, which often proves more economical than DIY when you factor in equipment rental, sandpaper costs (paint eats through belts quickly), polyurethane, stain, and the significant time investment. A typical 800 square foot main floor runs $2,400-4,800 professionally finished.

Hire a professional for painted floor refinishing — the lead paint risk, specialized equipment requirements, dust containment needs, and finishing expertise make this one of the most challenging DIY flooring projects. The investment in professional refinishing often reveals stunning original Maritime pine, oak, or maple floors that add tremendous value to older Moncton homes.

Need help finding a professional flooring contractor experienced with painted floor restoration? New Brunswick Flooring can match you with refinishing specialists familiar with older Moncton homes and lead-safe practices.