How long does hardwood floor refinishing take in a New Brunswick home?

A typical hardwood floor refinishing project in a New Brunswick home takes 3-5 days from start to finish, though the total timeline depends on the size of the area, the number of finish coats, whether you are changing the stain colour, and the specific conditions inside your home during the project.

Here is a realistic breakdown of how the days typically unfold. Day one involves furniture removal, floor preparation, and the initial rough sanding with a drum sander to strip off the old finish and stain. Day two covers the finer sanding passes (medium and fine grit) to smooth the wood surface, followed by edging and detail sanding along walls, corners, and around door frames. If you are applying a stain colour, it goes down on day two or three after all sanding dust has been vacuumed and tack-clothed. Each coat of polyurethane finish requires its own day — application in the morning, drying through the afternoon and overnight, then a light screen sanding before the next coat. Most professionals apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane, so the finish phase alone takes 2-3 days.

For a straightforward 800-1,000 square foot refinish with a natural clear coat (no stain colour change), expect 3 days of active work. Adding a stain colour change adds roughly half a day to a full day. Larger homes with 1,500+ square feet of hardwood, or homes with complex layouts involving hallways, closets, and stairs, can stretch to 5-7 days.

New Brunswick's climate has a direct impact on drying and curing times, which is why timing matters. Oil-based polyurethane needs 8-12 hours between coats under ideal conditions (65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, 40-50% relative humidity), but NB's humid summer months can push that to 16-24 hours per coat. In winter, forced-air heating drops indoor humidity to 20-30%, which can cause the finish to dry too quickly and produce bubbles or brush marks. The ideal refinishing window in NB is September through November or April through May — moderate temperatures, manageable humidity, and you can crack windows for ventilation without freezing the house.

Water-based polyurethane finishes dry significantly faster — typically 2-4 hours between coats — which can compress the entire project into 2-3 days. They also produce far less odour, making them practical for NB homeowners who need to remain in the home during refinishing. The trade-off is that water-based finishes generally require one additional coat compared to oil-based for equivalent protection.

Plan to stay off the floors for 24 hours after the final coat, and avoid placing rugs or heavy furniture for a full week while the finish cures to full hardness. During this curing period, maintain your indoor humidity between 35-55% — running a humidifier in winter or a dehumidifier in summer helps the finish cure properly and protects your newly refinished floors from the start.

Professional refinishing in NB typically costs $3-$6 per square foot, and most crews can schedule within 2-4 weeks during the shoulder seasons. Get matched with a local flooring professional through New Brunswick Flooring to get accurate timelines and quotes for your specific project.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• The Garbage Guys Ltd
• Arctic Fox Construction Inc.
• Gionetterenovations
• 3Tone Construction Ltd
• FRS Flooring Solutions