How much does it cost to strip and refinish a commercial hardwood floor in a small NB restaurant or shop?

Stripping and refinishing a commercial hardwood floor in a small NB restaurant or shop typically runs $4–$8 per square foot, with most small commercial spaces (400–1,200 sq ft) landing between $2,500 and $9,000 total — though the final number depends heavily on floor condition, finish type, and how much prep work is required before the first sanding pass.

Commercial refinishing costs more than residential work for several reasons. The finish standards are higher (commercial floors need more coats and more durable products), the scheduling is more complex (work often has to happen overnight or over a weekend to avoid business disruption), and the floor condition in a restaurant or retail shop is typically more demanding — heavy traffic, grease contamination, chair and table drag marks, and years of built-up wax or floor finish that has to be chemically stripped before sanding can even begin.

What Drives the Price in NB

Floor condition is the biggest variable. A lightly worn floor in a boutique or office might need two sanding passes, two coats of sealer, and two finish coats — straightforward work. A restaurant floor with deep scratches, grease penetration, old wax layers, and staining from spills can require chemical stripping, three or more sanding passes with progressively finer grits, and additional prep time before finish goes down. That extra labour adds $1–$3/sq ft to the base cost.

Finish selection matters significantly in a commercial setting. Standard oil-modified polyurethane ($0.50–$1.00/sq ft in materials) is durable and familiar, but water-based commercial-grade finishes like Bona Traffic HD or Loba 2K Invisible Protect are increasingly popular in NB commercial spaces — they dry faster (critical when you're working overnight), emit fewer fumes, and hold up exceptionally well under foot traffic. These premium finishes cost more ($1.00–$2.00/sq ft in materials) but often mean fewer coats and less downtime. Two-component (2K) finishes are the gold standard for restaurant floors.

Scheduling and access adds real cost in commercial work. If the refinisher has to work from 10 PM to 6 AM to avoid disrupting your business, expect a 15–25% premium over standard daytime rates. Weekend work commands similar premiums. Some NB contractors will negotiate a flat project rate for commercial after-hours work rather than a per-square-foot price — get this in writing before work begins.

NB-Specific Considerations

Maritime humidity complicates commercial refinishing timing. Finish application should happen when indoor relative humidity is between 40–60% — not always easy to achieve in an NB restaurant kitchen environment where steam and cooking moisture push humidity higher. Winter refinishing in a heated commercial space is often ideal from a humidity standpoint, as forced-air heating keeps the space dry and finish cures predictably. Summer refinishing in a restaurant without strong air conditioning can cause finish to dry unevenly or bubble if humidity spikes during application.

Grease penetration is a serious issue in restaurant floors specifically. If cooking grease has soaked into the wood fibres over years of service, no amount of sanding will fully remove it — and finish won't bond properly to contaminated wood. A professional will test for this before quoting. In severe cases, board replacement or a full floor overlay may be more cost-effective than refinishing.

Practical Budget Guidance

For a 400–600 sq ft retail shop in reasonable condition, budget $2,500–$4,500 for a quality refinish. For a 600–1,200 sq ft restaurant floor with heavier wear and after-hours scheduling, budget $4,500–$9,000+. Add $1–$2/sq ft if furniture moving, booth removal, or equipment shifting is required — many contractors won't move commercial kitchen equipment for liability reasons.

Get at least three quotes from NB contractors who specifically mention commercial refinishing experience. Residential refinishers sometimes underquote commercial jobs and then struggle with the finish demands and scheduling realities. Ask each contractor what finish product they're specifying, how many coats, and what their recoat timeline is — a quality commercial job should have 24–48 hours between coats and a full cure time of 5–7 days before heavy furniture is returned.

Need help finding a flooring professional with commercial refinishing experience in your area? New Brunswick Flooring can match you with local contractors for free — or browse the directory at newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com/directory?trade=flooring.