Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Chicago & Suburbs
Bring tired, scratched, or faded hardwood back to life — sanded smooth with dust-contained equipment and sealed with commercial-grade Bona Traffic HD. Family-owned and women-owned, run by Krzysztof “Chris” & Anna, and trusted across Chicagoland for nearly two decades.
Freshly refinished white oak — a recent FLOORecki project in the Chicago area.
Your old floors are probably better than you think
Chicago is full of century-old bungalows, two-flats, and graystones built over solid red oak and maple — floors that were made to last generations. Decades of foot traffic, pets, sunlight, and the occasional water spill dull the surface, but the wood underneath is usually still solid. Refinishing sands away the worn top layer and seals the raw wood with a fresh, durable finish — often for a fraction of the cost of replacement, and with far less mess.
At FLOORecki, hardwood refinishing is what we do day in and day out — on everything from a single sun-faded living room to full-home restorations in Naperville, Hinsdale, and Winnetka. We’ll tell you honestly whether your floors can be refinished (most can), how many times they’ve likely been sanded before, and exactly what the result will look like before we start.
Before & after — real Chicagoland floors
The same floors, sanded back to bare wood and refinished. No filters — just our actual work.
A Chicago living room — dated orange red oak refinished to a light, whitewashed gray.
Open-plan kitchen — dated amber red oak brought back to a bright, natural tone.
Floors and stairs refinished together — orange oak taken to a clean, modern natural finish.
Two-story foyer — tired, worn floors restored to a light, even red oak throughout.
How we refinish your floors
A proper refinish is more than “sand and coat.” Here’s our process — the same on every job.
On-site assessment
We check your wood species, board thickness, and how much life is left for sanding — then confirm whether refinishing or a lighter screen & recoat is the right call. No guesswork, no surprises.
Prep & dust containment
We protect your home, seal off work areas, and run dust-contained sanding equipment so fine dust stays off your walls, cabinets, and belongings — a must in occupied Chicago homes and condos.
Multi-stage sanding & repairs
Drum, edger, and buffer through progressive grits for a flawless, even surface. We replace damaged boards, fill gaps, and address squeaks and nail pops along the way.
Stain & finish
Keep your natural tone or change the color with Bona or DuraSeal stains — we test it on your actual floor first. We seal with commercial-grade Bona Traffic HD for floors that stay beautiful for years.
Why we finish with Bona Traffic HD
The finish is what you actually walk on — so it matters more than almost anything else. We use Bona Traffic HD, the same commercial-grade finish used in gyms, stores, and high-traffic public spaces, on every refinishing project.
- Built for real lifeStands up to kids, pets, heels, and heavy furniture better than standard finishes.
- Low odor, pet & kid safeWaterborne and low-VOC — no lingering solvent smell, and you can get back into your home sooner.
- Keeps your wood’s natural lookClear, non-yellowing finish that lets the grain and stain color show through.
Prefer a different premium system? On request we also apply Loba and Pallmann finishes — just let us know and we’ll match the product to the look and durability you want.
Included as standard
Every refinishing quote from FLOORecki includes:
- Full dust-contained sanding
- Commercial-grade Bona Traffic HD finish
- Minor board repairs & gap filling
- Protection of surrounding areas
Want a ballpark number right now? Our Instant Quote tool gives you an estimate in under a minute — no phone call needed.
Signs it’s time to refinish
If any of these sound familiar, your floors are ready.
Dull, worn traffic paths
Lanes of faded, hazy finish through hallways, doorways, and in front of the sink or sofa.
Deep scratches & gray spots
Scratches that catch your fingernail, or gray/black areas where the finish has worn through to bare wood.
Water stains or cupping
White rings, dark stains, or boards that have slightly warped from moisture.
You want a new color
Going from orange-y oak to a modern espresso, gray, or natural matte — refinishing is how you get there.
Carpet just came up
Pulled up old carpet and found hardwood underneath? In many Chicago homes it cleans up beautifully.
Buying or selling
Refinished floors are one of the highest-return updates before listing — or a fresh start in a new home.
Full refinishing or a screen & recoat?
Not every floor needs a full sand-down. We’ll tell you honestly which one you need — and we do both.
Full Refinishing
The complete restoration. We sand the floor down to raw wood, removing scratches, stains, and old finish, then stain (optional) and seal. This is what you need for deep damage, discoloration, or a color change.
Screen & Recoat (Refresh)
A faster, lower-cost “refresh” when your finish is worn but the wood is sound — we lightly abrade the surface and add a new coat of Bona Traffic HD. Learn about our Floor Refresh & Deep Clean →
Why Chicago homeowners choose FLOORecki
⭐ 5-Star reputation
Rated 5 stars on Google and BBB Accredited with an A+ rating — built on real work for real Chicagoland families.
👪 Family & women-owned
Owned and run by Krzysztof “Chris” & Anna — you work directly with the owners, not a call center or a rotating crew.
🪵 Commercial-grade finishes
Bona Traffic HD on every project (Loba & Pallmann on request), plus Bona and DuraSeal stains for a finish that lasts.
💬 Transparent pricing
Get a clear ballpark online before anyone visits — no pressure, no mystery quotes, no bait-and-switch.
🧹 Clean, respectful work
Dust-contained sanding and careful protection of your home — we treat your space like our own.
🔨 Nearly 2 decades in the trade
Experienced hands on hardwood, stairs, and everything in between — across the city and suburbs.
Meet the owners
FLOORecki is a family-owned and women-owned business, run by Krzysztof “Chris” & Anna right here in Chicago. When you hire us, you work directly with the owners — not a call center, not a rotating crew of subcontractors you’ve never met.
Chris has spent nearly two decades on his knees perfecting hardwood floors across the city and suburbs, and he’s on the job site for the work that matters. That’s how we keep the quality consistent and stand behind every floor we finish.
— Krzysztof “Chris” & Anna, FLOORecki Floors & Stairs
See what your floors would cost — in under a minute
Pick your service, enter your space, and get an instant ballpark estimate. No phone call needed to start.
Hardwood floor refinishing across Chicagoland
We refinish floors throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs — including:
Hardwood refinishing — common questions
How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors in Chicago?
Most refinishing projects fall in the range of roughly $4–$5 per square foot for labor with a Bona Traffic HD finish, with the exact price depending on your square footage, wood condition, stain choice, and any repairs. The fastest way to get a real number for your home is our Instant Quote tool — it takes under a minute.
How long does refinishing take?
A typical home takes about 3–5 days from sanding to final coat, depending on size, whether you’re changing the stain color, and cure time. We’ll give you a clear timeline for your specific floors before we begin.
Do I have to move out of my house?
Usually not — but you’ll need to stay off the freshly finished floors while they cure. Because we use low-odor Bona Traffic HD and dust-contained sanding, most families comfortably stay home. We’ll walk you through exactly what to expect.
How many times can hardwood be refinished?
Solid hardwood can typically be refinished several times over its life — often 4 to 7, depending on how much wood is left above the tongue-and-groove. During our on-site assessment we’ll tell you honestly how much sanding life your floors have left.
Will there be dust everywhere?
No. We use dust-contained sanding equipment that captures the vast majority of fine dust at the source, so it stays off your walls, cabinets, and belongings. It’s one of the biggest differences between a professional refinish and a rental-machine DIY job.
Can you change the color of my floors?
Yes. We can take orange-toned oak to a modern espresso, gray, natural matte, or almost any shade using Bona and DuraSeal stains. We’ll test the color on your actual floor first so there are no surprises.
What finishes do you offer besides Bona Traffic HD?
Bona Traffic HD is our standard because it’s the most durable waterborne finish available, but we also apply Loba and Pallmann systems on request. If you have a preference — or want a specific sheen or look — just tell us and we’ll recommend the best match.
Do you refinish stairs too?
Absolutely — stairs are one of our specialties, from refinishing treads and risers to iron balusters and new installations. See our stair renovation services.
What’s the difference between refinishing and a screen & recoat?
A full refinish sands the floor down to bare wood to remove scratches, stains, and old finish. A screen & recoat (or “refresh”) only lightly buffs the existing finish and adds a fresh top coat — faster and cheaper, but only suitable when the wood underneath is still sound. We’ll tell you which one your floors actually need.
Ready to bring your floors back to life?
Get a free, no-obligation estimate today — online in under a minute, or by phone. We respond within 2 hours during business hours.