# Hardwood Floor Installation and Refinishing, Hamilton and Burlington > Hardwood installation and refinishing costs in Hamilton and Burlington, why older subfloors decide the quote, and when refinishing beats replacing. Vetted local installer, one form. Source: https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/hardwood/ · Last updated: 2026-08-30 · 905 Trades --- Installing new hardwood and refinishing what is already down, and when refinishing beats replacing. Typical cost for a new 800 sq ft hardwood installation in Hamilton is **$8,000 to $13,200** ([Hamilton Home Costs, hardwood installation, verified 25 Jul 2026](https://hamiltonhomecosts.ca/cost/flooring/hardwood-installation/)), a published estimator range for mid-range material and standard access, HST excluded. Refinishing an existing 800 sq ft hardwood floor, sanding it back and recoating it rather than replacing it, runs **$2,700 to $5,700** ([Hamilton Home Costs, hardwood refinishing, verified 25 Jul 2026](https://hamiltonhomecosts.ca/cost/flooring/hardwood-refinishing/)). Both are typical Hamilton ranges, not a quote for your house. ## What drives the price ### Species and grade Red oak is the common baseline in Hamilton's housing stock and costs less than white oak, hickory or walnut. Grade matters too: select grade with a uniform look costs more than character or rustic grade with knots and colour variation. ### Solid versus engineered Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life but is more sensitive to humidity and cannot go over some subfloors or below grade. Engineered hardwood has a real wood wear layer over a plywood core, handles humidity swings better, and can go in more places, including some basements, but has fewer refinishing cycles. ### Subfloor condition in older homes Pre-1950 lower-city Hamilton homes often have original wide-board subfloors that have cupped, gapped or settled over decades. Fastening new hardwood over an uneven subfloor telegraphs every dip, so levelling or a plywood underlayment is frequently needed and priced as its own line. ### Stairs and transitions Refloor a staircase and the labour per square foot jumps, because treads, risers and nosing are cut and fitted individually rather than run in a straight field. ## What a quote should itemise - Solid or engineered, species, grade and board width, named specifically - Subfloor prep and the trigger price if problems are found once the old floor is up - For refinishing: number of sand passes, stain colour and coat count and type (oil or water-based) - Removal and disposal of the existing floor, if replacing rather than refinishing - Stairs, transitions and baseboard, priced apart from open floor - Dust containment method for a refinish, since sanding an occupied home is disruptive ## Permits in Hamilton Installing or refinishing a hardwood floor as a finish does not need a City of Hamilton building permit, according to the [City's building permit page](https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/construction-renovation/residential-building-renovation/building-permit). A permit is required only if the subfloor structure, joists, or an opening size is altered, which does not apply to a standard refloor or refinish. ## When to do it and how long it takes New solid hardwood needs to acclimate in the room, typically several days, before it is fastened down, so build that into the schedule rather than expecting a next-day install. Refinishing takes an occupied home out of use in that area for the sanding, staining and coat-drying period, usually a few days per room, and pets and residents need somewhere else to be during sanding. Many Hamilton homeowners schedule refinishing for shoulder season, when humidity is more stable than a hot, damp summer. ## Common questions ### Can my floor be refinished instead of replaced? If the boards are solid hardwood with enough wear layer left, and are not badly damaged or previously sanded down thin, refinishing is usually cheaper than replacing and keeps the original wood. The installer checks this before recommending either path. ### How many times can a floor be refinished? It depends on how much wood is above the tongue and groove, which shortens with each sand. An installer can tell by inspecting the boards, not by guessing from age alone. ### Does engineered hardwood go in a basement? Some engineered products are rated for below-grade use; not all are. That is a product-specific spec to confirm on the quote, not a general rule. ### What is the difference in smell and mess between install and refinish? A new install is mostly quiet, dusty from cutting. A refinish involves sanding equipment and finish coats with an odour that lingers for a day or two, which is why timing around occupancy matters. See the full breakdowns on Hamilton Home Costs for [hardwood installation](https://hamiltonhomecosts.ca/cost/flooring/hardwood-installation/) and [hardwood refinishing](https://hamiltonhomecosts.ca/cost/flooring/hardwood-refinishing/), or see [vinyl plank](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/vinyl-plank/) and [laminate](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/laminate/) if solid wood is not the right fit, or go back to [all flooring](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/). The flooring partner for the 905 is being confirmed. Send the request anyway: it comes to us, and we hand it to the contractor the day they sign. 905 Trades is paid a referral fee by the contractors it introduces. It does not change your price. You hire the contractor directly, on their quote and their contract. [How 905 Trades works](https://905trades.ca/how-it-works/) ### Solid wood not the fit? See [vinyl plank](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/vinyl-plank/) and [laminate](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/laminate/), or the full [flooring overview](https://905trades.ca/services/flooring/). ## Get this done Send a request: https://905trades.ca/request/ --- 905 Trades is paid a referral fee by the contractors it introduces. It does not change your price. You hire the contractor directly, on their quote and their contract. More: [all services](https://905trades.ca/services/) · [service areas](https://905trades.ca/areas/) · [how it works](https://905trades.ca/how-it-works/) · [request a contractor](https://905trades.ca/request/)