Standard per-square-metre floor sanding rates are worth knowing, and we've covered them properly in a dedicated cost guide elsewhere. This piece picks up where that leaves off: the pricing questions that come up once your project isn't a straightforward rectangular room, parquet, stairs, and the bigger question of whether restoring is even the right call versus replacing.
General Rates, Briefly
For context: standard sand-and-finish work across London typically runs in the broad £25 to £45 per m² range for straightforward boards, with our own rate starting from £25/m². Full pricing detail, what drives it up or down, and how to read a quote properly is covered in depth in our main cost guide, worth a read if that's specifically what you're after.
Parquet And Specialist Floors Cost More To Restore
Parquet is genuinely more complex to sand than plain boards, and the price reflects that. Common in London properties built between the 1930s and 1970s, parquet requires the sanding machine to work at angles across the individual blocks rather than in the straight, continuous passes a plank floor allows. Any loose blocks need re-bonding before sanding can even begin. Given this added complexity, parquet restoration typically costs more per square metre than standard board sanding, reflecting the genuinely different skill and time involved rather than simply a premium tag.
Stairs Are Priced Separately, Per Tread
This catches people out when budgeting: stairs aren't included in a standard per-m² room rate, they're priced per tread. Each step requires its own careful, detailed sanding work given the tight space and multiple surfaces (tread, riser, sometimes stringer), which is genuinely different labour from an open floor area. If your project includes a staircase alongside room floors, ask for this to be broken out separately in your quote rather than assuming it's folded into the overall square metre figure.
Restoring Versus Replacing: The Real Cost Comparison
This is worth thinking through properly before assuming a full replacement is the better route. Replacing worn boards with new engineered or solid timber typically costs considerably more than sanding and refinishing what's already there, and original period boards specifically are difficult and expensive to source or replicate convincingly if you did want to match them. If your existing boards are structurally sound, sanding and refinishing is very often the more cost-effective route, and the results can realistically last well over a decade before needing attention again, depending heavily on traffic and how well the floor is maintained in between.
Timing Your Project
Worth knowing if your schedule has any flexibility: summer months tend to be busier for sanding contractors across London, partly because better ventilation helps finishes cure faster in warmer weather. Booking in autumn or winter can sometimes mean shorter waiting times and more flexibility on dates, though it's worth checking how a contractor manages ventilation and drying during colder months, since that genuinely affects timeline regardless of season.
Parquet, Stairs, And Restoration Cost: Common Questions
Why does parquet cost more to sand than standard floorboards?
The sanding machine has to work at angles across individual blocks rather than in continuous straight passes, and any loose blocks need re-bonding first, both genuinely more time-consuming and skilled than plain board sanding.
Are stairs included in a standard floor sanding quote?
No, typically not. Stairs are priced separately per tread, since each step needs its own detailed work across multiple surfaces. Always ask for this broken out clearly in your quote.
Is it generally cheaper to restore original floorboards than replace them?
Yes, usually considerably so, and original period boards are difficult and expensive to source or replicate if you did want a genuine match, which makes restoration the more sensible route in most cases where the boards are structurally sound.
Does booking timing actually affect price or availability?
It can affect availability more than price directly. Summer tends to be busier for contractors, so booking in quieter autumn or winter months can mean more flexibility on scheduling.
Call us on 020 7036 0625 or request a free site visit for an accurate quote covering your specific floor type, including parquet or stairs.
