Floor Sanding Cost London | Price Guide 2026
Floor Sanding Cost London
Floor sanding prices in London vary depending on floor type, condition, finish chosen and the size of the area. This guide covers real costs across every type of job we carry out: so you can budget accurately before requesting a quote.
- Over 20 years sanding floors across London
- Fixed-price quotes after free site visit or photo assessment
- Fully insured, dust-controlled equipment
- No hidden charges: price agreed before work starts
Floor Sanding Prices by Floor Type
These are our current guide prices for London. Final costs depend on floor condition: heavily damaged floors with bitumen, loose boards or extensive repairs will carry additional charges quoted separately.
Floorboards (Pine or Hardwood Planks)
The most common job in London period homes. Includes three sanding passes, gap filling with dust-resin mix, and two coats of finish.
- Sanding and oiling: £20–£28 per sqm
- Sanding and varnishing (2 coats): £22–£30 per sqm
- Sanding and varnishing (3 coats, commercial grade): £28–£38 per sqm
- Gap filling with resin: included in above pricing
- Gap filling with wood strips: £8–£14 per sqm additional
Parquet Flooring (Herringbone, Chevron, Mosaic)
Parquet requires additional sanding passes due to its geometric pattern: the machine works at 45 degrees to the grain, requiring multiple direction changes. Block repairs are quoted separately.
- Sanding and oiling: £28–£38 per sqm
- Sanding and varnishing: £30–£42 per sqm
- Versailles pattern (most complex): £38–£55 per sqm
- Parquet block repairs: £60–£120 per hour depending on complexity
Engineered Wood Floors
Engineered boards can only be sanded if the wear layer is thick enough: minimum 4mm required, ideally 6mm+. We check this at the survey stage.
- Light sanding and re-oiling (wear layer 4–6mm): £18–£26 per sqm
- Full sanding and re-finishing (wear layer 6mm+): £22–£32 per sqm
Stairs
Stairs are priced per tread and riser rather than sqm, as they require edge work and smaller equipment throughout.
- Sanding per tread and riser: £18–£28
- Full staircase (12–14 treads typical): £250–£420
- Handrail and spindle sanding: priced separately on survey
Additional Services
- Wood floor staining (colour change): £8–£15 per sqm additional
- Light re-coat (no sanding, existing finish sound): £12–£18 per sqm
- Re-oiling only (Osmo/Bona maintenance coat): £10–£16 per sqm
- Bitumen removal: £6–£12 per sqm additional
Typical Total Job Costs
To give you a sense of what a complete project costs in practice:
- Single bedroom (12–15 sqm, floorboards, oil finish): £280–£450
- Living room (20–25 sqm, floorboards, varnish): £460–£750
- Living room (20–25 sqm, parquet, oil finish): £580–£950
- Open-plan kitchen-diner (35–45 sqm, engineered): £700–£1,400
- Whole house (80–120 sqm, mixed floors): £2,000–£5,500
These figures include materials (finish, filler, paper) but exclude furniture removal, which we charge at £50–£80 per room if required.
Our Floor Sanding Process
Every job follows the same proven sequence regardless of floor type or size.
1. Assessment and Preparation
We inspect the floor before any work begins: checking board thickness, subfloor condition, existing finish type and any repairs needed. This determines the sanding sequence and final price.
2. Repairs
Loose boards are re-fixed. Damaged sections are replaced with matching reclaimed timber. Missing parquet blocks are sourced from reclamation yards or cut from donor boards. All repairs are completed before sanding starts.
3. Coarse Sanding
We open with G24 to strip back the old finish and level the surface. On parquet, we work at 45 degrees to the geometric pattern, rotating 90 degrees on the second pass.
4. Gap Filling
After the G80 pass, we collect fine dust and mix it with flexible resin to create a colour-matched filler. Applied across the full floor, cured fully before the next pass.
5. Fine Sanding and Finish
G120 removes the dried filler and prepares the surface. Two coats of finish are applied with a light screen between coats. We use Bona, Osmo and Junckers products exclusively.
What Affects the Final Price
The guide prices above assume a floor in reasonable condition. These factors add cost:
- Bitumen residue: old adhesive under parquet that slows bonding and requires removal
- Extensive repairs: more than 10% of boards or blocks needing replacement
- Staining: adds one full sanding and application stage
- Floor area under 10 sqm: minimum call-out charge applies
- Access difficulty: basement floors, tight spaces, listed buildings with dust restrictions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does floor sanding cost in London?
Floor sanding in London typically costs £20–£55 per sqm depending on floor type and condition. Floorboards are at the lower end, parquet and specialist patterns at the higher end. A typical living room (20–25 sqm) costs £460–£950 all-in.
Is floor sanding cheaper than replacing the floor?
In almost every case, yes. A new engineered wood floor costs £40–£90 per sqm for materials alone, before installation. Sanding an existing floor costs £20–£42 per sqm for the complete job. The sanded original is usually also better quality timber than modern replacements.
How many times can a floor be sanded?
A solid wood floor (floorboards or parquet) can typically be sanded 4–6 times over its lifetime, depending on thickness. Engineered wood can be sanded 1–3 times depending on wear layer depth. We assess this at the survey and will tell you honestly if sanding isn't viable.
How long does floor sanding take?
A single room (up to 25 sqm) typically takes one day for sanding and a second day for the finish coats. Larger areas or heavily repaired floors take proportionally longer. The floor is usable within 12–24 hours of the final coat.
Do you provide written quotes?
Yes, always. We provide itemised written quotes after a free site visit or photo assessment. The price agreed is the price charged: no surprises on the invoice.
Related Services
Areas We Cover
We carry out floor sanding across all London boroughs, including South West London (Wandsworth, Clapham, Battersea, Wimbledon), South East London (Greenwich, Dulwich, Peckham), North London (Islington, Highgate, Muswell Hill), West London (Hammersmith, Chiswick, Ealing) and Central London. We also cover Surrey, Kent and parts of Hertfordshire: contact us for locations outside the M25.