What comes first: floor refinishing or painting?
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This is a question we get asked frequently. In any home renovation or construction project, the order of work is important to ensure the best results and minimize potential damage.
At Savino Brothers Hardwood Flooring Contractors, we always recommend floor refinishing before painting. Even with our advanced Dust Containment System, which removes roughly 90% of dust from the refinishing process, some fine dust will still remain. Many homeowners hire us after their rooms have already been painted. They often ask us to be extra careful around walls and baseboards—but this creates a challenge. With multiple crew members, equipment, hoses, and the refinishing process itself, it’s nearly impossible to avoid every splash or speck of stain. Unlike paint, wood stain is thin and can splatter easily, making it much harder to control. For this reason, we inform homeowners that while reasonable care will always be taken, we cannot be responsible for any marks or stains on walls, baseboards, trim, moldings, doors, cabinets, or radiators. If floors are refinished after painting, some touch-ups or repainting may be required at the homeowner’s expense. The Bottom Line Floor refinishing should always be done before painting—despite what your painter may suggest. Following this sequence protects your walls and ensures a smoother, cleaner renovation process. |
"In the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, a joint study by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry showed that homeowners who install new wood flooring recover 118% of the cost, and the homeowners who have their wood floors refinished recover 147% of the cost!" |
Pricing: How Much Will Hardwood Floor Installation or Refinishing Cost?
Many homeowners ask, “How much do you charge per square foot?” The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each flooring project is unique, and several factors influence the cost.
Factors That Affect Pricing
Beyond the Numbers: What to Consider in Any Estimate
When comparing estimates from contractors, it’s not just about the price per square foot. Consider these critical factors:
Some companies advertise a low square-foot price but then add extra charges for closets, thresholds, or other areas. Others may delay your project, rely on unskilled day laborers, or fail to deliver consistent quality. In the end, choosing a cheap option can cost more in time, frustration, and potentially redoing the work.
Our Commitment
At Savino Brothers Hardwood Flooring Contractors, we’ve built our business over 30+ years on repeat customers and referrals. We aim to provide:
While every project may have occasional challenges, we stand behind our work and always do right by our clients. Our goal is to be your trusted hardwood flooring contractor, delivering beautiful floors at a fair, competitive price.
Factors That Affect Pricing
- Size of the rooms – Larger spaces typically require more materials and labor.
- Condition of the existing floor – Damaged or uneven floors may need extra preparation.
- Room layout – Open areas are easier to work in than small, confined spaces.
- Stain choice – Darker stains or custom finishes may require more coats and precision.
Beyond the Numbers: What to Consider in Any Estimate
When comparing estimates from contractors, it’s not just about the price per square foot. Consider these critical factors:
- Quality of materials and equipment – Higher-grade tools and products ensure longer-lasting results.
- Experience of the craftsmen – Skilled professionals produce a superior finish.
- Company reputation – Check references, reviews, and past projects.
- Communication – Clear, consistent updates during the project build confidence.
- Trust – You should feel comfortable having the contractor in your home.
Some companies advertise a low square-foot price but then add extra charges for closets, thresholds, or other areas. Others may delay your project, rely on unskilled day laborers, or fail to deliver consistent quality. In the end, choosing a cheap option can cost more in time, frustration, and potentially redoing the work.
Our Commitment
At Savino Brothers Hardwood Flooring Contractors, we’ve built our business over 30+ years on repeat customers and referrals. We aim to provide:
- Superior craftsmanship and attention to detail
- Honest, transparent pricing
- Professional, courteous service
- Respect for your home as if it were our own
While every project may have occasional challenges, we stand behind our work and always do right by our clients. Our goal is to be your trusted hardwood flooring contractor, delivering beautiful floors at a fair, competitive price.
Real Wood Floors: Beauty That Lasts a Lifetime
Nothing compares to the durability and elegance of real wood floors. Every room in your home can benefit from a hardwood floor that adds warmth, character, and lasting value.
Hardwood flooring has proven its strength over generations, combining long-lasting durability with low-maintenance upkeep. Its natural beauty, rich textures, and timeless appeal make real wood floors a smart investment—enhancing your home today and for decades to come.
Hardwood flooring has proven its strength over generations, combining long-lasting durability with low-maintenance upkeep. Its natural beauty, rich textures, and timeless appeal make real wood floors a smart investment—enhancing your home today and for decades to come.
Hardwood Floors Are an Eco-Friendly Choice
Wood flooring is renewable and recyclable, making it an environmentally responsible option for your home. Unlike carpet, hardwood floors don’t trap dust, allergens, or other pollutants, helping maintain cleaner indoor air. That’s why many leading health and environmental organizations recommend wood floors as a healthy, sustainable flooring choice.
Choosing the Perfect Hardwood Floor
At Savino Brothers Hardwood Flooring Contractors, we install five main types of hardwood flooring, all crafted to enhance your home’s beauty, durability, and value. All unfinished hardwood we install is NOFMA graded, meeting the standards set by the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association. This ensures consistent quality and appearance, unlike lower-grade flooring often found in big-box stores.
Our Hardwood Flooring Options
1. Unfinished Solid Wood Flooring
Unfinished solid wood gives you complete customization. You choose the species, stain, and finish to create a floor that perfectly suits your space. This traditional option is ideal for above-grade areas, including bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, foyers, and kitchens. It’s the classic hardwood floor many of us grew up with.
2. Prefinished Solid Wood Flooring
Prefinished floors combine beauty and convenience, arriving with a factory-applied finish that can include a warranty of up to 25 years. Available in nearly any species, prefinished hardwood offers a clean, contemporary look without the need for sanding or staining. Simply install it and enjoy immediate results. Perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, foyers, and kitchens.
3. Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood features multiple layers of wood with a top layer of finished hardwood. It comes in a variety of species, colors, and finishes. This type of flooring is ideal for areas where solid wood is not suitable, including basements, bathrooms, utility rooms, and kitchens, and works well both above and below grade.
Our Hardwood Flooring Options
1. Unfinished Solid Wood Flooring
Unfinished solid wood gives you complete customization. You choose the species, stain, and finish to create a floor that perfectly suits your space. This traditional option is ideal for above-grade areas, including bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, foyers, and kitchens. It’s the classic hardwood floor many of us grew up with.
2. Prefinished Solid Wood Flooring
Prefinished floors combine beauty and convenience, arriving with a factory-applied finish that can include a warranty of up to 25 years. Available in nearly any species, prefinished hardwood offers a clean, contemporary look without the need for sanding or staining. Simply install it and enjoy immediate results. Perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, foyers, and kitchens.
3. Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood features multiple layers of wood with a top layer of finished hardwood. It comes in a variety of species, colors, and finishes. This type of flooring is ideal for areas where solid wood is not suitable, including basements, bathrooms, utility rooms, and kitchens, and works well both above and below grade.
Wood Grain in Terminology: Annual Rings
Most hardwood species grown in temperate climates display visible annual growth rings, which highlight differences in density and color between wood formed at the start and end of the growing season.
- Spring wood: The inner part of the growth ring, formed early in the season. It has larger cells with thinner walls, giving it a lighter appearance and lower density.
- Summer wood: The outer part of the growth ring, formed later in the season. It features smaller cells with thicker walls, resulting in a darker, denser wood.
Type of Wood Cuts
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The angle at which a board is cut makes a big difference in how the finished product looks. There are three types of wood cuts: Plainsawn, Quartersawn and Riftsawn.
Plainsawn is the most common cut. The board contains more variation in grain patterns than the other two cuts, resulting in growth rings more conspicuous. Lumber is obtained by making the first saw cut on a tangent to the circumference of the log and remaining cuts parallel to the first. The method is the most economical, because it provides the widest boards and results in the least waste. |
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Quartersawn produces less board feet per log than Plainsawn and is therefore more expensive. Quartersawn wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly. It makes a beautiful wood floor with tight grain pattern.
Lumber is produced by first quartering the log and then sawing perpendicular to the growth rings. Quartersawing produces relatively narrow boards, nearly all vertical-grained, and creates more waste. Riftsawn is similar to Quartersawn, but the cut is made at a slightly different angle. This is similar to quartersawing but the angle of the cut is changed slightly so that fewer saw cuts are parallel to the medullary rays, which are responsible for the flake effect. |
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Example of Wood Cuts
Plainsawn - The most common cut. Contains more variation due as the growth rings are more conspicuous.
Quartersawn - Wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly.
Riftsawn - The cut is at a slightly different angle than quartersawn.
Grading
Each grade features distinctive natural wood characteristics, as illustrated by these oak wood grade features. All unfinished hardwood flooring that we install is NOFMA graded
Clear - Beautiful in every detail. Very clean, refined wood that is virtually clear of any natural wood characteristics. The color is very uniform. Mostly prime heartwood content.
Select And Better - This grade features a minimum of natural wood characteristics and delivers a rich, premium hardwood visual. Clean consistent color throughout with a minimum of color variations.
No. 1 Common - For those who love the natural look, No.1 Common features distinctive grain patterns and wood character marks accented by subtle changes in color and tone. Very lively and colorful.
No. 2 Common - A rustic look highlighted by vivid grain patterns accented with a host of wood character marks and contrasting colors and tone. An excellent value in quality solid wood flooring. Subject to availability.
Rift and Quarter Sawn Flooring
If you’re looking for truly unique hardwood floors, rift and quarter sawn wood is the perfect choice. These cutting techniques create distinctive grain patterns that highlight natural wood features, including medullary fleck rays and wavy, interlocking grain.
The result is not only stunningly beautiful but also exceptionally durable hardwood. Rift and quarter sawn wood reduces the risk of shrinking, warping, cupping, and splintering, making it a smart investment for both style and longevity.
The result is not only stunningly beautiful but also exceptionally durable hardwood. Rift and quarter sawn wood reduces the risk of shrinking, warping, cupping, and splintering, making it a smart investment for both style and longevity.
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What to Expect
Each grade features distinctive natural wood characteristics, as illustrated by these oak wood grade features. Keep in mind that no two boards will be identical. Variations in appearance are completely normal. As your floors ages, some colors change can occur. This is also normal, but can be minimized by avoiding exposure to direct sunlight. Cracks between floorboards are normal as well, wood floors expands & contract during the change in seasons and high & low humidity levels. A wood floor should be viewed from a standing position in normal lighting to identify any flaws.
Repairs
When repairing or replacing floor boards, time & patience, along with the proper tools , techniques, and knowledge of the product will pay off in the end.