How do we work out the cost of wood floor sanding and finishing?

Working out the cost of wood floor sanding and finishing can be a difficult task. This article will outline all the things you should consider when pricing for your client!

What do you consider when pricing up to restore a wooden floor?

You look at the product you’re putting down, ie. Oil, Primer, Lacquer, stain. The fuel getting to and from the job. Abrasive discs, Belts, and pads for the job. Any overheads from leasing either vehicles or machines to do the job. Consumable you would use on a job. Gloves, Roller heads, Buffing Pads. Etc. The main thing that you need to take into consideration is your time. Time is the most important thing, and once you get the hang of floor sanding, you will understand how long it will take you to sand and seal a floor.

You need to consider the time required to deal with products.

When you’re using a primer and lacquer, in normal and most cases, you will use one primer and two coats of Lacquer (Sometimes another coat of primer for enhanced colour). You need to take into consideration the drying times between coats of finish. For instance, a primer will need a topical coat on the same day the primer goes down, and the time needs to be changed. You may be able to squeeze a quote in the drying time or maybe drop leaflets in the local area. This can’t always be done because this time will need to be covered. That’s why I would always recommend charging the customer more for a lacquer finish.

How much do you charge for floor sanding?

The best way to charge for floor sanding and sealing is by square meter, with a minimum charge set if it falls below a certain price. The reason for working by square meters is that it’s the best way to work out the cost of the product being put down on the floor. This price can range from £25 per square meter to £75 per square meter. There is so much at play you need to consider when setting your price range. Your clientele and how affluent your area are. What product are you using? High quality / Low quality.  How far your catchment area is that you travel? If you have members of staff on your team, what is their rate?

So many things are at play when working out, such as how much to charge. My advice would be to crunch the numbers down to the pennies. Ask yourself this question. Who is your customer? Who am I trying to reach and attract my service to? Yes, you will always have a mix of people saying. This is too cheap. Or this is too expensive. It’s just business.