How do I know if my floors can be refinished?

Solid hardwood can typically be refinished if there's at least 3/32" of wood above the tongue groove. Engineered hardwood can sometimes be refinished once, depending on the veneer thickness — we'll assess this in person. Tell-tale signs your floors need refinishing: deep scratches that catch your nail, grey or black discolouration, uneven sheen, or a worn finish that no longer protects the wood.

How dusty is floor sanding?

We use dustless sanding equipment that captures the vast majority of dust at the source. Some fine dust is unavoidable, but our process is dramatically cleaner than old drum-sanding methods. We use dust barriers between rooms to protect the rest of your home.

Can I change the colour of my hardwood when refinishing?

Yes — refinishing is the perfect opportunity to completely change your stain colour. Going darker is always possible. Going lighter is achievable on most species, though some woods resist light stains. We do a test patch in an inconspicuous area to confirm the colour before proceeding.

How often should hardwood floors be refinished?

It depends on traffic and maintenance, but most hardwood floors benefit from refinishing every 10–15 years in a typical family home. You can tell it's time when the finish no longer beads water, scratches reach the raw wood, or the floor looks dull and worn despite cleaning.

Do you refinish engineered hardwood?

It depends on the engineered product. Thick-veneer engineered hardwood (3mm+) can often be lightly sanded and refinished once. Thin-veneer products (1–2mm) typically cannot. We'll assess your specific floor during our consultation and give you an honest recommendation.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing Toronto

Restore your existing hardwood to like-new beauty — a fraction of the cost of replacement.

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Before You Replace — Refinish

Your Old Floors Might Just Need a Second Life

Thousands of Toronto homeowners replace hardwood floors that could have been beautifully restored for a fraction of the price. If your floors are solid hardwood — and most pre-1990s Toronto homes have them — there's a very good chance they can be sanded, stained, and finished to look better than new.

At Atlas Rug & Design Centre, we've been refinishing hardwood floors across Toronto since 1959. We use dustless sanding equipment, premium waterborne and oil finishes, and the kind of care and craftsmanship that comes from decades of experience.

Why Refinish

Why Refinishing Makes Sense

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Fraction of the Cost of Replacement

Refinishing your existing hardwood costs significantly less than tearing it out and installing new flooring. In most cases, you get a like-new result for 20–30% of the replacement cost.

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Sustainable Choice

Refinishing extends the life of your existing wood rather than sending it to landfill. It's one of the most environmentally responsible decisions you can make as a homeowner.

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Change the Colour

Refinishing is your opportunity to completely change the stain colour — go lighter, darker, or choose a trendy grey or natural finish. Your floors, your vision.

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Fast Turnaround

Most refinishing jobs are complete in 2–3 days. With waterborne finishes, light foot traffic is possible within 24 hours. Compare that to a full installation job.

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Adds Real Resale Value

Refinished hardwood floors are one of the top ROI home improvements. Buyers notice floors immediately — beautiful hardwood sells homes faster and for more.

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Can Be Done Multiple Times

Solid hardwood can typically be sanded and refinished 5–7 times over its lifetime, depending on the thickness. Most Toronto hardwood floors have plenty of life left in them.

Finish Selection

Choose Your Finish

Waterborne Polyurethane

Clear, low-odour, and fast-drying. Waterborne finishes have largely replaced oil-based poly in residential refinishing. Excellent durability with a clean, natural look. Available in matte, satin, and semi-gloss.

Traditional

Oil-Based Polyurethane

The classic choice for decades. Oil-based poly adds a warm amber tone that deepens with age — beloved in traditional and heritage homes. Longer dry time but extremely durable.

Natural Look

Hardwax Oil

A penetrating oil finish that soaks into the wood rather than sitting on top. The result is a natural, close-to-the-wood appearance with a matte sheen. Spot-repairable without sanding the entire floor.

Change the Look

Popular Stain Colours

Refinishing is your chance to completely transform the tone of your floors. We carry a wide range of stains and can custom-blend to match your exact vision.

Natural / Unstained

Let the wood's true colour show

Early American

Warm honey-brown, the classic Toronto choice

Jacobean

Rich dark espresso

Special Walnut

Mid-brown with warm undertones

Ebony

Near-black for a dramatic statement

Whitewash / Bleach

Light, Scandinavian, airy

Grey Tones

Cool greige or warm taupe grey

Custom Blend

We mix to match your exact vision

Our Process

How Floor Refinishing Works

Assessment

We inspect your floors to confirm they have enough thickness for sanding, check for loose boards, protruding nails, or subfloor issues that need addressing first. We'll tell you honestly if your floors are good candidates.

Sanding

We sand the floor in multiple passes — coarse to remove the old finish and level the surface, followed by medium and fine grits for a smooth, even result. Edges and corners are hand-sanded for a uniform look.

Staining (if selected)

If you've chosen a stain colour, it's applied evenly and allowed to penetrate before the first coat of finish. We provide a sample test area so you can approve the colour before we proceed.

Finish Coats

Two to three coats of your chosen finish are applied, with light screening between coats for adhesion. The result is a smooth, even, durable surface that protects the wood for years.

Final Walkthrough

We walk every room with you before we're done. We provide care and maintenance instructions for your specific finish, and advise on when to return furniture and resume normal use.

Common Questions

Refinishing FAQs

Why Choose Atlas

Six Decades on Bathurst Street

65 Years of Toronto Flooring

We've been fitting floors in this city since 1959. That's four generations of Toronto homeowners who've trusted us with their homes — and we've never forgotten what earned that trust.

Family-Owned, Not Franchised

Atlas is not a chain or a franchise. The Porzal family has owned and operated this showroom on Bathurst Street for over six decades. When you call us, you talk to us.

Professional Installation

Every installation is carried out by experienced, vetted flooring installers. We oversee every job from start to finish and stand behind the results — full stop.

978 Bathurst St Showroom

Come in and touch the samples. See the difference between a 12mm premium laminate and a budget 7mm product in person. Our showroom is open Monday through Saturday.

Free In-Home Measurements

We come to you. Our team measures every room, checks your subfloor, and gives you a written quote with no hidden charges before any work begins.

Honest Advice

If refinishing will get you another 15 years out of your floors, we'll tell you that instead of selling you new ones. We'd rather lose a sale than lose your trust.

What Toronto Homeowners Say

Reviews From Our Customers

“Ryan and David at Atlas were a pleasure to work with. After reaching out to several providers, they quickly stood out through their clear communication, transparency, and honest point of view. They were consistently responsive and easy to deal with. The quality of the work was excellent, and their follow-up reflected a strong commitment to getting everything completed to a high standard. A very professional and reliable team — I would highly recommend them.”

Esra T.

Google Review

Verified Google Review

“The team was friendly and showed up on time every day. They worked quickly but carefully, and the floors look amazing now. What I really appreciated was how clean they kept everything and how they explained the process along the way. It made the whole experience easy and stress-free. Definitely recommend them if you're looking to upgrade your floors!”

Mauricio A.

Google Review

Verified Google Review

“We originally engaged David at Atlas to look at replacing a basement carpet. When he visited he advised that it wasn't necessary — which impressed us. We then asked about our second floor of our almost 120-year-old house. The original hardwood was in rough shape with lots of squeaks. With David's help we sourced a lovely wool carpet and they installed it, doing a great job securing the old floor to get rid of most of the squeaks. The new carpet looks great! Very happy with David and his team and strongly recommend them.”

Bob G.

Wool Carpet

Verified Google Review

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Ready to Restore Your Floors?

Book a free assessment and we'll tell you honestly whether refinishing is the right choice for your hardwood.

Get a Free Quote Call (416) 533-3366

📍 978 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON · ⏰ Mon–Sat 10–4 · By appt. other times · ✅ Free In-Home Estimates