How Much Does Hardwood Floor Repair Cost?

Typical Range:

$480 - $1,706

Find out how much your project will cost.

Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 2,992 HomeAdvisor members. Embed this data

How We Get This Data

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

  • Homeowners use HomeAdvisor to find pros for home projects.
  • When their projects are done, they fill out a short cost survey.
  • We compile the data and report costs back to you.

Updated October 31, 2022

Reviewed by Ezra Laniado, Expert Contributor.

Written by HomeAdvisor.

Hardwood floor repair costs $1,071 on average and typically ranges between $480 and $1,706. Some homeowners report repairs hitting $3,000. You'll spend $2 to $25 per square foot on average, depending on the fix for your damage, with repairs ranging from minor scratches to severe water damage.

Fixing hardwood usually includes one or a combination of sanding, replacing, staining, and refinishing to match new wood to existing floors. This guide covers the cost of fixing scratches, cupping, water damage, rot, and mold.

2022 Notice: Material Prices Are Surging

Demand for siding and other building materials has grown over the past year. And as a result, manufacturers are increasing materials prices. Prices have gone up 5% to 10% this year, and many parts of the country are experiencing long delivery times. If you're planning a building project, we recommend starting as early as possible in the season, preparing for potential price fluctuations, and allowing extra time to order materials.

Wood Floor Repair Cost Calculator

Let's calculate cost data for you. Where are you located?

Where are you located?

National Average $1,071
Typical Range $480 - $1,706
Low End - High End $185 - $4,000

Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 2,992 HomeAdvisor members.

Hardwood Flooring Repair Cost

Repairing hardwood floors cost anywhere from $1 to $100 per square foot or $100 to $3,000 or more. In many cases, replacing your floors is less costly than repairing a small section. However, you might prefer to save historic floors. Despite the price tag, major repairs often have a smaller environmental impact.

Actual repair costs depend heavily on what type of repair you're getting. Explore the table below to find common wood floor issues and their associated prices:

Wood Floor ProblemAverage Repair Cost Range per Sq. Ft.
Uneven$3 – $60
Scratches$1 – $8
Mold or mildew$10 – $25
Cupping$0 – $8
Gaps$7 – $15
Water damage$8 – $100

Cost to Fix Uneven Hardwood Floors

Uneven floor repairs cost around $3 to $60 per square foot. What you'll pay depends on what the cause is. If your floors need sanding and refinishing to take off spots, you'll pay around $0.50 to $8 per square foot. If you need to level it before refinishing, add about $200 to $800 to that price. If you need to repair the foundation or fix or replace joists, you'll pay between $40 and $60 per square foot

Hardwood Floor Scratch Repair Cost

Scratches cost anywhere from $75 to $2,000 or about $1 to $8 per square foot to fix. For a single scratch, you might go with an inexpensive wood filler and stain. For extensive scratches, you'll likely need to refinish the floor completely, costing closer to $2,000.

Hardwood Mold or Mildew Repairs

Mold remediation costs around $1,150 to $3,350 or $10 to $25 per square foot. Repairing mold or mildew means hiring a local mold remediation specialist. They'll remove the mold first, often including the wood planks. Replacing hardwood floors costs an additional $2,500 to $6,700.

Hardwood Floor Cupping Repair Costs

Repairing hardwood floor cupping costs up to $8 per square foot. You'll notice the edges of your planks rising slightly, which happens because of higher humidity in the room than normal. You can reverse cupping by lowering the moisture level in the room.

Here are some other options to repair cupping issues:

  • Consider sanding and refinishing: You may need to take this extra step if your cupping problem doesn't right itself after a few days.

  • Identify the source of added moisture: Check the plumbing in the area. Plumbing leak fixes cost about $150–$350.

  • Dehumidify the area: You can do this with a simple dehumidifier for the room. Or pay for the cost of a whole-house dehumidifier of around $1,300–$2,800, which is less than replacing your floors.

If you notice cupping soon after installation, the wood probably wasn't appropriately acclimated. All solid hardwood floors need to rest in your house in the open air for a few days to acclimate to your home's moisture content. If you don't adjust them, they may absorb moisture and expand, causing cupping. In dry homes, they lose moisture and shrink, causing gaps.

Hardwood Floor Squeaking Repair

The cost to repair squeaking floors will depend on the reason for the sounds. Squeaky floors are often caused by water damage, uneven subflooring, or improper installation. A settling foundation can also cause squeaking. 

Fixing a squeaking floor ranges from $200 to $1,000, depending on the specific cause. 

Replacing Hardwood Sections and Boards

Replacing a section of hardwood flooring will likely cost between $600 and $5,000. The ultimate cost of replacing hardwood sections and boards will depend on the size of the area that needs to be replaced, the type of wood you have, and the specifics of finishing the replaced boards.

Find Local Hardwood Repair Pros
Talk to Pros

Cost to Repair Hardwood Floors per Square Foot

Repairing hardwood floors costs around $0.50 to $100 per square foot. But typically, you'll spend between $3 and $25. For smaller repairs, like 20 square feet of water damage, you'll pay a total cost or per-hour rate rather than per square foot. Per-square-foot costs will go down as the repair area goes up. 

“In many cases, once a small area is repaired, the finish color there no longer will match the rest of the flooring and thus will require a refinish of the entire flooring throughout to maintain a consistent floor,” says Ezra Laniado, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Landmark Construction & Development Group, Inc.

Hardwood Floor Water Damage Repair Cost

Repairing water-damaged floors costs about $8 to $100 per square foot. This price is to repair or replace boards as necessary and blend them into your existing room. If the issue is widespread, it's more expensive to repair water damage than to replace your floor. However, it's less intrusive to repair and less environmentally impactful.

You may need to repair joists and subfloors for extensive damage and may want to refinish the entire room.

Labor Cost to Repair Hardwood Floors

You'll pay around $65 to $100 per hour to repair hardwood floors, and projects take anywhere from five to 24 hours. Labor ranges from $330 to $2,400 for most wood floor projects.

DIY Hardwood Floor Repair vs. Hiring a Pro

For some wooden floor issues, like light scratches or cupping, you may try to repair them yourself. Buffing out a top layer or turning on a dehumidifier (or turning off a humidifier) could quickly and easily fix your problem. 

But for deep gouges, water damage, and mold, always call a professional. It's likely that a shoddy DIY fix can quickly lead to a complete wood floor replacement later down the line. A local hardwood floor repair company can inspect your damage before making suggestions and providing a quote.

Get in Touch With Hardwood Repair Pros
Find Pros

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between repairing and refinishing wood floors?

Refinishing a wooden floor is one type of repair. For example, pros will often refinish the hardwood floor to repair scratches. They’ll remove the top layer, often with a sander, then put a new layer of stain and sealant on it. But for wooden floor issues such as water damage, cupping, or unevenness, you're likely looking at a different repair method.

How do you repair damaged wood floors?

How you repair damaged wood floors will depend on what caused the damage. Typically, damaged wood floors are either refinished or replaced, depending on the extent of the specific issue and the recommendation of a local hardwood floor installer. Some common ways to repair are through sanding, refinishing, or completely replacing the damaged wood floors.

How do I know when I need to replace wood floors?

The best way to find out if you need to replace your floors is to talk to a wood flooring professional. A pro can tell you if you can refinish what you have or if you need to replace it. Remember that hardwood floor prices are costly, but they can last for generations if properly maintained. So you may opt to repair rather than completely replace your wooden floors.

How do you protect hardwood floors from water damage?

The best way to protect your hardwood floors from water damage is to keep water away from them. Remember that prevention is better than action. You can proactively keep moisture away from your floors by inspecting your pipes annually and monitoring the humidity levels in your home. In addition, consider using rugs to protect your wooden floors and clean up spills as soon as they happen.

How do you repair engineered wood flooring?

Most engineered hardwood floors have a wear layer, which means you can sand it down once or twice. Otherwise, repairs mean replacement, with engineered wood floors costing around $2,000 to $7,000. Reaching out to a pro specializing in engineered wood can help determine whether your engineered wood flooring should be repaired or replaced.