How often should hardwood floors be recoated?
Every 3 to 5 years for most homes. Every 1 to 3 years with kids, pets or heavy traffic. A yearly deep clean in between makes the finish last longer.
By household
| Floor | Recoat | Deep clean |
|---|---|---|
| Most homes | Every 3 to 5 years | Once a year |
| Kids, pets or heavy traffic | Every 1 to 3 years | Once a year |
| Gyms, studios and courts | About once a year | Mid-year scrub |
These follow the maintenance guidance of Bona and the National Wood Flooring Association.
Signs it's time
- Gray or dull paths where people walk
- Scratches that catch the light
- A flat look in the kitchen, hallway and entry
- Look across the floor toward a window: the walkways look duller than the edges of the room
What happens if you wait
The finish keeps wearing until it's gone in the busy spots. Once bare wood is showing, a recoat can't hide it, and the floor needs a full sand and refinish. That costs several times more and takes days, not one. See recoat or refinish, and what each costs.
How to make a finish last longer
- A professional Deep Clean once a year, to take out the grit that wears the finish
- Felt pads under chairs and tables, replaced when they wear
- Mats at outside doors
- A cleaner made for finished hardwood, and no polish or wax. See how to clean hardwood floors
A simple schedule
Every year
Deep Clean and a written floor report with photos.
Every 3 to 5 years
Buff & Coat, before the finish wears through.
Rarely or never
A full sand and refinish.
Our Floor Care Plans put this on a schedule. Care is $449 a year and includes the yearly Deep Clean. Protect also builds a Recoat Credit that pays for a Buff & Coat by year three.
Questions
How often should hardwood floors be recoated?
Every 3 to 5 years for most homes, and every 1 to 3 years with kids, pets or heavy traffic. Gym and studio floors need it about once a year.
Is it bad to recoat too often?
It doesn't hurt the wood, because nothing is sanded off. But there's no reason to recoat a floor whose finish is still in good shape. At a check-up we'll tell you if it can wait.
How long does a recoat take?
One day for most homes. You can walk on it in hours, not days, and we give you exact walk-on and furniture times for your floor.
What does a recoat cost?
Our Buff & Coat is $1.75 a square foot with an $895 minimum, about $1,750 for 1,000 square feet. Floor Care plan members pay $1.50 a square foot.
Updated November 2026 by Matthews Floor Care, the cleaning and recoating side of Matthews Hardwood Floors in Boise. Prices are our own published prices. Questions? Call or text (208) 314-9913.
Not sure what your floor needs? A check-up tells you.
Boise and Ada County. Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm.