astroman71's Profile

  • 1992
  • Brooklyn
  • Bedford Stuyvesant
  • 37

Author's Posts

December 10, 2008

Price for Wood Finishing?

I have a brownstone with extensive woodwork that needs some minor to moderate repairs, a very light sanding (it has already been stripped) and to be finished with poly or tung oil.

I just got a quote of $30K from a woodworking firm to do the aforementioned work on our parlor floor. The woodwork on the floor includes two sets of double pocket doors, two windows in the front of the house, a bay window in the rear, three mirrors/mantles, wainscotting around the entire floor, the dumbwaiter, a single pocket door and the entry door from the foyer.

A friend in woodworking told me that the $30K price was waaaay out of line and too expensive.

What says the forum?

Posted in Forum by astroman71 at 3:17 PM | Comments (12)
Categories: Woodwork

Author's Comments

Thanks for all of the comments folks. Needless to say, I'm going to get several additional quotes for the work. And the DIY option on the sanding and application of a finish is becoming increasing attractive.

Posted by: astroman71 at December 11, 2008 10:14 AM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

I haven't a done a lot of comparison shopping but I've purchased flooring and molding repeated from Limber Liquidators and have had positive experiences each time.

Posted by: astroman71 at December 11, 2008 10:11 AM in response to Can anyone please recommend the cheapest place or way to buy hardwood flooring?:

Thanks for the feedback. The repairs to the woodwork will minor to moderate. The pocket doors are being repaired but not replaced. BTW-We are getting additional quotes but I wanted to get a sense of what the estimates should be.

Posted by: astroman71 at December 10, 2008 4:07 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

Responses to Author's Forum Comments

$30,000 does sound ridiculous. It can't take any longer than painting trim. I have paid painters $800 to paint everything on a 550-foot floor except the trim. I have painted trim myself. How long could this take? One day, two, three? Figure $400 a day, that's a very generous $50 per hour. It sounds very easy. Heck, I would volunteer to do it myself if I weren't already employed. I think you just need to find a guy who does this all the time.

Posted by: mopar at December 10, 2008 4:15 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

At first I thought this price was for the STRIPPING and finishing, but you say it's already been stripped. That sounds incredibly high.

Posted by: bk14 at December 10, 2008 4:41 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

That's sounds like a lot of woodwork to sand and oil. Just based on having had some wood stripped, sanded and sealed at my house the job you're describing (sanding and oiling only) would take (guessing) 2 guys at least 2 weeks to do properly. And that also depends on how elaborate the woodwork is. Several applications of tung oil have to be made, and the sanding alone would take several days. You definitely don't want to scrimp on the prep work. Anyway, all that said, 30 grand is silly. Keep shopping around. I was quoted 4-8,000 for what sounds like about half the amount of your job, but the trim was very elaborate.

Posted by: herkimermaid at December 10, 2008 4:52 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

you have not fully described the amounts of woodwork to be finished. Do you include the door casings, as well as the doors- both sides? are there shutters in the windows?; how many sq ft of wainscot is there? How big are the mantels? And what is the level of detail on everything?
Is the woodwork really fully stripped or does it need cleaning? How do you know what degree of prep is required?
The price may or may not be out of line depending on the answers to these questions.
Getting multiple quotes from reputable firms would be a good gauge.

Posted by: psps at December 10, 2008 5:06 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

Can you afford 30k to finish the wood? If so, would you mind sending me a retainer before I comment. Come on man - this is wild expensive. Could you do it yourself? Do it yourself. Hmm, that is a concept which has been banished to the renovation blogs around here. Maybe it is time for a return to basics.

P.S. OP - I don'[t mean to take this out on you. Just a general comment about the craziness out there!

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at December 10, 2008 5:26 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

I had an old school guy refinish the floors in my parents house. He only did 1 room and it was about 400 sqt ft but he only charged $400. 30k sounds like replacing the floors not refinishing them.

Posted by: Adam Dahill at December 10, 2008 6:23 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

30K?wow,some people have the nerve to show their insanity.
I had joe salem do some serious stripping for me and I mean
many layers of paint through out my brownstone and the price was
not even in the same ball park. shop around.

Posted by: rano at December 10, 2008 8:16 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

Thanks for the do-it-yourself reminder putnamdenizen. I didn't think to mention that, while I got quotes to refinish the woodwork after it was stripped, what I ended up doing was hiring a couple of energetic young guys to sand, then I sealed the woodwork myself for a grand total of about $1000. That includes the repairs made by my carpenter and materials.

Posted by: herkimermaid at December 10, 2008 11:51 PM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

Thanks for all of the comments folks. Needless to say, I'm going to get several additional quotes for the work. And the DIY option on the sanding and application of a finish is becoming increasing attractive.

Posted by: astroman71 at December 11, 2008 10:14 AM in response to Price for Wood Finishing?

Try Prospect Park
Chainsaw rental @ $15 a day
1gal gas @ $2.o9

Posted by: IMBY at December 11, 2008 10:30 AM in response to Can anyone please recommend the cheapest place or way to buy hardwood flooring?: