Austin Hardwood Floor Cleaning Cost: Deep Clean vs Screen and Recoat [2026 Guide]

TL;DR: In Austin, deep cleaning your hardwood floors costs between $1-2 per square foot, while screen and recoat runs at about $2-3.50 per square foot. Where deep cleaning removes dirt and grime, a screen and recoat refreshes a worn finish. Picking the wrong service can waste money and in this guide will help you choose the right option and recognize fair prices.

There are many reasons why homeowners, realtors and investors want to understand the pricing structure of professional hardwood floor cleaning services in Austin. Whether they are trying to flip a house, increase it’s value, or simply refresh their own home’s aesthetic.

The short answer, for those who don’t have time to read a full cost guide,  is roughly between $1-2 per square foot for deep cleaning, or $2-3.50 per square foot for screen and recoat. But here’s where it becomes problematic – what service do your hardwood floors really need? Pick the wrong one and you might be throwing money into a dumpster fire and more importantly, understanding what these services are about can help you vet the different service providers to find the best deal for your property.

Understanding the Two Different Services

When people look for “hardwood floor cleaning,” they often mean one of two different services.

Many companies don’t make the difference clear.

Deep cleaning gets rid of years of dirt, grime, and buildup on your hardwood floors. It’s like a thorough car wash: you’re cleaning the surface, not changing anything underneath. As the title suggests, we’re doing deep cleaning not any structural repairs or sanding of any sorts.

Screen and recoat is different. In these instances, we lightly sand the existing finish layer (this is called “screening”) and then apply fresh polyurethane on top. It’s more like waxing your car after washing it but you’re adding protection, not just cleaning. However, where it differs from waxing your car, we actually sand it to create an environment where the finish blends seamlessly into your floor.

It’s simple: if your floors are dirty, they need deep cleaning. If the finish looks dull or scratched, you need a screen and recoat.

Deep cleaning is quicker and less expensive. Screen and recoat takes more time and costs more, but it protects your floors before the finish wears down to bare wood.

What Deep Cleaning Actually Costs in Austin

Professional deep cleaning runs $1-2 per square foot. For typical Austin projects:

• 500 sq ft room: $500-1,000
• 1,000 sq ft area: $1,000-2,000
• 1,500 sq ft home: $1,500-3,000
• 2,000 sq ft house: $2,000-4,000

What affects the price?

There are a couple of things that you need to consider that impact the price. And by understanding this, you could shave off a few hundred dollars from your quote by doing some basic prep work.

Heavily soiled floors take more time and need special cleaning solutions, if there’s a way for you to do some pre-cleaning to make it easier for the professionals, you could shave off a few dollars however if it’s too much just absorb the cost and save yourself the labor.

Moving furniture adds to the labor cost, so clearing out the room before the time will reduce the overall cost.

If your home has different types of wood, like oak in the living room and pine in the bedrooms, each needs a different approach, this will impact price. Additionally, hard-to-reach spots, such as stairs or areas with narrow hallways.

Another important factor to consider is that a good deep clean uses pH-balanced solutions made for hardwood, this is not the same as store-bought cleaners. It also includes professional equipment that won’t damage your finish, spot treatment for tough stains, and basic furniture moving.

We did a 1,200-square-foot condo in Mueller recently with moderate pet traffic. It came out to $1,320 total – which resulted to about $1.10 per square foot, right in the middle of the range.

Be careful with contractors offering you very low quotes. If a hardwood floor cleaning contractor in Austin offers $0.50 per square foot, they’re likely using rented equipment and household cleaners. We’ve seen clients pay $500 for a “deep clean” that was just Murphy Oil Soap and a rented machine. Their floors looked the same after three days.

On the other hand, if a hardwood floor contractor quotes more than $3 per square foot for basic deep cleaning, you’re probably being overcharged, unless your situation is very unusual.

If you’re not sure if deep cleaning is what your floors need?

Call Dr. Hardwood at (512) 662-2222 for a free assessment. We’ll be straight with you about what you need – even if it’s just some DIY maintenance advice. Our mission in Austin is to empower our customers and give them all the tools they need to get great looking floors at the best price possible.

Screen and Recoat Pricing

When we’re talking about Screen and recoat, it costs more because it involves real restoration, not just surface-level cleaning.

Here’s a snapshot of Austin pricing which runs $2-3.50 per square foot:

• 500 sq ft room: $1,250-1,500
• 1,000 sq ft area: $2,000-2,500
• 1,500 sq ft home: $3,000-5,250
• 2,000 sq ft house: $4,000-7,000

Why is it more expensive?

Not only do we offer professional cleaning with this service, but we’re also basically doing a facelift on your floors You get professional cleaning, specialized screening equipment, new polyurethane (sometimes two coats), proper ventilation, and 24-48 hours when no one can walk on the floors while they cure. This is real refinishing work. After we’ve done all the work, we do a deep clean of the  whole area to ensure that you’re place looks better than it did when we got there.

When it comes to the different polyurethane there are two main “bases” (oil vs water) to consider. Water-based polyurethane costs more than oil-based, but it dries faster and has less odor. This can be important if you’re living in the house during the process.

When do you need a screen and recoat instead of just cleaning?

Look for visible wear patterns where people walk most. If your finish looks dull after cleaning it, that’s a sign. If you notice light scratches in the finish layer (not deep gouges into the actual wood), this can be fixed with screen and recoat. If you actually want to preserve your hardwood floors for as long as possible, as preventive maintenance, do it every 3-5 years makes sense before wear turns into damage.

The money part matters. We had a client in Tarrytown that got quoted $5,500 for full refinishing last year. We looked at their floors, recommended a screen and recoat for $1,850 instead, it didn’t need all the extensive work they were quoted. We saved them over $3,500, and their floors still look great.

There is one limitation. If you see bare wood where the polyurethane has worn away, screen and recoat probably won’t work. In these cases, you’ll need full refinishing to prevent permanent wood damage.

Do you want to know if your floors qualify? Text a photo to (512) 662-2222, and we’ll give you an honest assessment within 24 hours.

What Professional Service Should Include

Service quality can vary a lot between companies. The following section is designed to help you identify what you should expect.

Deep cleaning:

A deep clean typically should include a pre-inspection to find problem areas and set realistic expectations. It should also cover basic furniture moving, like chairs and small tables, and use pH-balanced solutions specifically made for hardwood. The process should have several steps, not just one pass with a mop, and include spot treatment for tough areas.

Screen and recoat:

A Screen & Recoat includes all of the above, plus the use of professional screening equipment (not rentals), quality polyurethane with a known industrial brand, proper ventilation for safety, and clear instructions about curing times and when you can move furniture back.

Here’s some questions to ask when you’re getting quotes:

“What cleaning solutions do you use?”

 You want specific product names, not just “professional grade.” You’re looking for names like Bona Pro Series Hardwood Floor Cleaner, Zep Neutral pH Industrial Floor Cleaner, Mr. Clean Professional Finished Floor Cleaner, Pallmann Hardwood Floor Cleaner Concentrate, to name a few.

“How many steps are in your process?”

Real deep cleaning should have at least three steps: pre-treatment, cleaning, and final buffing.

“What equipment do you use?”

Professionals own their equipment. If they rent it for your job, that’s a red flag.

“What’s your warranty?”

Good companies guarantee their work.

Dr. Hardwood includes professional cleaning with all refinishing services. This is not an upsell but rather it’s part of our ethos of doing the job right. Proper cleaning ensures the finish bonds correctly, otherwise, you’ll have problems later. This can save clients $800-1,500 on refinishing projects.

Once more, we feel it’s important to reiterate to be careful with suspiciously cheap quotes. Ask what’s NOT included. Some companies quote $600 for “cleaning,” then tack on $300 for “solutions and supplies” that should already be part of it.

Choosing the Right Company in Austin

Choosing the right company is more important than just finding the lowest price. There are several factors to consider such as:

Check for specialization.

Look for at least five years of experience with hardwood floors. Avoid carpet cleaners who “also do hardwood” or handymen who “can clean floors.” You want specialists who know wood types, finish options, and how Austin’s climate affects floors.

Check credentials.

At a minimum, look for liability insurance, workers’ comp, a local business license, and customer references you can verify. We keep these because we’re professionals who plan to stay in business. Fly-by-night companies skip these protections, leaving you at risk if something goes wrong.

Review their estimates.

Good companies inspect your floors in person before quoting, especially for bigger jobs. They provide written estimates, explain the products they’ll use, and give realistic timelines. If you get a quote over the phone without anyone seeing your floors, be cautious.

Read reviews carefully. Don’t just look at star ratings—read the details in the reviews.

Check several platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Pay attention to how companies respond to negative feedback, as this shows their customer service approach.

Local vs chains matters.

Local companies protect their community reputation. We live here, shop at the same HEB, and aren’t going to disappear after finishing your job. Plus, local companies understand Austin’s specific climate challenges – the humidity swings, cedar pollen season, and how temperature changes affect wood expansion and contraction.

Dr. Hardwood has served Austin for over six years. We may not be the cheapest, but we’re the company you’ll recommend to your neighbors.

Get Your Free Assessment

When you call Dr. Hardwood:

✓ Free in-home assessment

✓ Transparent pricing, no hidden fees

✓ Honest recommendation for your specific floors

✓ Written estimate before any work starts

✓ Professional cleaning is included with refinishing

Call (512) 662-2222 or email layne@calldrhardwood.com

Serving Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Lakeway, Leander, Pflugerville, and Dripping Springs.

Not ready to schedule yet? Save our number for when your floors need professional care.