How much should one charge to sand and refinish 50 sq ft of old pine flooring?

Question

The old flooring is in good shape and has little if
any existing finish. The space is tight and has
a fair amount of 'detailing'.

Answer 1

You could call a few local contractors and ask for a quick over the phone quotation per 50 or per each square foot, and how much they charge per travel time. Good luck.

Answer 2

It depends on how much time you expect to put in on the detailing, how much you expect to make per hour, and whether you're hand or power sanding.
You could also charge a flat rate per sq ft. Between $1.50 and $5.00 per sq ft.

I've done a lot of home improvement and when I'm not sure exactly how long it might take me or I expect some surprises along the way, I will give a top end flat quote and then charge by the hour until the job is done. Whichever is lower, that's what I charge.
When you do this, explain to the homeowner that it may take quite awhile to get it right, but that you will work diligently to make sure they are not charged for any down time. Be strict on yourself and don't charge for time when you honestly don't feel like you were working at full potential. And explain how you will be charging them and that the top end is just that, the most it will cost. Clients don't like surprises in bills any more than you do at repairs.

Rule of thumb: Multiply whatever time you think it will take by 2 and then add 1/3 to 1/2 of that total again. Multiply that by your hourly rate, add in materials, and then quote that as a top end figure. Then charge them by the hour and keep them abreast of whether it's going about as expected, faster than expected, or slower than expected.
Hard and fast rule: Whatever your top end quote is, don't ever charge more than that. If you have to eat some labor, then do it. Once you break this rule, your credibility is shot and you'll begin to get a bad rep. Also, after eating a couple of jobs, you get better and better at quoting.
Always expect the unexpected and be prepared for surprises!

Answer 3

I would have to see the job but I would say between 8 and 10 dollars a square foot, plus materials.

Answer 4

It depends on how much you think your time is worth...charge that amount