Oak and Maple
Hardwood strip in these homes usually has enough thickness for another full sand. We check at a heat register first, then sand in three grit passes, edge along the walls and finish with stain and two to three coats.
Hardwood Flooring in Cambridge
Hardwood Flooring Installation & Refinishing in Cambridge, ON
Guelph Flooring Pros installs new hardwood flooring and refinishes original wood floors in Cambridge, including Galt, Preston, Hespeler and Blair. We are a Guelph-based flooring contractor with more than 15 years of experience and over 1500 completed jobs, and hardwood is our main specialty. Our Cambridge customers include owners of century homes, families upgrading newer subdivisions and contractors renovating older rentals.
Cambridge hardwood work comes with two recurring challenges. Older homes near the river cores often have floors that have settled out of level, and many were built with pine or fir that behaves differently from oak when sanded. Newer homes are simpler, but open layouts and finished basements still need the right product choice.
We deal with both before the first board goes down. This page covers how we refinish original Cambridge floors, how we lay new hardwood over uneven older framing, how river-area humidity affects solid wood and what the work costs. For every other floor type we install in the city, see our main Cambridge flooring page.
- 15+ years
- 1500+ jobs
- WSIB covered
- 2-year labour warranty
1500+
floors completed
2-year labour warranty
Refinishing Original Floors in Galt, Preston and Hespeler
The older streets of Galt, Preston's core and Hespeler Village have homes well over a century old. Some still have their original oak or maple, and many have wide softwood boards in pine or Douglas fir, especially upstairs.
Pine and Fir
Softwood floors dent more easily and sand faster, so we use finer grits and lighter pressure to avoid gouging. Old face nails are set below the surface first, and we often recommend a water-based finish that stays clear instead of ambering the wood further.
Full details are on our hardwood floor refinishing page.
New Hardwood Over Uneven Older Framing
A Galt floor that slopes toward a centre wall or chimney is common. Solid hardwood will follow that slope, and nail-down floors also need a reasonably flat surface to stay tight.
NWFA guidelines call for a nail-down subfloor within about 1/4 inch over 10 feet or 3/16 inch over 6 feet. Where an older floor misses that, we plane or sand high spots, shim or sister joists from below and add a plywood overlay before installing.
Levelling is priced separately so you can choose how much correction you want. In some heritage rooms, a gentle slope is part of the character and not worth the cost of removing.
Keeping Solid Hardwood Stable Near the Rivers
The Grand and Speed rivers meet in Preston, and homes near both often have damper basements and stone foundations. That moisture works its way up into the main floor framing and affects how solid wood behaves.
We take moisture readings of the subfloor and the new boards and let solid hardwood acclimate until they are within range of each other. Most manufacturers want indoor relative humidity kept roughly between 35 and 55 percent, and in older Cambridge homes a dehumidifier in summer and a humidifier in winter make a real difference.
For basements and slabs near the river, we install engineered hardwood or vinyl instead of solid wood. Our engineered hardwood page explains why.
Hardwood Costs in Cambridge
Typical 2026 ranges for Cambridge hardwood work. Levelling and subfloor repair are quoted separately after we inspect the floor.
| Work | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Sand and 3 coats, natural colour | $3.50 to $5.50 per sq ft |
| Sand, stain and 3 coats | $4.50 to $7 per sq ft |
| New solid red oak, prefinished, installed | $11 to $15 per sq ft |
| New solid white oak, prefinished, installed | $13 to $18 per sq ft |
| New engineered hardwood, installed | $9 to $18 per sq ft |
Service area
Hespeler Is Our Closest Cambridge Stop
From our shop at 5 Edinburgh Rd S in Guelph, Hespeler is usually about 20 minutes away using Highway 401, with the Hespeler Road and Townline Road exits covering most of the north end. South Galt and Blair are closer to 30 minutes.
We cover every part of the city with the same crew, the same free on-site measure and the same two-year labour warranty.
FAQ
Cambridge Hardwood Questions
Can you refinish a pine floor?
Yes. Pine and fir sand well but dent easily, so we use a gentler sanding sequence and a durable finish. Expect a floor with character marks rather than a flawless surface.
Should I level my floor before new hardwood?
If the floor is out by more than about 1/4 inch over 10 feet, yes, for a nail-down install. We measure slope room by room and explain the options and costs before quoting.
Is solid hardwood safe near the river?
On main and upper floors, yes, with proper acclimation and indoor humidity control. Below grade, we recommend engineered hardwood, vinyl plank or tile.
Free written quote
Get a Cambridge Hardwood Quote
Free measure, level check and itemised written quote. Call 226-790-3755 or request a quote.
- 1
Call or send the form
Tell us the rooms, the floor you want and your timeline.
- 2
Free on-site measure
We measure, check the subfloor and take moisture readings.
- 3
Itemised written quote
Every line listed. No deposit needed to receive it.
Open Monday to Saturday 7am to 9pm, Sunday 9am to 5pm.