Floor sanding for stairwells and housing associations

Øens HåndværkerCentralPublished 28 August 2026 · 10 min. read

Communal floors and staircases need separate measurements and a clear plan for access. Standard flat-floor sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2; smaller areas use fixed prices. Stairs are quoted separately because of the hand work involved. For a residents' association, we also agree access, scheduling and a finish suitable for the expected traffic.

• 175 kr/m2Including VAT and a standard finish, from 36 m2
• 24 hoursReply with a fixed quote
• Workmanship guaranteeOn all work performed

What does floor sanding in a stairwell cost?

Standard sanding of flat communal floors costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2, including a standard finish. For smaller areas, fixed prices apply. Stair treads, risers and other hand-sanded parts are quoted separately.

Four landings of 5 m2 plus an 8 m2 entrance give a combined flat-floor area of 28 m2. That falls within the 26 to 35 m2 price band of 6.700 kr including VAT for standard sanding and a standard finish, rather than the rate for areas from 36 m2. Stair sanding is separate. We confirm access, staging and any additional work in the quotation.

For comparison, illustrative totals for standard sanding with a standard finish are 7.875 kr including VAT for a 45 m2 communal room and 14.000 kr for an 80 m2 plank floor. These calculations do not include replacing boards or other additional repairs. A light refresh is a different scope and needs its own quotation. See more in our floor sanding price guide.

Which common areas can be sanded?

Wooden landings, entrance halls, staircases, residents' lounges and shared roof decks may be suitable for sanding. Concrete, terrazzo and tile surfaces fall outside this wood sanding service and require assessment for appropriate cleaning or restoration. The table shows common areas and the main factors we assess.

Wooden terraces and balcony corridors are never high-pressure cleaned by us, because high pressure raises wood fibres and leaves a rough surface that absorbs water. Tiles and concrete, however, can be professionally high-pressure cleaned.

Can the wooden floor in the stairwell withstand sanding?

The wooden floor in the stairwell can be sanded as long as there is enough wear layer left above the tongue and groove. Gulvbranchen's Gulvfakta (DI) advises against sanding engineered wood floors with a wear layer of 2 mm or less. Solid wood floors can often tolerate 4-6 full sandings over their lifetime, depending on their construction and remaining thickness. An older stairwell may already have been sanded several times.

Therefore, the task begins with measurement and an on-site assessment: the thickness of the remaining wear layer, how high the nail heads are, and whether any boards need to be replaced first. Gulvfakta also describes that knot holes and similar larger than 10 mm in diameter and more than 5 mm deep are filled before sanding, and that this is considered extra work. We elaborate on the number of possible sandings in the guide on how many times a wooden floor can be sanded.

If there is any doubt, we will inform you before the work is ordered. A floor that has been sanded down one time too many cannot be undone, and then the alternative is to replace individual boards or the entire surface.

How is a stairwell sanded?

Stairs need more hand sanding and edge work than an open floor, so a flat-floor rate cannot be applied to them. Our standard flat-floor sanding costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2, including a standard finish. The staircase receives a separate quotation based on its construction and condition.

The sequence is the same as for a floor: coarse sanding removes old lacquer and paint, intermediate sanding smooths, and fine sanding creates the surface to which the lacquer will adhere. Stringers, banisters, and balusters are often treated with oil instead of lacquer, as they can be refreshed without full sanding. The details of the stair work itself are covered in the guide on sanding stairs.

Agree the stages, drying periods and safe access arrangements before work begins. The plan must preserve the required escape route and may involve working in sections where this is practical. This decision has a major effect on how residents experience the work.

Lacquer or oil in common areas?

Lacquer is the standard choice in stairwells and hallways because it seals the surface against water, salt, and grit from shoe soles. From our own projects, a lacquered floor typically lasts about 10 years before needing new sanding, while oil requires re-treatment every 1-2 years, but in return can be spot-repaired without the entire surface needing re-sanding.

In practice, this means: choose lacquer where there is heavy and wet traffic all day, and oil where the association prefers ongoing, inexpensive maintenance over a major renovation every ten years. Matte lacquer hides wear marks and footprints better than gloss in a stairwell where light enters from the side. The trade-off between the two surfaces is discussed in the guide on lacquering or oiling wooden floors.

If the association chooses oil, agree a separate maintenance schedule for the stairs and shared wooden floors so that the responsibility and timing are clear.

Can residents use the stairwell during the work?

Residents may be able to use the stairwell if the work is planned in stages with safe, designated routes. Sanding machines are connected to extraction to control wood dust. Consult the Danish Working Environment Authority's guidance on applicable exposure limits and protective measures. Wood dust presents a health risk, so the work area, dust control and access arrangements must be planned before residents pass through it.

Drying time dictates the rest of the plan. Oil needs approx. 1 day before light use, lacquer 1-3 days depending on the number of coats. Therefore, the work is carried out in stages, and pathways are allocated while the surface cures. How much dust realistically escapes is described in the guide on dust from floor sanding.

A matter the association needs to clarify separately: a stairwell is usually also an escape route. The Danish Building Regulations' pre-accepted solutions for multi-storey residential buildings state that floor coverings in escape corridors and escape stairs must be at least class Dfl-s1, and that stairwells are only to be furnished for traffic. If there is doubt about what this means for the choice of surface product or for temporary barriers, it is the association's advisor or fire safety consultant who makes the decision before ordering.

How does the association get the decision approved?

The decision rests with the association and not with individual residents, as stairwells and common areas are shared components of the property. The standard bylaws for owner-occupied associations (Executive Order No. 1738 of 29 November 2020) automatically apply to owner-occupied associations that have not registered their own bylaws, and they regulate, among other things, maintenance obligations, the board's duties, and the general meeting as the association's supreme authority. Cooperative and social housing associations follow other regulations, so check the association's own bylaws before putting the work to a vote.

Practically, this means the board needs a firm figure to present, not an interval. We measure on-site, inspect wear layers and stair treads, and provide a fixed price before work begins, so the amount can be included in the budget without additional charges. We respond within 24 hours, and the work is covered by a workmanship guarantee.

If several apartments are to be sanded simultaneously with the common areas, this results in fewer setups and a more uniform surface throughout the property. How an individual apartment floor is tackled is described in the guide on floor sanding in apartments. Call us at 20 98 88 11 or book a measurement, and the board will have the figure ready for the next meeting. The service is described comprehensively on the page about floor sanding and floor treatment.

What if the common area is not wood?

Concrete, terrazzo and tile surfaces require their own cleaning or restoration methods. Outdoor paving, courtyards and bicycle areas may need cleaning and algae treatment; an indoor terrazzo stairwell needs a different assessment. We select the method for the actual material and location.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency regulates which algicides may be legally used in Denmark, and professional treatment means that approved agents are used in the correct dosage rather than household mixtures in a courtyard where children are present. We have compiled the association's perspective in the guide on paving cleaning for housing associations, and the service itself on the page about algae treatment and paving cleaning.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

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Øens HåndværkerCentral

We sand and surface-treat floors, stairs, balconies, wooden terraces and worktops - based in Aarhus Ø and working nationwide. You get a fixed price before work begins and a workmanship guarantee on the work performed.

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