Perez Floors & Refinishing in Baltimore: Wood Refinishing and Installation on South Hanover

Perez Floors & Refinishing is a hardwood flooring contractor based in South Baltimore that handles installation, sanding, staining, and refinishing for residential clients. The operation runs as a small, owner-operated shop rather than a franchise, and it works primarily on existing wood floors and new installations in row houses and single-family homes across the city.

What Perez Floors & Refinishing actually does

The business focuses on hardwood floor work: refinishing worn or damaged wood, installing new hardwood over subfloors, and matching finishes on existing floors. The shop takes on both partial room projects (refinishing a living room while leaving bedrooms untouched) and whole-house jobs. Perez handles stain color selection and urethane or water-based finish application, which matters for dust, odor, and drying time during the work. The operation does not typically handle laminate or vinyl plank flooring, so it is not a catch-all flooring contractor; the scope is hardwood and solid wood floors.

Services and pricing

Refinishing costs run approximately $4 to $8 per square foot for sanding, staining, and sealing, depending on floor condition and finish type. A typical 300-square-foot living room would fall in the $1,200 to $2,400 range before taxes. New hardwood installation, including materials and labor, ranges from $8 to $15 per square foot for mid-grade species like oak or maple; premium woods (walnut, cherry, wide plank) push higher. A full-house job of 1,500 square feet might run $12,000 to $22,500 installed. Water-based finishes cost slightly more than oil-based polyurethane but cure faster and produce less odor, important in occupied homes. Confirm current pricing and material availability directly; wood costs and labor rates shift seasonally.

How it compares to other Baltimore flooring options

Perez Floors & Refinishing serves a different niche than big-box retailers (Home Depot, Lowe's) that stock laminate and vinyl and hire installation crews, or national chains like Lumber Liquidators that focus on budget engineered and laminate floors. It also differs from larger Baltimore hardwood specialists like Hardwood Floor Specialists (based in Canton), which handles both residential and commercial contracts and offers a broader geographic service area. Perez is the right choice if you have existing solid hardwood that needs professional refinishing, want custom stain matching, or value working with a single owner rather than a larger operation. Choose a big-box option if you need a quick laminate installation and prefer one-stop shopping for materials. Choose Hardwood Floor Specialists or a similar larger firm if you need a broader warranty or have a very large commercial project.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Perez Floors & Refinishing works well for homeowners in older Baltimore neighborhoods (Federal Hill, Canton, Fells Point, Hampden) where solid hardwood floors are common and renovation-minded. It fits projects where existing wood floors are salvageable but dull, scratched, or stained. It does not suit renters (who cannot refinish without landlord approval), buyers seeking quick laminate or vinyl solutions, or projects where the subfloor itself is damaged or uneven (those require a different contractor). It is not the choice for very large commercial spaces or apartment complexes.

What the first visit involves

The process typically starts with a phone consultation to describe the floor type, condition, and scope. Perez usually schedules an in-person estimate, during which the contractor walks the space, assesses wood type and damage, and takes square footage. At that visit, you can review stain samples on your actual wood to see how color and sheen will look in your lighting. The estimate includes labor, materials, timeline (sanding and refinishing typically takes 3 to 5 days per room, with 24 to 48 hours dry time between coats), and disruption notes (dust containment, smell, whether you can occupy the space during work). Once you approve, scheduling is confirmed; Perez typically books out 2 to 4 weeks depending on season.

Hours, parking, and logistics

The shop operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Saturday availability for estimates and consultations by appointment. Street parking is available on South Hanover; no dedicated lot. The business serves Baltimore city and inner county neighborhoods within about a 15-minute radius. For jobs outside that range, travel fees may apply. Confirm current hours and service area; these details shift seasonally.

Perez Floors & Refinishing fills a concrete gap in Baltimore's flooring market: it is large enough to handle whole-house refinishing jobs but small enough that you work directly with the owner, not a project manager. That matters when matching stain across existing wood or making decisions mid-project.