Questions neighbors actually ask
Do flooring installers in New Jersey need to be licensed?
Yes, anyone doing home improvement work over $500 in New Jersey, including flooring installation and refinishing, must hold an active Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration through the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. It's a registration system, not a skills-tested trade license, so it confirms the business is registered and bonded/insured on paper, not that the crew is good at the work, check reviews separately.
How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors in NJ?
Nationally, a full sand-and-refinish job runs about $3.50 to $6.50 per square foot for a standard job, moving up to $5-$8+ per square foot for dustless/dust-contained systems, premium finishes, or floors needing repair work first (source: Fabulous Floors USA and Angi 2026 cost data). A typical NJ living-room-and-hallway job (roughly 700-1,000 sq ft) usually lands somewhere in the $3,000-$6,000 range before repairs, though get an in-home quote, square footage alone doesn't capture subfloor condition or finish choice.
Is hardwood refinishing the same trade as hardwood installation?
No, and it's worth asking which one a company actually specializes in. Installation is carpentry-adjacent, laying, fitting, and finishing new material. Refinishing is sanding, staining, and recoating existing floors, and it's closer to a finishing trade with its own equipment (drum sanders, edgers, dust containment systems). Some Hunterdon companies do both (Direct Flooring, All Trades Contracting); others like Premier Wood Renewal lean refinishing-only. A generalist can usually install fine but may not own dustless refinishing equipment, so ask directly rather than assuming.