There are many factors to consider between hardwood flooring refinishing or replacing with new flooring. Here we will discuss your options.
When hardwood flooring damages occur, it can be difficult to determine whether or not the damage is too severe to be refinished. Here are some signs of hardwood flooring – how to know if your flooring can be refinished or if it needs to be replaced. Obviously, we consider the cost of replacing your floor and the desired outcome.
Issues with your current hardwood flooring
1) Deep Scratches – If your floor’s finish has become severely scratched over time, you will have trouble refinishing it because the scratches will remain visible after sanding. If you notice very deep scratches in your hardwood flooring, this means that you should probably have it replaced. However, if only a few lights surface scratch in the finish, they can likely be successfully refinished.
2) Water Damage – Water damage often appears as lighter or darker spots or rings on wood floors. Extreme water damage will warp and the planks. This happens when the wood swells and creates a ridge in the finish. If your flooring has been exposed to water damage, likely, refinishing will not be successful. In this case, the damaged boards will need to be replaced entirely.
3) Board Separation – If you notice some of the boards in your hardwood flooring have started to separate from each other, it is a sign that flooring needs to be replaced. This happens when too much moisture is present in the wood, which causes it to expand and eventually split apart.
4) Floor is buckled – Buckling happens when the boards have widened and risen from the subfloor. This generally happens as a result of water damage and indicates that replacement is necessary. Or, at the very least, the flooring will need to be removed and then relaid. It could be better to look for new flooring options as the cost to relay a floor makes the cost exorbitant.
5) Gaps have formed between boards – If you notice that large gaps have started to form between the boards in your hardwood flooring, the flooring likely needs to be replaced. This happens when the boards have become too loose and start to separate from each other.
6) Changing trends – Solid hardwood from the past came in very narrow planks. Modern hardwood planks are much wider. If you desire a new look, replacing the floor may be best. Some modern floors even have planks as wide as 7 inches or more!
Sometimes, if you just want to change the look of your hardwood, you can just scuff the existing floor versus a full sanding. This will allow the floor to be refinished. Sanding usually is only needed to resurface the entire floor. You should also make sure the floor has not already been sanded in the past. The greatest benefit of hardwood flooring is the ability to refinish, but, you can only do that so many times before the floor will need to be replaced. you can check the thickness of your existing floor at a transition such as stairs or kitchen to see if there is still enough thickness in order to refinish.
If you are unsure whether your hardwood flooring can be refinished, it is best to consult a professional before attempting to do so. If replacement is necessary, there are many beautiful and affordable options available on the market today. Unlike many of our competitors, we can install a new hardwood floor, or we can refinish an existing one. We have the equipment, skills and experience to make sure you choose the option that makes the most sense for your home and your budget.