We all have a thing for Hardwood floors and can’t possibly resist their own beauty, plus also the way they tend to accentuate the look of the entire spaces around them. And most importantly the significance of hardwood floors as a fundamentally durable and resilient surfacing. However, just like all the good stuff and times that don’t last, this dearest flooring of ours also comes with a bit of a disappointment.
Hardwood flooring, while being one of the most recommended sorts of flooring treatment, even for commercial-grade usage, too, features the somewhat drawback of a limited life expectancy. This does give rise to the concern of when are hardwood floors beyond repair or to have it the other way i.e. signs it’s time to replace your hardwood floors.
What Is The General Functionality Extent Of Hardwood Floors?
Hardwood Floors, as a matter of fact, can last, literally for a lifetime as long as they are taken care of the right way. But there is a bit of a condition here and that’s the requirement for a well-maintained finishing schedule. This is because Hardwood Floors need to be refinished, at least every 7 to 10 years during their whole lifespan.
What Exactly Is Meant By Floor Refinishing?
Refinishing a floor, totally unlike the general misconception about it, isn’t merely about surface polishing but more of a generous fixing. This does explain its significance regarding the perfect and prolonged maintenance of any and every flooring.
Refinishing is the compilation of three major floor treatment procedures:
- Sanding Down of the uppermost floor layer
- Application of fresh stain
- Application of fresh lacquer
Besides treating any significant damage or defiling, Refinishing does revive all the beauty and delightful warmth of the hardwood flooring.
Refinish Vs Replace; What To Go For
Often there arises some confusion about the difference between the two and if not the difference, then certainly the indecisiveness of which one to choose. This refinish or replacement, of course, is carried out according to the condition of your flooring.
The answer to this concern is pretty simple and we did mention a corresponding aspect above, as well. Therefore, when you’re concerned about whether to refinish or replace hardwood floors, always keep these two factors, in mind:
- Hardwood floors only require finishing most of the time and certainly not an entire replacement.
- Rarely there are chances of when hardwood floors are beyond repair and merely extreme level damages give rise to the requirement of an entire replacement.
How To Tell If Hardwood Floors Can Be Refinished
Although refinishing is the revival on a shorter scale, still, it manages to eliminate almost all the major damages and most importantly succeeds in bringing back all the attractive uniformity of the hardwood floor under consideration.
So if your flooring has got any/all of the following flaws, it’s pretty obvious that all you need is to consider a refinishing:
- Dents And Scratches (either big or small)
- Cupping (downward bending of the floorboards from edges)
- Appearance Of Splinters
- Grayed Floorboards (Clear sign of water damage)
- Color Fading
- Visible Water Stains
Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Hardwood Floors
Now replacement, of course, is the last solution and fix for those problems that can’t be rectified by refinishing. This, fair enough, is high time when you say farewell to your older and worn out hardwood floor(s) and opt for the installation of a new one.
Take a look at the indications mentioned ahead:
- Refinishing: Even if you’ve got it done multiple times, it doesn’t help the situation and the floor continues its defiling
- Larger Problematic Areas: Dents, marks and scratches get to accommodate the majority of the space of your floor’s surface and can’t be concealed anymore
- Irreversible Moisture Damage: Since hardwood isn’t totally waterproof and can only resist smaller extents of exposure to water, therefore moisture damage is likely to lead the situation to the point of replacement
- Exposed Nails: Not only do they appear the most unpleasant but they also bring about a genuine risk of getting hurt/injured while walking. Besides, what makes things worse is the fact that these peeping nails start appearing to huge extents and can’t possibly be fixed by refinishing only
- Hardwood Discoloration: As basic as it might sound as a sign of ageing, what implies the need for an entire replacement is the severe extent of wood discoloration. And no matter how much you try to remedy it with the application of stain or lacquer, the consequences don’t improve
- Major Wear And Tear: Those that can’t be fixed in any way! Hardwood floors do show the signs of excessive usage and the foot traffic they’ve been resisting for the past years
- Movement Prone Floorboards: make walking look like a survival walk in a haunted house since the floorboards have long left their actual placements and show movement when stepped on. Besides, cracking floorboards also indicate the rubbing of wood planks together and against the subfloor, as well
Bottom line
Let’s not forget about the prime favorability and unfavourability aspects of hardwood refinish vs replace:
[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-check-3″ cons_icon=”icon icon-check-3″ show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Hardwood Refinishing” cons_title=”Hardwood Replacement” ][i2pros]Is the remedy that’s asked by the hardwood floors’ situation in the majority of the cases
Is a quick and fine fix for several damaged and damaged aspects
Revives the look and beauty of hardwood floors
Is a matter of affordability [/i2pros][i2cons]Comes to play when floor finishing gets fail to remedy the condition
Is the ultimate treatment of all the major floor damages and even the structural flaws, too
Gives rise to entirely new aesthetics and warmth-filled interiors
Can be expensive but is worth the investment[/i2cons][/i2pc]
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What Is The Life Expectancy Of Original Hardwood Floors?
High-quality and original hardwood floors tend to last up to a good 2 to 3 decades, without the need for refinishing. The extent of the hardwood floor’s durability is fundamentally dependent on its maintenance and the level of its usage.
Q:How Often Do I Need To Refinish My Hardwood Flooring?
Hardwood flooring often asks for refinishing about 4 to 6 times during its entire lifespan. This generally goes for the floors with a thickness of 3/4 inches. Similarly, if the thickness of your flooring is lesser than that, you’ll need to consider refinishing more often.
Q:Is Refinishing The Floor A Good Idea As Compared To Replacement?
Refinishing your floors instead of spending on an entire replacement is meant to be an affordable approach by all means. This is because refinishing mostly is more of a treatment done afterwards and thus costs less than a whole new installation.
Q:Will A Refinished Hardwood Floor Increase The Value Of My Property?
For sure, it will. Hardwood floors do require refinishing after a certain time span and if you consider this treatment regularly, you not only tend to increase the life expectancy of your flooring. But also enhance the value of your place, if you plan on a reselling in future.
Q:Is A Hardwood Floor Replacement Worth It?
It definitely is and the prime reason for this is the excellent build quality of hardwood flooring and its serviceable working as a durable and resilient flooring. Besides, this investment is meant to beautify your entire place and also to dynamically increase the value of your property.
Q:How Much Do I Need To Spend On A Hardwood Floor Replacement?
The cost of having hardwood flooring installation generally ranges between $6 and $12 per square foot. This does exclude labour charges and the pricing is likely to increase with the area coverage and the quality of the hardwood flooring that you choose.
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