When to refinish or replace hardwood floors? You may find yourself asking this question as you’re peering down at your old and possibly damaged hardwood floors. Refinishing will be the easier and cheaper way out in almost all cases.
However, how do you know if you should? Many people are not aware that hardwood floors can’t handle being refinished often. It may be time for a fresh start.
When to Refinish or Replace Hardwood Floors
Refinishing Your Floors
When it comes to refinishing your hardwood flooring, you have the freedom to:
- change the color: A new stain has the potential to make a floor appear brand new.
- replace water-damaged or stained planks
- fix squeaky boards
- fill in gaps
- erase scratches and dents
If you haven’t refinished it several times and the damage appears to be only superficial, this may be your best bet.
Maybe you sense that your floors have reached the end of their “refinishing” rope. When should your flooring not be refinished?
Structural Damage
First and foremost, we have structural damage. If the frame of your floor is damaged, you won’t be able to sand, stain, or refinish.
Floorboards that Move
If you’re dealing with floorboards that have any kind of movement, refinishing is only going to exacerbate that.
Grooves in Planks
If you’re starting to see grooves in the planks, it means you’ve refinished one too many times. Again, refinishing will only make matters worse.
Are there nails peeking through the pieces of wood? Not only is this not aesthetically pleasing, but it’s a safety hazard (especially for kiddos). It may be time to consider a new floor.
Full Replacement of Your Hardwood Floors
Maybe you’re still able to refinish your floors if you’re not dealing with the issues mentioned above. If you do fall under the category, here are the benefits if you replace your hardwood floors altogether:
Quick and Easy
If you have a busy schedule and you’re looking for a quick project, replacing your floors will take significantly less time. Refinishing is messy and incredibly time-consuming. Replacing your floors will be a much quicker and cleaner process overall.
Change the Look
If you want to change the species of your wood entirely, you may want to replace them. Also, if you want to change the width of the wood or the direction of the wood, there will be no other option than to replace it.
Floor Replacement Options
Wider planks look more modern and importantly make the room look larger. Another design trick to make the rooms look larger is to lay the planks on a diagonal. This carries your eye along the longest length of the room.
Or, you can even get fancy and add borders or do a herringbone pattern. Pre-finished engineered hardwood is a great option for chevron and herringbone flooring. It is popular with professionals because it is quick and easy to install.
Additionally, if you have parquet floors, you may feel out of the loop. This type of style is no longer desirable and makes the room appear smaller. Having longer strips will make the room seem more spacious.
Like many other renovations and home remodeling practices, designs, and patterns evolve. If you feel that your floors are outdated and unsalvageable, it’s probably time to rip them out and start over.
Additional Reading: 4 Hardwood Flooring Trends You Should Know About
What’s the verdict?
As you can see, choosing between refinishing or replacing is entirely dependent on your specific situation.
Do you want to get it over with as quickly as possible? You’ll most likely want to replace it.
Are you only concerned about the cost? Go ahead and refinish it.
If you’re still not entirely sure about the condition of your floors, you may want to consult with an Omaha wood floor professional. They should get you on your way to some shiny new floors in your in no time. Call and schedule your flooring installation today!
Shop hardwood flooring products or learn more about flooring installation in Omaha, Lincoln, and Sioux Falls at Carpet Land.
Carpet Land Omaha, Lincoln & Sioux Falls | Best Prices on Hardwood Flooring
We make shopping for tile in Omaha, Lincoln and Sioux Falls easy! Take advantage of our FREE estimates and consultations today. Our incredible buying power at Carpet Land allows us to deliver the lowest flooring product prices in town, so shift your focus to finding the perfect flooring for your home. We look forward to working with you. Contact us for your FREE Estimate TODAY.
You can also click here for our Flooring Buying Guide.