Should I Refinish My Flooring or Replace It?

Hardwood flooring can be a beautiful touch to the interior of a home. It also can last a long time, which helps create value in the long run, considering the initial high cost of installing it. But after a few years, it may start to lose its luster, and you’ll be wondering if it is cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors.

The truth is, it’s most often preferable to refinish a hardwood floor rather than replace it. This is because replacing an entire hardwood floor is an expensive proposition, and there are usually things that can be done to repair or refinish trouble spots—there are even things that can be done to refinish the entire floor. But there are also reasons why you may opt to replace the floor instead of refinishing it. Here are some things to consider when deciding to refinish or replace hardwood floors.

Lifespan of a hardwood floor

Hardwood floors are meant to last a long time. With proper care, they can last upwards of 20 years or more. A good hardwood floor can be refinished up to seven times to keep it looking like new. Why would anyone go through that much work just to maintain the flooring? Well, consider the cost: Installing a new hardwood floor can cost five times as much as refinishing it.

Refinishing the entire floor takes time

Refinishing a hardwood floor can make it look like new again, but it will take a lot of time and effort. For starters, all the furniture will need to be removed from the floor; then the wood will need to be sanded bare. The final step is staining and coating the floor, which will require the treated area to be completely untouched for at least a week. This includes humans and pets, as well as toys and furniture.

Not all hardwood floors are created equal

Hardwood floors can be quite different from one another, especially throughout different eras of construction techniques and technologies. Sometimes a hardwood floor is not a good candidate for refinishing due to the type of flooring or the type of damage that it has sustained.

For example, if there is structural damage to the home beneath the hardwood flooring, that flooring may not be able to be saved. Hardwood flooring may also need to be replaced entirely if you have experienced damage from a flood. Water damage can warp or chip the wood and can leave deep stains that can be very difficult—or even impossible—to repair.

Hire a professional

The process to refinish or replace hardwood floors takes a long time and a lot of work. And you’ll need to know exactly what you’re doing, or the floor could have problems for many years to come. When you’re ready to refinish or replace hardwood floors, get in touch with the team at All American Carpet Inc today. With nearly three decades of experience in the flooring industry, we’re prepared to assist you throughout the process of upgrading your hardwood floors, whether through improvement or replacement.

Categorised in: Hardwood Flooring