When Should You Refinish Hardwood Floors?

Are your floors beyond a quick fix? It might be time to refinish your hardwood floors to give them new life. Fortunately, hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times to avoid the hefty cost of replacing the floors completely. It’s essential to keep your floors maintained to avoid a total replacement earlier than needed. Hardwood floors should maintain a 40 to 60-year lifespan depending on the type of flooring, finishes used, and the amount of traffic. 

How often?

Our experts recommend you refinish your floors every 7 to 10 years. Your hardwood floors are approximately ¾ thick, making it ideal for them to be refinished 4-6 times throughout a lifetime of your floors.  

When should refinishing your floors become a priority?

“We have too many dents and scratches to count.” 

Excessive dents or scratches from high traffic wear and tear can signify that it’s time to refinish before your floors are in disrepair and need to be replaced.

“Sections of my floors are different colors.” 

It is expected that fading and discoloration will take their toll after a certain amount of UV/sun exposure. This could be a sign that it is time to refinish.

“My wife says the floors in our new house don’t match our style.” 

As inconvenient as it sounds, things like this happen. A simple refinish using a new color of stain can really change up existing hardwood floors. 

When is it too late to refinish my floors?

“I have water damage from a major/minor leak.” 

Unfortunately, water damage is something that an expert should examine to determine if the individual planks can be replaced and refinished or if there is a deeper issue to be addressed, such as the integrity of the subflooring. 

“Our boards are starting to curl.” 

Many factors may be at play, including air moisture or an inadequate barrier between the subfloor and hardwood floors. This would need to be evaluated by a professional to determine the cause and assist in establishing a solution. Consider a consultation with a professional before making any major changes to determine the extent of your needs. 

Talk with reputable experts you can trust when asking for a consultation or advice. If you are in Westchester Co, NY, or the Orlando area, we would love to help you with any of your hardwood flooring issues. Call us today!