Is It Time To Replace Your Hardwood Floors?

Who doesn’t absolutely love hardwood flooring? It is sturdy, beautiful, rich and long lasting.

However, even the most reliable flooring has its limits.

One of the true benefits of hardwood flooring is that it can be either recoated or sanded and refinished. These maintenance processes significantly extend the lifecycle or hardwood, unlike virtually every other flooring type which needs to be completely replaced once it has become worn out due to abrasive traffic and use. With these screen and recoat or full-refinishing processes, hardwood can be serviced and enjoyed for decades in many cases.

But even then there comes a time when it is more practical to start anew.

So how do you know the time has come to give your room a fresh start with new hardwood flooring?

Water damage

Damage caused by water and moisture can be the biggest hardwood floor killer.

Exposure to water and too much moisture can cause your beautiful floors to buckle, bend, peel or create extensive gaps in between planks. Some of these issues can be addressed in other ways – depending on the severity of the spill, leak or exposure to excessive humidity – but if the planks are too distorted or the finish is too damaged, replacement may be your best option.

Too much sanding

Having your hardwood floors sanded and refinished is a good way to remove imperfections, small damages and extend their life and beauty. But can you sand too many times?

The answer is absolutely yes!

Every time your floors get sanded they get thinner and thinner. One too many sandings and the sander will hit and expose nail heads. Exposed nail heads underfoot is obviously not a good thing.

The number of times your floors can be sanded varies on a couple different factors such as manufacturer recommendations, type of flooring and/or thickness of the wear layer. Always check with your manufacturer and service provider, but a rule of thumb is usually 3-4 times for solid hardwoods and 1-3 times for certain types of engineered products.

Age

Hardwood floors may not have an expiration date, but they certainly have a lifespan.

Even with proper maintenance, after a certain period of time hardwood floors can change, sometimes becoming less stable. Hardwood can also lose luster and color. Repetative abrasions and abuse from normal, everday traffic, exposure to sunlight over time, dirt and grime all contribute to deterioration and a worn appearance. Repeated refinishing can only do so much (and it can get really expensive!).

You may be sad to see your old floors go, and it is understandable. Those floors may have been around for longer than a half-century and have great significance to you, your family and home. If your flooring has years left, a reputable flooring company will guide you toward a maintenance process that is appropriate for your situation. Professionals in the flooring business simply do not want to rip out a good floor just to make a sale – it goes against our nature! We only recommend replacing hardwood flooring when it is simply no longer serviceable and in a condition that will likely require unnecessary and extensive repairs.

Another way to look at it: this may be the opportunity to revitalize your space. Consider new, wider plank and longer planks, change the direction of the new boards or pivot to an updated texture and style of hardwood. Don’t say goodbye to your old home; say hello to your new one!

Are your hardwood floors showing any of these signs? It may be time for a fresh start! Tish Flooring has a beautiful and wide selection hardwood floors. Find a similar style to preserve the look and aesthetic you love or rock your house with a brand new style! Call 317-879-TISH (8474) today and we will bring samples to you!