Hardwood floors get a lot of everyday wear and tear and, for the most part, those small scratches and scuffs can either be repaired with a new finish, or the character can add to the beauty of your floors.
After a while, the damage to your floor may start to go beyond everyday wear. If you have hardwood floors, look for the following signs that they might need to be replaced:
Your Hardwood Floor Has Been Refinished Too Often
Refinishing your hardwoods is a great way to keep them looking new for many years. Refinishing can restore your hardwood floors to their original appearance and get rid of imperfections. However, the process of refinishing hardwood floors results in the stripping away of some of the wood each time. A hardwood floor can only be refinished so many times before the boards become too thin. A good rule of thumb is to refinish your floors no more than five times.
Your Hardwood Floors Have Water Damage
While refinishing your wood floors can remove scuffs and scratches, unfortunately there isn’t a quick fix for water damage. Water damage can cause buckling, peeling, gaps between boards and even unstable floors, depending on the severity of the damage. The only solution for water damaged hardwood flooring is replacement.
You Want A Design Upgrade
Refinishing your hardwood floors can also help you update the look of your floor by applying a different stain — but if you really want a design upgrade that goes beyond colour, consider replacing your hardwood floors. Many homeowners are choosing wider planks for their floors, as well as a diagonally-oriented installation. To get these looks, you will need to replace your flooring.
You Want A Different Kind Of Wood
Hardwood floors come in a wide range of wood species, with oak being the most common in homes. If you want to update the look of your wood floors, you may want to consider replacing your floors with a different species of wood, like maple or Brazilian cherry.
Your Hardwood Floors Are Old
The main reason homeowners choose to replace their hardwood floors is that they’ve just become too old. Hardwood floors are made of organic materials and will eventually begin to decay, becoming soft, bouncy or saggy. While hardwood floors are a very long-lasting material, if you’ve inherited decades-old floors after purchasing a home, you may want to consider replacing them.
At Bigelow Flooring in Guelph, we sell and install a wide range of hardwood flooring to fit your home and your needs. Visit our showroom to check out our selection and talk to one of our experienced team members!
