Deciding Between Refinishing and Replacing Hardwood Flooring

Many of the world’s most beautiful homes feature hardwood flooring. This natural material is prized for its beauty and durability, but it can also last for decades with proper care.

The only drawback to hardwood flooring is that it requires refinishing. This is normally handled by professionals offering floorboard sanding in Melbourne, but it can be a DIY project in some cases.

Since replacing your floors is a big project, it can be tempting to cut costs and opt for refinishing instead. In this article, we’ll look at the common faults with hardwood flooring, and help you decide between refinishing and replacing.

Signs it’s Time to Refinish Your Hardwood Floors

Refinishing hardwood floors involves sanding back the top 2-3 mm of the flooring and applying a new finish. This process is a big project and relatively straightforward, but it won’t deal with major flooring issues.

Here are some of the signs that you need to sand and refinish your hardwood floors:

1. Scratched and dented floorboards

Hardwood floors become scratched and dented through everyday use. Pets and furniture are two of the most common causes of scratches and dents. For example, dining chairs often leave scratch marks in the timber as they’re pulled out from the table.

This type of damage can be addressed with a simple refinishing program. Any scratches or dents that are too deep to be sanded away can usually be filled and color-matched to the rest of your floor.

2. Dry and cracked floorboards

Timber contains natural oils that keep it hydrated. This not only makes the wood look nice, it prevents the boards from deforming and becoming cracked. If you catch it early on, dry and cracking floorboards can be refinished.

It’s important to use a hydrating oil if you are refinishing dry floorboards. This resources the timber’s natural moisture, which also protects it against things like spills, moisture and pests.

3. Warped or cupping of the boards

Floorboards may become warped, cupped or bent if they absorb too much moisture. Small amounts of warping can be fixed by sanding and refinishing the floors. In extreme cases, the damaged boards may need to be replaced.

Warping in your floorboards is usually caused by a water leak or direct contact with the ground. You’ll need to repair the underlying issue before the floor can be fixed effectively.

4. Flooring creaks when walked on

It’s normal for hardwood floors to shift slightly when you walk across them. This can cause subtle creaking and cracking noises. Loud and constant creaking noises are not normal, and they can be very annoying to live with.

A lack of moisture is one of the common causes of this issue. When you sand and refinish the floor with timber oil, the floorboards will expand slightly and creak less.

5. Small amounts of mold in the timber

In rare cases, mold can grow on timber floorboards. Mold creates obvious discoloration and can be a health hazard.

Minor cases of mold and mildew can be treated with topical chemicals. If these don’t remove the issue, you may need to sand back the top layer of the wood and refinish the surface.

It’s important to note that mould comes from excessive moisture, sunlight and warmth. You will need to identify the source of the mold before repairing the flooring.

6. Color fading due to sunlight exposure

The sun’s UV rays can be extremely harsh on natural timbers. Over time, sun exposure will cause the timber to dry out and fade in color. While there isn’t much you can do to prevent this, the problem can be fixed by sanding the floor and staining the timber to restore its color.

Signs it’s Time to Replace Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are some of the world’s most durable flooring. But even hardwood has its limits, and you will eventually need to replace old and damaged boards.

Here are some of the signs that you’ll need to replace your hardwood floors:

1. The flooring has been refinished multiple times

Refinishing a hardwood floor requires us to remove 2-3 mm of material from the top of the board. If you do this multiple times, the boards can become too thin to walk on, and they’ll need to be replaced.

If you don’t know whether the boards have previously been sanded, a floor sanding professional can measure the thickness to see whether refinishing is right for you.

2. Extensive damage or rotten boards

Boards that are rotten or damaged need to be replaced, not repaired. Luckily, it’s usually possible to replace a handful of boards without having to replace the entire floor.

Keep in mind that the new floorboards won’t be a perfect match for the existing flooring. When this happens, we usually recommend refinishing the entire floor and applying a stain that will encourage all the boards to take on a uniform colour.

3. Extensive mold and fungus

Small amounts of mold can be sanded away. Bigger infestations will require you to replace the affected boards.

Mould, fungus, pests and bacteria can all impact the structural integrity of hardwood flooring. Left unchecked, these things will cause your flooring to rot, and it will eventually become unsafe to walk on.

If you are dealing with a major mould issue, you’ll need to replace the floors as part of wider repairs.

4. Old and outdated flooring

Flooring styles change, just like everything else. If your floors are starting to look their age, it may be time to replace them.

The style of your floor is based on the timber species, the finish, and the pattern used. Since tastes in these things change over time, it’s often worth investing in a timeless style that will look good for decades to come.

Talk to your flooring supplier to find out more about which products they recommend for a timeless aesthetic.

5. You want to increase the value of your property

Replacing hardwood floors is a huge task, but it can substantially increase the value of your home! Redoing your floors lets you choose a modern colour and style that can enhance the home’s appearance and attract potential buyers.

Related Article:

• How to Care for Hardwood Floors
• Tips for Selecting the Ideal Hardwood Floor Color