Wooden flooring in homes has become a very valuable, decent and elegant detail that one must acquire. If done right, hardwood floors beautify the house wonderfully especially in terms of adding grace to it. However, once you have hardwood flooring installed, it does not just end there. You need to take care of hardwood floor and monitor it constantly. You need to prevent it from scratches, stains and other marks that can cause potential damage.
Regardless of how much and how hard you try to maintain your wooden flooring and try to ensure it remains in perfect condition, it will deteriorate with time and usage. There will be signs of wear and tear that will tell you that you are in need of hardwood floor refinishing. Scratches, faded colors and stains can be fixed with refinishing. However, there are times when refinishing is not requires and you will have to replace the entire wooden board.
Here are a few signs of when you should get refinishing done.
- Excessive Refinishing
You should find out just how much finishing you can carry out on your hardwood floors before you need to just replace them. While refinishing your hardwood flooring can help get it back to its initial appearance, there is a limit to how many times the flooring can take it.
The process of refinishing involves smoothing out the wooden surface to enhance the appearance. In order to do this you need to sand off some of the wood. Thus, with constant refinishing, there eventually comes a time when refinishing stops having any effect on the surface because the flooring becomes incredibly thin.
If sanded down past a certain point, the tongues and grooves that fit the floorboards together will no longer match up, which can cause splintering and even large holes in your floor. It is suggested by experts to get refinishing done maximum five times.
- Damage Caused by Water
Refinishing your hardwood flooring can help you get rid of scratch marks as well as other kinds of marks but the same cannot be done with water damage. Once the hardwood floor has been damaged by water, that is most likely the death of the floor. If it is not treated at once, the damage worsens. As long as the water is allowed to stay in wood, it seeps deeper and deeper and makes the wood rot.
When your hardwood floors start to peel and/or buckle when you walk on them, it is most likely a sign of water damage. Other signs include noticeable gaps between boards and the floors being unbalanced and rickety. To avoid further damage or accidents while walking on the hardwood flooring, once you notice these signs and are able to confirm that it is water damage, take immediate steps to have that hardwood flooring replaced as soon as possible.
- Change in the Taste of Design
One thing which changes constantly in life is the trend and taste in designs and things. You may have decided on a particular design for hardwood flooring at a pointed time but after sometime you find something better and more beautiful so you would rather want that now. In this case, you need to change the whole flooring and have a new one installed with the design you have in mind.
Interior designers look beyond the typical patterns used and bring something new and innovative to please your taste. However, refinishing is an option in this case if you need to alter the color only. The specialists can facilitate you in applying your desired color. In case you want to make a more substantial change like broader planks or a different style of installation then you need to replace your hardwood floor.
- Desire for having Various Kinds of Wood
Just like tiles and carpets, hardwood floors also come in a variety of styles and you can choose from a vast range. After some time, you may either be dissatisfied with the wooden floor you installed or you simply might be bored and want something new. Services offering hardwood floor refinishing can help you in this regard. You might want something nicer like oak or maple. Some woods are more durable than others so you might want to have a stronger wood.
As long as you make sure what you buy is sustainably harvested, you can give your home a whole new look just by changing the flooring.
- It may have Reached Old Age
Just like anything else, your hardwood flooring is bound to become worn out and be in need of change. Long-lasting as they might be, hardwood floors also have their expiration date and there will come a time when your floors become too old to carry out their function. The floors will start to decay and the boards will become loose and soft.
In case of any wear and tear, have it refinished or replaced in time.
Author Bio
I am a talented writer and experienced blogger and I have contributed my thoughts and articles to many renowned websites and Blogs. I also quite passionate about Home improvement and often provides hardwood floor refinishing. Read this post to gain from his experiences.
