Should I Repair or Replace my Hardwood Floors?

Picture your dream home. Does it have hardwood floors? If it does, you’re a lot like other homeowners out there who seek out the perfect hardwood flooring.

If you currently have hardwood floors that are less than perfect, don’t panic! You can opt to replace or repair hardwood floors depending on the issue you are having.

Keep reading to learn more.

Replace vs. Repair Hardwood Floors

To decide whether to replace or repair hardwood floors, you need to consider the condition of your flooring. We’ll go over common floor-related issues that might have you pondering this question.

Scratches

Scratches on hardwood floors are annoying to look at but don’t always require a replacement. Scratches can happen over the years from dragging heavy furniture around, pet nails, and general foot traffic.

Determine how deep a scratch is to decide if repairing or replacing is better.

A minor scratch can buff itself out or you can DIY repair it using the manufacturer-provided maintenance guide. Wood putty that matches the color of your wooden planks works best.

A deep gouge that penetrates before the sealant and stain of a plan might require replacement. Ask a flooring contractor if you aren’t sure what to do about a certain scratch.

Fading Colors

Heavy foot traffic and sun exposure can change the color of your hardwood floors over time. It rarely becomes even so you’ll notice light or dark patches on the flooring.

Areas under rugs and other furniture tend to be different than the flooring around them. Lifting furniture is a great way to check if your hardwood floors are fading.

Once you lose color, it’s not easy to get back unless you refinish the entire surface. Refinishing is more cost-effective than new hardwood floors.

Water Damage

Wooden floor materials are easily damaged by water. Natural wood absorbs moisture and expands and warps the material. This can cause nearby boards to become misaligned even with a small amount of water.

Long-term exposure to excessive moisture will kill your hardwood floors. If your floors are flooded you can try to return them to normal.

Irreversible damage will require you to replace your hardwood floors.

Cupping or Crowning

Cupping and crowning begin during floor installation. If your floors aren’t properly sealed and are installed without a barrier, planks will absorb excess moisture and cause cupping.

Crowning works in the opposite way, planks lose excess moisture and shrink on the underside. This leads to the edges of the plank sinking lower than the center of the floor.

Each problem has to be solved with a replacement of the affected planks. This is why it is essential to hire a professional flooring contractor that will ensure a quality installation.

What to Do With Your Hardwood Floors

Should you replace or repair hardwood floors? Now that you’ve read this guide, you should know what to do with your hardwood floors.

While scratches and fading colors can be repaired or refinished, water damage, cupping, and crowning generally require replacement.

If you want your hardwood floors to look good as new again, use this guide! Check out the other posts on our blog for more tips.