When do hardwood floors need to be replaced

Only after the moisture content of the floor has returned to the acceptable level for that species should you prepare to sand it flat. Drying out a floor can take weeks or months depending on the environmental conditions at the time, so make sure that the floor is within appropriate moisture content levels before sanding it.

If you try to sand a cupped floor flat while its moisture content is still too high, the floors will crown as they dry out, which is a problem that can typically be remedied only by replacing the floor. Click here to read more about fixing cupping, crowning, and chatter in hardwood floors.

From hardwood floor finishes to hardwood flooring machines , we have everything you need to restore your hardwood floor. It sounds like it only needs to be refinished. The good news is that hardwood is durable—especially wood in historic homes, where planks were generally much thicker. Often, an original floor with some minor surface damages or imperfections—peeling, deep grooves, slight warping—may be refinished or repaired.

A good floor, says Tal, can be sanded down in part or in full and refinished several times to look almost-new expect to have to take off about an eighth of an inch. If you are replacing a few planks here and there, however, keep in mind that different kinds of wood take stain differently, says Elizabeth Roberts of Elizabeth Roberts Architects. Repairing individual damaged planks can be easier in rooms like bedrooms or finished basements, where you can design around flaws with area rugs or placement of furniture.

In this case, opting for a high-gloss finish may be one way to help hide imperfections like chips or cracks, says Tal; Elizabeth suggests painting a floor as a cost-effective way to change the appearance of a wood floor in not-so-good shape. If the boards and planks begin to move beneath your feet, than the floor is beyond repair. The hardwoods will need to be replaced because the subfloor itself needs to be fixed.

To learn more about replacing your hardwood floors, or to schedule a free, in-home consultation, call Floor Coverings International of Lexington and Nicholasville today! No other flooring company has the customer satisfaction that we do!