Hardwood floors are lovely and can last a long time. However, they need attention and upkeep on a regular basis. But, how can you tell when it’s time to resand them? Here are the top five signs that it’s time to restore and refurbish your hardwood flooring. Some of these warning signs are apparent, others are less overt.
The floor is scratched severely
Yes, it’s time to refinish your flooring if you have a lot of scratches, especially if the scratches have gone through the stain. When you have a darker stain, your scratches are far more apparent. And don’t be concerned about a few minor scuffs – that is typical. However, if you have an abundance of unsightly scratches, it’s time to sand the flooring.
Scratches are typically topical and will be removed by sanding and refinishing. Occasionally, you’ll come across significant gouges and cuts in the wood that are almost as deep as the saw teeth. The majority of these problems are not as common, and if they do occur, you may simply replace the affected board. However, most scratches we work with on a daily basis can be sanded and refinished with only a little effort.
The wood colour is getting grey
When your hardwood’s color fades, it’s time to refinish it before you cause further damage – your flooring is crying out for your aid. When the polyurethane treatment wears off, the wood takes in the moisture which comes from rain, snow, pets’ paws, spilled drink, or even normal cleaning. When exposed to water, the wood oxidizes and becomes gray. If you don’t repair your floors after a while, the wood will get darker and darker until it’s completely black. After that, sanding won’t help and you’ll need to replace the flooring.
Black stains appear on the boards
As stated previously, once your floorboards have turned black, there’s not much you can do about it. Depending on the severity of the damage and other factors, your boards might be black in certain areas owing to pet stains or water damage. You can either replace the boards in damaged regions or darken and cover up stains in this case. The first option will cost more, but you may pick whatever stain color you want.
Wood has been exposed to excessive moisture
You’ll start to notice boards separating and cupping, as well as some dark areas on their surface which is an indication of water damage. Water damage can come from a variety of sources, including a flood, broken water heater, ice damming, leaking air conditioners, or excess moisture in the basement or adjacent area. If you’re just dealing with floor cupping, you can generally sand it away. If there is more significant damage, the floors should be replaced or a section of them must be replaced.
The sun causes wood to become discolored
You should repair or refinish the floors if you discover severe sun damage to them (which is caused by UV rays). The colors might appear discolored or dull. When you move some of the area rugs, you can often notice a significant difference in the floor colour close to the windows. Sanding and refinishing will usually take care of this since the top layer is removed and then a new stain can be applied.
