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Keep an eye out for these eight signs it’s time to replace your hardwood floors. You’ve already refinished them—a lot. Large scratches and marks. Water damage. Nails are peeking through. Wood discoloration. Excessive wear and tear. Creaking or moving floorboards. It’s just time for something new.
How often do hardwood floors need to be replaced?
Besides, a properly maintained wood floor can go 20 or 30 years or more before needing to be refinished, says Lupresto. And it can be sanded and refinished “easily six or seven times” over its lifetime, he says.
What is the life expectancy of hardwood floors?
Hardwood. Hardwood flooring can last a lifetime, but the glossy shine of original wood flooring will fade over the course of its life. You’ll notice fading after about 25 years. Hardwood floors, if installed properly, can last 100 years.
Is it cheaper to refinish floors or replace?
In general, it will almost ALWAYS be less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors. If you replace them, you need to pay for additional wood as well as ripping up and hauling away existing hardwood. Even if you have this, it will still be less expensive then replacing the whole floor.
Is it worth it to refinish hardwood floors?
Refinish When: Things like dents and dings from heavy foot traffic or pet claws may make your floors look dull and worn, but that doesn’t mean that they have to be replaced. Simply sanding and refinishing your hardwoods should make them once more smooth and pristine without the hassle and expense of replacing them.
Should I remove old hardwood?
Hardwood floors lend a warm, welcoming look to a home but they are not easy to remove or replace once they have done their time. Ripping off the planks the wrong way can ruin your flooring and cause irreparable damage to the subfloor.
How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?
The average cost to install hardwood floors on 1,000 sq. feet is between $6,115 and $10,140 with most homeowners spending about $8,127 for materials and professional labor.
Do hardwood floors last forever?
On average, a hardwood flooring finish lasts approximately ten years. But with proper care and maintenance, it can last much longer.
Which of the following flooring type has the longest life expectancy?
Hardwood flooring has one of the longest life spans you’ll find on the market today. If you’ve ever walked into a historic building, you were probably in awe of the gorgeous wood floors there. Odds are, many of those floors are at least one hundred years old, with some nearing two hundred years of age.
How many times can you refinish hardwood floors?
Hardwood flooring can be re-sanded up to 10 times, depending on how bad the floor is and how skilled the person doing the sanding is. It costs about $2.50 per square foot to refinish a floor, plus $50 an hour for patching and thresholds.
How much does it cost to refinish 1500 square feet of hardwood?
Cost per square foot to refinish hardwood floors: Flooring square footage Average cost 751 – 1000 sq. ft. $2,100 1001 – 1500 sq. ft. $2,350 1501 – 2000 sq. ft. $3,500 2001 – 3000 sq. ft. $5,000.
Can you stay in house while floors are refinished?
The strong scent of polyurethane and stain lingers in the atmosphere for very long and can kick-start a migraine any time or all the time. Even if it’s not causing migraines, it’s still uncomfortable to live in a house where the floor is being refinished and there are strong odors in the air.
Do you tip floor refinishers?
You do not have to tip floor installers or refinishers. If you’re feeling generous, they are usually allowed to accept tips, but it is not mandatory or expected. If the installers do an exceptionally good job and you would like to tip them, then $10 to $30 per day is a suitable range.
Does refinishing hardwood floors increase home value?
Flooring – Replacing outdated carpet or flooring, or simply refinishing wood floors that have seen better days, will definitely increase the value of your home, with a 102% return on investment.
How expensive is it to have hardwood floors refinished?
Nationally, the average cost for refinishing a hardwood floor is $1,761, within a typical range of $1,074 to $2,486. But there’s every chance your floor is anything but average, and your actual costs can vary depending on many factors, especially the availability and cost of labor in your area.
How do you tell if your wood floors can be refinished?
Water Test. Pour a spoonful of water onto the floor. If it forms droplets that stay on the surface of the wood, the floor finish is still good. If the water is slowly absorbed into the wood, the finish is worn and needs to be restored.
Can I put new wood flooring over old wood flooring?
Yes, you can install over an existing wood floor, provided it meets some important conditions. You’ll want to carefully inspect the existing flooring and repair, replace or re-fasten loose or damaged flooring, as any loose areas or voids will allow movement in the new floor, which causes squeaks.
Should you keep original hardwood floors?
Although most problems can be fixed without removing and replacing the entire floor, not all hardwood flooring can be saved. Simply put, if your current floors are mostly just looking drab and dull, or if they have surface-level damage, you can probably save them.
How do you freshen old wood floors?
Sweep or vacuum, then mop with a commercial wood floor cleaner or solution of a quarter-cup of dish soap and a gallon of warm water to lift any lingering grime. Give the floors a final pass with a clean, water-dampened mop to remove any cleaner residue. Dry completely with a soft, clean towel.
