The General Condition of the Flooring

If your hardwood floors only show surface wear (such as dullness, light scratches, scuffs, or color irregularities), then refinishing them may be all that’s needed to bring back their luster and beauty. However, if they’re deeply scratched, gouged, warped, or damaged, it may be time to replace them.

Previous Refinishing

You can only refinish hardwood floors so often. As a rule of thumb, standard wood planks 3/4 inches thick can be sanded down no more than 3-6 times during their life span before they can no longer support refinishing. If you’ve had your floors for a while and you’ve already refinished them three or more times, you might need to replace them this time.

The Type of Flooring

Some types of wood flooring are more durable than others and can withstand more wear and tear. If you have a high-quality, durable type of hardwood like oak or hickory, it’s likely that refinishing will be all that’s needed to restore its beauty. However, if you have a less durable type of wood like pine, replacement may be the better option.

The Age and History of the Floors

It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but the older your hardwood floors are, the more likely it is that they’ll need to be replaced rather than refinished. That’s because over time, the wood may begin to deteriorate at the cellular level. This is especially true if the floors haven’t been properly maintained over the years and have become dry, cracked, or warped. Some wood floors that have been consistently cared for can be refinished after 20, 30, or even as long as 100 years. But truthfully, this isn’t always the case, especially in older homes. If you buy an old home with its original flooring, for example, you should have a professional check the floors to decide whether they can support refinishing or whether they need to be replaced.

Your Personal Preferences

Ultimately, the decision of whether to refinish or replace your hardwood floors is a personal one. If you’re attached to the look and feel of your floors and they’re in fairly good condition, refinishing may be the best option. However, if you’re ready for a whole new look or if you’re doing a full remodel of your home, your current floors might not serve your purposes anymore, and you may want to replace them for a completely fresh start.

Not sure whether to refinish or replace your wood floors? The experts at Renaissance can help. We’ve been installing and refinishing high-quality floors throughout Green Country for more than 30 years. Contact us here to schedule a free evaluation and a quote.

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Lots of Scratches

For most hardwood floors, some scratching is inevitable over time. You can opt to refinish or repair scratched areas, although in some cases, a little scratching adds character to the wood, especially with distressed finishes. However, if you notice the floors take scratches more easily than they used to, or if you notice deep scratches that go through the finish and expose fresh wood below, it’s a sign that your polyurethane coating is wearing thin or is compromised, and you’ll want to refinish and re-coat the floor to prevent further damage.

Fading

Direct sunlight on the wood eventually causes some fading of the color. When the fading becomes especially pronounced or noticeable, it may become distracting. You may want to refinish and re-stain the floors at that point to restore them to a consistent color.

Discoloration/Greying

Grey floors are in fashion right now, but if you notice floorboards greying and that wasn’t the original color, it’s generally a preliminary sign of water/moisture damage, not age. Graying floors mean the polyurethane coating is thinning or wearing off, and it’s time to refinish the floors. If you let it go too long, the grey will eventually turn darker until it’s black. At that point, replacement becomes your only option.

Cupping/Warping/Splintering

A little bit of cupping and crowning is normal with wood floors as the boards respond to changes in humidity and temperature. However, if you notice significant cupping or warping of the panels or cupping that doesn’t resolve, it’s a sign of water damage. Another sign to watch for is splintering along the panel edges. All of these are indicators that the protectant coating is worn out. If the damage is severe, you may need replacement, but for mild cases, refinishing the floor will do the trick.

You Want an Updated Look

Sometimes, we just get tired of the same old look of our floors year after year. Perhaps you have added new furniture that doesn’t match the flooring, or maybe you just want a change. As long as the floor is in good condition, refinishing them gives you the opportunity to create a whole new look for your space without having to replace the floors.

Not sure whether your floors need to be refinished? We can help with a free in-home evaluation and estimate. If you live in Tulsa, Glenpool, Broken Arrow, Coweta or other parts of Green Country, give Renaissance a call today at 918-298-4477.

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The short answer is “yes”—but there are a few qualifiers. Let’s explore the subject a bit more.

Sale-ability versus Value

Having wood floors will definitely improve your chances for a quick sale of your home. In fact, about eighty-seven percent of home buyers place hardwood flooring at or near the top of their priority lists when looking for a home. That said, installing brand-new hardwood flooring is a bit of an investment. While it will add to your home’s overall appraisal value, there’s not a lot of clear data as far as what your actual return on investment will be once you have the floors installed.

Try Refinishing Existing Floors First

If you already have wood flooring in at least a few rooms of the home, you may have an advantage already. Even if the floors are looking worn, refinishing the floors might be a better alternative financially to replacing them outright. Refinished floors can often be made to look new, and vintage flooring can actually be a strong selling point. An experienced wood flooring professional can advise you on whether your floors can be refinished.

Consider a Neutral Look if Installing New

If your current floors are too damaged for refinishing, or if you simply want to invest in hardwood floors strictly to help sell your home, you might want to go with a more basic look, rather than a custom design. Not only is this more cost-effective (custom floor designs can be costly both in labor and materials), but it creates a more neutral palate for prospective buyers to envision themselves living in the home. “Basic” does not mean “cheap-looking,” by the way. Even a simple, “no-nonsense” oak floor can be made to look stunning when installed the correct way.

Playing the Long Game

If you choose to install a more expensive wood or a custom design, you may increase the “wow” factor of your home for resale purposes, but the cost may cut into your profits a bit, at least in the short term. We install some great-looking custom floors, but for best results we recommend installing these floors for yourself and family first. Enjoy the floors yourself for a few years, take good care of them and let your home appreciate. When you do decide to sell, your floors will then be a powerful selling feature that can also boost your asking price.

In doubt about whether to refinish your existing floors or install new ones? We can help! Give Renaissance Hardwood Flooring a call today at 918-298-4477.

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There is no set answer to this question. It depends on a number of factors, including the type of wood, foot traffic patterns, natural wear and your own personal aesthetic. Even with the best of care, most floors start showing their age after about 10 years. But for most households, simple wear-and-tear may cause the floors to need refinishing sooner than that. Here are a few signs and tips to help you decide when your hardwood floors need refinishing.

Excessive Scratches

These days, the “weathered” or “distressed” look is popular with wood floors, but that look is best achieved purposely by wire brushing evenly across the floor. For most of us, scratches don’t make the floor look “worn”—just scratched. Also, scratches can affect the integrity of whatever sealant may have been used, making the floors more vulnerable to the elements. A bit of scratching is natural, but deep or excessive scratches might need to be sanded out and refinished.

Discoloration

If your wood floors start to appear sun-bleached, it may not be a serious problem, but it can give your floors an uneven, unattractive look, and you may choose to refinish them just to recover an even coloring. If floorboards start getting a dull, gray hue, it’s a potential sign of damage from moisture over time, and you’ll want to refinish them to protect the wood from further damage. Let it go too long, and the floors will need to be replaced.

Areas of Dullness

A wood floor’s finish is as much a part of the aesthetic as its color, whether that finish is glossy, satin, matte or brushed. Over time, especially in high-traffic areas, you may start to notice the finish taking on a dull appearance compared to other parts of the floor. This inconsistency can make your floors look worn, uneven and even neglected. In most cases, refinishing will restore the floor to its consistent beautiful sheen.

A Note of Caution

Although refinishing your floors can make them look fresh and new, every time you do it, you’re removing a layer of wood. Solid hardwood floors can endure this process several times. Engineered wood floors can only handle it once or twice at most. But floors that get refinished too often can eventually get to the point where they lose beauty and just don’t look as nice anymore. For that reason, we recommend refinishing your floors only when it’s apparent that they need it, and not just for the sake of change.

If you’re unsure whether your hardwood floors need to be refinished, we are happy to come inspect your floors, whether or not we installed them. For answers to your wood flooring questions in Jenks, Tulsa, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow and Glenpool, call Renaissance today at 918-298-4477.

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