After a few years, even the highest-quality hardwood flooring can weaken and start showing signs of wear. These changes may appear gradually, such as scratches, squeaks, or the finish dulling, become more noticeable over time.
Eventually, you will have to decide whether you want get your Hardwood flooring in Snohomish or replace them entirely. Both options can help restore the beauty or elegance your floors previously had and give your space a fresh and new look. The right choice ultimately depends on the current condition of your floors and the vision you have for your home.
What Does Refinishing Hardwood Floors Mean?
Refinishing hardwood floors gives your space a fresh look without pulling all the planks out. The top layer of the wood is sanded down to completely remove the surface damage and apply a new layer on top with a protective finish, changing the entire look and feel of it.
Wood floor refinishing can be done on a variety of wooden floor types. The exact process and scope differ depending on the current condition and desired expectations from the refinished look of your space.
Reasons to Refinish Wooden Floors
- Worn-out or faded wooden floor
- Discoloration and fading
- Minor squeaks in between the planks
- Scatches and dents on the surface
- Small gaps between the wood planks
The Refinishing Process
Inspection -The wood flooring is inspected to analyze the condition, such as scratches, dents, or discoloration, and then the work required to restore them is determined.
Sanding -The top layer of the wood is sanded down, which removes any dents, scratches, or imperfections it previously had, exposing the bare wood underneath.
Finishing -A new stain is applied to change the color of the wood, with a thin protective layer to increase the durability of your hardwood floor refinishing in Bellevue, giving it a completely new look.
When To Get It Done
- You want to restore the fresh and original look of your hardwood flooring
- Your hardwood floor has superficial and minor damages, but nothing structural
- Your floorboards are still thick enough to successfully sand and restore the look
- You have thick engineered hardwoodin Seattle or solid hardwood installed in your home
- You are looking for a more affordable solution to your hardwood problems
- Your hardwood flooring is starting to look uneven due to excessive wear
What Does Replacing Hardwood Floors Mean?
Replacing hardwood flooring may be the better option when there is more structural damage in your flooring rather than a superficial issue. Hardwood floor replacement means completely removing your current hardwood planks and installing new ones in their place.
Replacing floors is a much more challenging task as it requires more time and labor than refinishing hardwood floors; however, it can give you a completely new look for your hardwood floors . This decision should be made quickly to prevent further serious damage to your wood flooring.
Reasons to Replace Wooden Floors
- Thin, faded, and dull finishing
- Minor to major damage to the subfloor underneath the wood
- Rotted, warped, or water-damaged wood planks
- Want to install a different wood species for your space
- Want to remodel your hardwood flooringwith a new look
The Replacing Process
Inspection – A comprehensive evaluation of the existing condition of the floor, subfloor, and surrounding areas is done to asses the damage, mositure levels, and other imperfections.
Removal -A proper measurement of the room is done before starting the removal process of all the existing hardwood flooring and baseboards, to prepare the subfloor.
Installation – Hardwood floor installation in Seattle requires the addition of a moisture or protection barrier before the new flooring is laid out with proper spacing and alignment.
When to Get it Done
- Your hardwood floorhas open creaks, loose, or unstable planks
- Your hardwood flooringis suffering from excessive sanding or oversanding
- Your hardwood flooringhas been extremely water-damaged
- Your hardwood floorsare starting to show large or deep cracks
- Your hardwood floorhas signs of mold or pest infection
- You want to change the style and give your hardwood floorsa new look
Which Option Is Best For You?
If you are still not sure about which option is best for you, then maybe try asking yourself some questions like the ones given below:
- What is the condition of my current hardwood flooring in Woodinville?
- Has my wooden floorbeen refinished before?
- Do I like the current wood species and layout of my floors?
- What is my budget and desired time to finish remodeling?
- Do I need to update other parts of the room too?
Make Your Floor Decisions Easy
To decide between getting a full hardwood reinstallation and hardwood floor refinishing in Seattle, you need to look at the current condition of your floors, long-term goals, and budget. Our team at Five Star Woods can help you with that, We will assess your floor’s condition, give the best choice, and get the job done based on your requirements.
Schedule a quick floor inspection session today and make your floor decision easy with our expert guidance and services.