Telltale Signs That a Hardwood Floor Needs Refinishing

High-quality hardwood floors can increase the value of a home because their beauty can last for centuries. However, they need extra care and maintenance, occasional sanding and refinishing. The question is: how do you know when it’s time to refinish? Here are the usual signs that you need to look for.

Lots of Scratches

If you notice a large number of scratches that have worn through the stain, it’s time to refinish your floors. They are much more visible on a darker stain. Most scratches will disappear with a simple sand and refinish (e.g. paint that had dripped on the floor). Large gouges and cut or split wood is another story. You should replace those pieces of wood with new ones.

Boards are Turning Gray

When your hardwood turns gray, it’s definitely time to finish before more damage arises. When the polyurethane has worn off, the wood absorbs water, oxidizes and turns gray. Water can come from rain, snow, pet’s paws, spilled drinks, or even normal cleaning products. If you don’t resolve this soon, the hardwood will turn darker until it becomes black. When this happens, sanding won’t work and you have to replace the floors. So when you see gray, refinish at once and make sure the gray areas don’t absorb any more water.

Boards Have Turned Black

As mentioned before, the floorboards that have turned black are beyond refinishing. Only two options are available for you. Either camouflage the damage with much darker stains or simply replace the damaged sections with new boards altogether. The second option is costly, but it allows you to choose the stain color you like.

Water or Moisture Damage

Water damage (or major moisture) causes separation and/or cupping of the boards as well as some dark areas. You can usually correct cupping of the boards through sanding. More serious damage, however, needs replacement of the floors or sections thereof.  
Handyman Connection® Can Help You Assess What Your Hardwood Floor Needs

Handyman Connection of Golden is your expert resource for all your flooring needs. We can assess if you need floor replacement or refinishing. We guarantee you’ll love the results of all of our work. Call (303) 848-2752 for a consultation.