4 Warning Signs That Your Hardwood Floors Need a Refinish

Hardwood floors are beautiful and can last for an exceptionally long time. However, they require proper care and maintenance if you want to make the most out of them. Refinishing your hardwood floors can restore the wood’s original appearance and shine, blend it with newly added wood, and change its color and finish. Handyman Connection® of Butler Warren discusses the signs that it’s time to sand and refinish your hardwood floors:

• Water Damage – Water damage can have a lot of causes including ice damming, leaking air conditioners, flood, a broken water heater, or pet damage. Signs of water damage include dark areas and cupping of boards. You can sand out the floor if there is cupping. Major damage, however, may require a floor replacement.

• Fading – The sun can cause major damage to your floor. It can cause the colors to look unhealthy and discolored. Observe the areas near your windows and see if there is any difference in color. Fortunately, sanding and refinishing can take care of this problem because this process will remove the top layer, allowing you to apply a new stain.

• Boards Are Turning Gray – When the polyurethane on your floors wears off, the wood will absorb water. Once the wood absorbs the water, it oxidizes and turns gray. If you leave this unattended your floor will turn darker and darker until it turns black. You can prevent this from happening by sanding and refinishing your floor. You might also want to deal with the underlying water problem if there is any.

• Lots of Scratches – A few minor scratches are normal, but if a large number of scratches have worn through the stain then it’s time to refinish your floors. The majority of scratches are topical and they will come off with a simple sand and refinish. You can deal with the occasional deep scratches and large gouges by replacing the damaged wood.

Refinishing your hardwood floors is a major project. Don’t be afraid to ask for professional help if it ends up being too complicated or time-consuming. Once your hardwood floors are back to great condition, you might want to improve other aspects of your home. That’s where Handyman Connection of Butler Warren can help. We can assist you with carpentry, remodeling, painting, and many other home improvement tasks. Contact us to learn more signs that it’s time to refinish your hardwood floors. You can also request an estimate.