Refinishing hardwood floors can turn your older flooring into something that looks brand new. Refinishing restores flooring by sanding, fixing any damages, screening, and recoating. But how do you know if it’s time to refinish your floors? Here are eight signs to look out for that will tell you if your hardwood floors need to be refinished.
1. Scratches, scuffs, and marks
Moving into homes, rearranging furniture, and having pets that like to run around can cause a lot of scratches, scuffs, and marks to your hardwood floors. If this is the case, and you’re noticing damages all over your hardwood, then you may want to consider refinishing your home. But if there are only a few marks here and there, it may not be time to refinish yet.2. Cupping
If your floorboards are bending downward, creating a concave shape, then it’s time to refinish them. This is called cupping and indicates that you have water damage in your floors from spills, drops, and even humidity. Refinishing your floors by sanding can help solve this problem if you have mild cupping. More severe cupping may indicate you need to replace those floorboards altogether.3. Water stains
Water stains on your hardwood are also a sign of water damage and that your floors should be refinished. Water stains can easily be prevented by quickly cleaning up any liquid messes that get on your flooring. If the problem is more severe, like a plumbing issue, that should be addressed right away to prevent further damage to your flooring.4. Gray floorboards
Gray floorboards can sometimes be a character of older homes, but often it is another sign of water damage. Refinishing your gray floorboards can help return them to looking brand new. But if any of your floorboards have turned black, they will need to be replaced because they are beyond repair.5. Splinters
If you’re getting splinters from walking on your hardwood floor barefoot, this means the sealant has worth off and the wood is damaged. Refinishing your floors by sanding and applying a new layer of sealant will help fix this issue and keep your feet safe from future splinters.6. Discoloration
Discoloration of your hardwood floor is something that can be caused by several things, including exposure to the sun and water damage. Refinishing your floor is an easy fix to discolored and fading hardwood. Sometimes, all your floors might need is a sanding to fix discoloration.7. Nails poke through
When nails start to stick out of your hardwood floors, this isn’t just unattractive but can cause severe pain and injuries. If you only have a couple of exposed nails, you have nothing to worry about; however, if you are noticing nails all over your hardwood flooring, then it’s time to refinish or replace your floors.8. Wear and tear
Wear and tear are normal as your hardwood floors age, but floorboards made out of real wood should be very durable and last a long time. If your floors are older and you’re noticing a lot of wear and tear, then it may be time to refinish your floors. Sometimes wear and tear can lead to splintered or warped wood as well, and depending on the severity of these issues, it may call for refinishing or replacing.If your floors have already been refinished and you are still seeing these signs on your hardwood floors, then it might be time to have your flooring replaced. Replacing your floors will not only help with damages, discoloration, and more, but it lets you change the style of your home. If it’s time to refinish or replace your hardwood flooring, give GS Flooring a call today to start discussing your options.
