How often should hardwood floors be refinished?

Author: Sophie Skiles  |  Last update: Thursday, June 23, 2022

Depending on a floor's thickness and the experience of the flooring professional, a floor can be sanded around 4-6 times in its entire life. Hardwood floors can be refinished every 7-10 years, making the 4-6 refinishes more than enough.

How do I know if my hardwood floors need refinishing?

Big scratches and dents, gray floorboards and splinters are all signs that your hardwood floors need refinishing.
...
  1. Major scratches and dents. ...
  2. Cupping. ...
  3. Splinters. ...
  4. Gray floorboards. ...
  5. Water stains. ...
  6. Fading and discoloration.

Is it worth it to refinish hardwood floors?

In almost every case it is preferable to refinish rather than replace hardwood floors. Part of the appeal of hardwood is that it lasts so long. A quality hardwood floor can be sanded down and refinished at least six times, and up to ten times before you need to replace it.

How long do refinished hardwood floors last?

Typically hardwood floors should be refinished every 8-12 years, but this varies depending on how rough you are with your floors. Some people don't refinish/recoat their floors and are perfectly content leaving them the way they were installed.

How often do wood floors need refinishing?

It's commonly accepted that you refinish every seven to ten years. Important note: some hardwood is only 1/4 inches thick. In this case, a refinish could strip away all traces of the floor.

Can You Sand and Refinish Hardwood Floors Yourself? (honest opinion)

What is the best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?

If I had to pick an ideal time, I would say spring or fall when the indoor temperature is most consistent with outdoor temperature and it's often easy to open the windows (after the work is complete) to help air out the smell faster. But, really, sanding and refinishing hardwood can take place any time of year.

Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?

Refinishing hardwood floors is more cost-effective than replacing them. On average, it costs about $2,000 to $7,000 to replace hardwood flooring (two to three times more than to refinish).

Can I stay in my house while floors are refinished?

If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project ...

What is the life of hardwood floors?

Hardwood. Hardwood flooring can last a lifetime, but the glossy shine of original wood flooring will fade over the course of its life. You'll notice fading after about 25 years. Hardwood floors, if installed properly, can last 100 years.

Can you live in a house while refinishing floors?

Even if it's not causing migraines, it's still uncomfortable to live in a house where the floor is being refinished and there are strong odors in the air. If yours is a professional space, it can compromise work quality and work productivity of the employees as well.

How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

Installing hardwood flooring averages between $6 and $12 per square foot. On average, wood flooring costs between $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor. An estimate for installation of 1000 square feet of hardwood flooring runs between $6,000 and $12,000.

Should I keep original hardwood floors?

Unless your floors are very old and thin or have structural or water damage, chances are they can be saved. If you want a new or exotic type of wood or are unhappy with the current pattern or thickness of your floorboards, you may want to consider replacing them.

What happens if you dont refinish hardwood floors?

When the wood absorbs the water, it oxidizes and turns gray. Eventually, if you don't repair your floors, the wood will turn darker and darker until it's black. At that point, you will need to replace the floors (as sanding won't solve it).

Will refinishing hardwood floors remove scratches?

Refinishing hardwood floors is the right solution. All wood floors are protected by a clear coating that eventually becomes scratched, scuffed and dull. Hardwood floor refinishing can help you get rid of those unsightly scratches and marks.

Does buffing hardwood floors remove scratches?

Buffing or Screening

This is a great way to remove surface scratches and dirt from your floors. An application of polyurethane adds a coat of protection and sparkle back to your hardwood floors!

How can I make my hardwood floors last longer?

Tips to help care for your hardwood floor:
  1. Wipe up water spills quickly.
  2. Block out rain water and moisture during the wet season.
  3. Vacuum the floor on a weekly basis.
  4. Use a no-wax cleaner to remove any residue from the floor.
  5. Don't get furniture polish or hairspray on your floor.

How long do different floors last?

The question is: how long? Carpet generally lasts about 10 years, while flooring types like tile, wood and laminate can last as long as 25-30 years. It all depends on how much damage they face over the years.

How long does polyurethane last on hardwood floors?

What a new coat of polyurethane does is it adds another layer of protection to your floors, extending the life of the floors usually for another 3-5 years. Doing this every 4-6 years will prevent you from ever having to fully refinishing your floors again. Don't wait until it is too late and "wear" begins to show.

How long do you wait to put rugs down on refinished floors?

Wait 3 weeks before putting area rugs on newly refinished/finished hardwood floors. Wait 48 to 72 hours after the hardwood has been refinished/ finished before "PLACING" furniture back in its place. Keep a steady temperature and humidity within your home.

Can you sleep in your house after staining floors?

It is a terrible idea to sleep or stay in a house after staining floors. The stain fumes are often overwhelming and highly toxic. In addition, exposure to such a stinky smell for long periods of time can trigger severe breathing problems and other health issues to both humans and pets.

What do you do with your furniture when you refinish hardwood floors?

Furniture should be removed if all floors in a house must be refinished. Moving the furniture from room to room is difficult and time-consuming. Instead, removing the furniture from the house requires only two moves, instead of constant shifting throughout the refinishing process.

Can hardwood floors be removed and reused?

So is it possible to pull up hardwood floors and reinstall them? Yes, this is definitely possible. Since they are environment-friendly and extremely durable, hardwood floors are often reused when remodeling or building a home. They also offer better aesthetics and lower costs than buying new materials.

Can Factory finished hardwood floors be refinished?

Takeaway: Your worn down pre-finished hardwood flooring can be refinished up to 5 times. You can change the color of the entire floor each time that it's completely refinished. Leave the bevel in the floor and DO NOT have the bevel filled. Pre-finished hardwoods show scratches more than site-finished hardwoods.

Can you put hardwood over old hardwood?

Yes, you can install over an existing wood floor, provided it meets some important conditions. First, make sure doing so won't create problems with height differences at areas such as transitions with other rooms and stairs.

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