Whether you plan to sell your home in the future or not, upgrading to new flooring can increase your property’s value and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Plus, it will save you time and effort by eliminating the need for sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping.
Hardwood floors need refinishing when the polyurethane layer wears down. Water can penetrate the wood, causing it to oxidize and turn gray.
Hardwood
Hardwood floors look beautiful and add an elegant touch to a home. They also increase the resale value of the house. But like any other surface, they can get scratched up and dull over time, and refinishing can make them look new again. Refinishing is a process where the hardwood floors are sanded, re-stained, and sealed. It is recommended that wood floors be refinished every 6-10 years, but it can vary depending on the amount of wear and tear they receive. Refinishing can be messy, but some contractors offer dustless refinishing that helps minimize the mess.
Solid wood floors can be refinished several times over the course of their lifespan, but engineered wood should only be refinished about twice. Refinishing a floor removes a thin layer of the original surface, and too many refinishes can cause the wood to lose its beauty. If the wood has been damaged by water or rot, replacing the planks may be necessary.
A refinishing can be an expensive project, especially for homes with large rooms. The cost can range from $3 to $8 per square foot. Before hiring a contractor, check the quality of their work by reading online reviews. Check to see if they are licensed, insured, and have a good reputation in the community.
Refinishing is messy, and the contractors will need to move furniture out of the way. The cost to move furniture is usually $20-$50 per room. It is also important to consider the cost of any additional services you might need. If you need the subfloor repaired, it can cost $2-$20 per square foot. If you want the contractor to clean before and after refinishing, it costs an additional $0.60-$1 per square foot.
It is also important to know that sanding can damage the baseboards. Hiring a painter to come in and touch up the baseboards can add a few hundred dollars to the final bill. However, it can be less expensive if the painter is already coming to do other work in your home, such as painting a bedroom.
Tile
Tile floors are incredibly durable, especially when well taken care of. Ceramic and glazed porcelain tiles can last for decades, while natural stone (like marble or granite) can last centuries. However, just like any flooring material, tile can start to look old and dated after years of use. Fortunately, it’s easy to redo tile floors without replacing them entirely.
Generally, it’s best to replace your tile floors only when they are in extremely poor condition. If you have an older tile floor that isn’t damaged beyond repair, a surface refinish or a grout renovation is a great way to refresh your home’s aesthetic.
Floor surface refinishing can take care of minor dings, scratches, and discoloration from water damage. It can also remove stains and make the color of your tile pop again. However, if your floor has a lot of deep scratches, gouges, or sagging, it’s time to consider a full replacement.
Another sign that it’s time to redo your tile floors is if they are shifting or moving underfoot. This may be due to bad adhesive or grout and can lead to structural issues. Loose tiles are not only unsightly but can also be dangerous for anyone walking over them.
Grout is a very porous material and can absorb moisture and grime quickly. If not properly and regularly re-sealed, it can lead to cracking or even mold. If your grout is in serious disrepair, you should have it replaced immediately.
Refinishing or renovating your floors is a major investment, and it’s important to consider whether your existing floors are worth saving. If you decide to redo your floor, choosing a new material that will stand the test of time and complement your home’s current decor is also a good idea. If you’re ready to give your home a new look, contact the Lewisville flooring professionals at Flooring Company for a free estimate. They specialize in hardwood floor refinishing, tile and stone cleaning, and carpet installation.
Stone
Stone floors bring the beauty and luxury of nature into a home, but that beautiful finish requires a certain level of care to keep it looking great. Whether it’s marble, travertine, granite or slate, natural stone is a durable flooring choice but must be sealed regularly to resist water and dirt stains. A professional stone floor expert will help you determine the proper refinish schedule for your needs.
Higher-traffic areas need to be refinished more frequently than lower-traffic ones. This is because high-traffic surfaces will show wear more readily and may become stained unless they’re properly sealed and maintained. Natural stone tile floors typically need to be refinished every 18 months or so. This can be accelerated by following a regular cleaning and maintenance regimen that includes the use of a pH-neutral cleaner and a soft buffing pad.
The type of stone, color, surface finish, and amount of wear will all influence how often it needs to be refinished. For example, a honed stone is less likely to need refinishing than a polished one because it’s less likely to become scratched. Additionally, the amount of etching that occurs on a stone floor depends on how it’s finished and its color.
If your stone floors are heavily etched, they may need to be rehoned and then polished again, or the etching can be removed by grinding the surface of the stones followed by a polish and resealing. If your stone floors are damaged, a professional can repair them by grinding and filling cracks with epoxy resin colored to match the stone.
A reputable professional will visit your home to determine the state of your stone floors and then advise you on a treatment plan. They will let you know whether refinishing is needed and the cost of that service. They will also tell you if a replacement solution is better, such as replacing chipped or deeply scratched planks with stainable wood filler. Generally, it’s best to avoid refinishing a stone floor too often because refinishing removes about 1/16 inch of the original material. This can eventually cause the tongue-and-groove joints to collapse and create a void between boards.
Carpet
Floorings like tile, hardwood, and carpet aren’t designed to last forever. While regular floor cleaning can extend their lives, eventually, floors have to be replaced. The exact timing depends on the flooring type and the typical usage it receives.
For example, a carpet floor can typically last about ten years. However, a quality linoleum floor can last up to 60 years or more.
The most obvious sign that it’s time to replace the flooring is when the stains and smells can no longer be cleaned. This is particularly true of stains that penetrate the padding underneath, such as wine, bleach, or pet urine. Similarly, smells that permeate the walls and furniture are also difficult to eradicate.
Other signs that it’s time to redo the floor include loose tiles or a cracked surface. Loose tiles can be a sign of faulty adhesive or grout and should be replaced as soon as possible. Cracked surfaces can also be a sign of deeper structural issues and should be looked at by a professional as soon as they occur.
If the stains and smells aren’t bad enough to warrant replacing the carpet, it may be time to consider refinishing the wood instead. However, before deciding to go this route, it’s important to know that not all floors can be refinished. A wood floor that has a deep scratch, cupped or stain that is too deep to repair can only be repaired by replacing the damaged planks or using a stainable wood filler.
While refinishing can prolong the life of your floors, it’s important to note that it will not extend the resale value of your home. If you decide to sell your home in the future, investing in new carpeting or tile is best.
Aside from refinishing, other ways to keep your carpet in good shape are to limit the number of pets and children in the home, use doormats at the entrances and require people to take their shoes off before entering. Also, it’s a good idea to have your home’s exterior surfaces power washed regularly, as built-up dirt and dust can become airborne and settle on carpeting and other surfaces.
