For many homeowners, the first time they buy a home with hardwood floors, the learning curve can be a challenge. Hardwood flooring needs to be refinished periodically, but the number of times that you can do so is limited. As a result, it's important that you know how to tell when your wood floors really need to be refinished so that you only do it when it's actually necessary. Here are some signs to watch out for.
Is Your Wood Floor Scratched?
Unfortunately, wood floors are prone to scratches from general wear and tear. You can add soft pads to the feet of all of your furniture and take every possible precaution to reduce the scratching. However, you won't eliminate it. Be mindful of the scratches that you see on your hardwood floors. When they become extensive, widespread, or particularly deep, it's important to reach out to a hardwood floor refinishing contractor for an assessment. Don't try to just restain the floor in the hopes that it will fill in the scratches because that will actually alter the floor's finish and appearance, and the scratches will still be visible.
Has Your Wood Floor Faded And Gone Grey?
Over time, wear and tear on a wood floor can cause it to fade and shift to this faded, dull, grey hue that's a sharp contrast from the rich, warm, vibrant color of natural, healthy hardwood floors. If your floors have taken on this appearance, it's a key indication that you need to schedule a refinishing contractor to breathe new life into those floors.
Do Your Wood Floors Have Water Spots Or Stains?
Especially when you have kids or pets, staining and spills happen. If your wood floors have water spots or stains from spills, you may find that it's in your best interest to have the entire floor refinished to eliminate the damage. Once the floor is refinished, you can also have a protective polyurethane coating applied in some cases.
Are Your Wood Floors Damaged From Sunlight?
Prolonged sunlight can cause fading in your wood flooring. If you've noticed that areas near your windows or doors are showing some spots of fading, there's a good chance that it's caused by sun fading. You should talk with your hardwood floor refinishing contractor about a wood floor stain and sealant that includes UV protection. This will reduce the risk of future sun damage.
Talk with a local hardware floor refinishing contractor such as Assured Quality Woodcraft today for more guidance or to schedule an assessment of your wood floors.
Choosing flooring can be quite a challenge, mainly because you have so many options. On the lower end of the cost spectrum, you have things like sheet vinyl and vinyl tile. On the higher end of the cost spectrum, you have stone and ceramic tile. Then, there's carpet. It's installed over a subfloor, but most people do consider it to be a separate type of flooring. You can read more about flooring on this blog, equipping yourself to make a better decision about the flooring that's right for your home. You'll then have a better idea of what questions to ask and what factors to consider as you choose a floor.