If you’ve invested in durable hardwood flooring, we’re here to reassure you that you’ve made a solid investment with lots of benefits.
When appropriately maintained, hardwood floors last for years without losing their luster or requiring complex maintenance. In fact, these are the attributes that make hardwoods a perennial favorite among design-conscious consumers in the Loveland and Fort Collins area.
But even hardwood floors have their limits.
There will inevitably come a time when you look at the floor and start to notice signs of wear such as discoloration, scratches and dents, or water damage – it’s bound to happen eventually.
The good news? Most hardwood floors can be restored to their original beauty by qualified hardwood restoration professionals.
But first, you’ll need to determine what kind of flooring you’re dealing with: solid hardwood plank or engineered hardwood.
SOLID HARDWOOD PLANK VS. ENGINEERED HARDWOOD
SOLID HARDWOOD PLANK
Solid hardwood planks that are at least ¾ inch thick can typically be refinished up to six times in their lifetime.
Unless you have heavy traffic (dogs and kids, for example), you may be able to get nearly a decade of use out of the floors before you need to consider having some work done.
ENGINEERED HARDWOOD
Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, is built from multiple layers of hardwood, and generally comes in thicknesses from ⅜ to ½ inch.
Because the top layer of engineered hardwood floors is a thin veneer, engineered hardwoods can only be refinished once or twice before you will want to consider replacing them.
If you’ve had your flooring for a while, and you’re not sure when hardwood restoration services are needed, see the signs outlined below.
SIGNS THAT IT’S TIME TO RESURFACE OR REFINISH
At Element Flooring and Design Center in Loveland, we recommend choosing to resurface or refinish your hardwood floors when you see signs of wear rather than just refinishing to update your flooring color.
Keep an eye out for…
- Discoloration
- Numerous surface scratches
- Flooring dents
- Water damage
Any and all of these signs indicate that you might need hardwood restoration services. We recommend one of the following: resurfacing or refinishing.
YOUR OPTIONS FOR HARDWOOD RESTORATION SERVICES
Although the terms resurface and refinish are often used interchangeably, they’re different processes.
RESURFACING
Resurfacing is a minimally disruptive process that involves sanding down the top layer of the floor and then applying a fresh finish. It can usually be done in a matter of hours, and it’s a cost-effective way to revive tired-looking floors that are still structurally sound.
REFINISHING
Refinishing is more expensive, more involved, and more time-consuming.
The process involves sanding down the top layer of the finish before staining and sealing the hardwood flooring. Unlike resurfacing, refinishing can take days to weeks to complete, and will require you stay off the floors for a longer period of time.
Refinishing is a better option when floors have significant scratches and dents, fading or discoloration, or water damaged/warped or loose boards. Uneven boards can be sanded down flush with the rest of the floor, water-damaged boards can be removed and replaced.
WHERE TO BEGIN
Due to the time and effort involved in hardwood floor restoration services, they are best left to the professionals. Not only will the work be done well, but the team will take extra effort to protect the rest of your home from dust and help ensure your floors are thoroughly sealed to help ward off future wear and tear.
At Element Flooring and Design Center, we recommend that homeowners in the Loveland and Fort Collins area request multiple quotes from licensed and insured hardwood flooring restoration professionals.
Contact us today to discuss refinishing or resurfacing options that will bring your hardwoods back to life.
