One reason for hardwood flooring's popularity is that it can be brought back to life once it starts showing wear and tear. Refinishing hardwood floors allows you to sand off the wear and tear and then add a new coat of stain to get your floors looking brand new. Even old wood floors can significantly benefit from refinishing. While there are many benefits to refinishing hardwood, there are a few things to know before starting this project.
Refinishing Has Limits
If you plan to refinish your hardwood floors, it's essential to know that there are limits to what refinishing can accomplish. When you refinish wood floors, you can eliminate many signs of wear and tear. However, not all damage can be removed by the refinishing process. Refinishing may not be able to address deep scratches and divots in your hardwood floors. There's also a limit to how many times you can refinish hardwood floors. The thickness and condition of your hardwood floors will determine how many times they can be refinished. Some solid hardwood floors can be refinished 10 to 12 times, while other wood floors cannot be refinished that much.
When To Refinish Hardwood Floors
Another thing to consider is when to refinish wood floors. There's no right or wrong time for refinishing, but there are a few indicators to watch for that will tell you that sooner is better than later. If your wood floors show scratches and other signs of wear and tear, it's an excellent time to consider refinishing them. Discoloration due to sunlight or other factors can also be a determining factor for wood floor refinishing. If you are remodeling your home or plan to put it on the market to sell, it may also be an excellent time to look into wood floor refinishing.
How Much Your Floors Will Cost To Refinish
Many factors affect how much it costs to refinish wood floors. The floor's condition and whether you hire a professional to refinish floors will affect cost. Wood floor refinishing is labor-intensive, so much of the cost is in the labor. When you factor in materials and labor, it will cost around $3 to $8 per square foot to refinish hardwood floors. While wood floor refinishing throughout the home can get pricey, it's far more affordable than replacing your wood floors.
Before you refinish hardwood floors, here's what you need to know. First, there are limits to refinishing, so make sure refinishing is the best option for your needs. Second, there's no right or wrong time to refinish wood floors, but many homeowners decide to do so once signs of wear and tear appear. Finally, how much you pay to refinish hardwood floors varies, but labor expenses make up much of the cost.