Hardwood floors are among the most popular flooring choices for homeowners. They are equally elegant and laidback giving your house a perfect balance. Overtime, as hardwood floors get abused by foot traffic, spills, and other factors, they become chipped, dull, stained, or warped. When this happens, when you notice that your floor looks quite worn out, what you can do is either: have it refinished to try restoring it to its original state, or just go ahead and replace it altogether.
Now before you choose which option is best for you, here are some factors for you to consider:
How Damaged It Is
Not every wood floor can be restored by refinishing. It actually depends on the floor’s particular state and the degree of damage. If, for example, the floor has become really warped or say, several planks are damaged, then it might be better to replace your entire floor. Refinishing will only brighten the damaged surface. The same goes if your boards lack enough thickness.
How Old Your Floor Is
The age of your floor is an important factor, too. If you have had the same floor for decades, then it might resist refinishing. If it has been refinished a few times before or if the surfaced wood has been exposed too much, refinishing would have very little effect. Replacement might be better for this.
How Much Budget You Have
Of course you have to think of this! It is a very obvious variable. It is usually cheaper to have floors refinished. When you replace floors, you pay for both the material and the installation. Some people try to install the floors themselves, but it’s not really advisable because it requires knowledge and precision to do it right. You might want to save money, but if you don’t get it right, you would end up spending more.
How Much You Like Your Floor’s Aesthetics
If you really like the style of your wood floors, and just want to brighten them and give them a good shine, then refinishing would be more than enough. However, if you want a different style of wood, or perhaps a new direction of the planks, then a full replacement would do the trick. This will definitely give your home a new feel, too.
How Much Time You Can Spare
Surprisingly, replacing your floors take a much shorter time than refinishing them. When done by professionals it may only take a day or two depending on how big the space is. With refinishing, on the other hand, this may take about four to five days (and it needs to stay untouched). It requires a messy and meticulous process, too.
If you are still unsure whether your hardwood floors need refinishing or a complete replacement, you can give us a call and we can discuss what your best option is.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should Toronto homeowners know about hardwood?
When considering hardwood, evaluate durability, maintenance requirements, and cost per square foot for your specific needs. Tony’s Flooring Centre at 268 Royal York Rd offers expert advice and free estimates to help you make the right choice for your Toronto home.
How often should hardwood floors be refinished?
Hardwood floors typically need refinishing every 7-10 years in Toronto homes, depending on foot traffic and wear. Signs include visible scratches, dull finish, and discolouration. The NWFA provides detailed refinishing guidelines.
How do I protect floors from winter salt?
Place heavy-duty mats at all entrances to catch salt, sand, and moisture. Remove boots at the door — salt corrodes hardwood finishes. Clean up tracked-in salt immediately with a damp cloth and use runners in hallways during winter.
Need Help Choosing the Right Flooring?
With over 60 years of experience, Tony’s Flooring Centre makes choosing the right floor easy. From hardwood and carpet to eco-friendly cork and marmoleum, we carry it all. Visit us at 268 Royal York Rd, call (416) 255-9631, or contact us online.