Refinishing Floors

How often should you refinish your hardwood floors?  This is a difficult question to answer, mainly due to the fact that it is a decision based largely on personal preference.  Most refinishing is not done on a specific time table.  Instead it’s done depending on the appearance of the floor.  This is where the personal taste comes in.   A lot of different homeowners like the changes that occur in hardwood flooring over time.  It develops a type of patina and character with its imperfections and damage to the wood.  Some people like this look so much that they will buy distressed flooring or even have their own floors distressed in order to give their hardwood floors that organic and rustic feel.  But, then of course, some people purchase hardwood flooring because of its ability to hold a high, glossy sheen.  For homeowners who want this out of their hardwood floors they’ll have to refinish them more often.

Most flooring experts say that floors should be refinished every five to seven years.  This time can be shortened or elongated by how well the floors are cared for.  Refinishing will be needed less for floors that are properly cleaned, protected from sunlight and guarded from wear.  One of the main reasons for refinishing is due to outstanding wear in high traffic areas.  This forces most homeowners to refinish their floors due to the uneven look.  The high traffic areas look worn while the rest of the floor is in presentable shape.

Hardwood flooring can get so worn that it must be refinished right away.  One obvious sign that a floor needs refinishing is if any place on the floor gets badly cracked and splintered to the point where it poses a threat to anyone walking on it.  Another sign is when even small spills that are quickly attended to become stains and spots on the floor.  If the flooring isn’t refinished soon enough it can become irreparably damaged and the homeowner will be forced to remove it.