If your hardwood flooring is worn, it can be tough to decide whether to hire someone to refinish the floors or replace them. Each option offers benefits, and the decision will depend on the circumstances. Here’s what you need to know before deciding. 

What Is Floor Refinishing?

Real hardwood flooring can be refinished up to 10 times to make the surface look like new. This process involves sanding down the top to remove imperfections and markings, leaving the exposed layer looking fresh. Many homeowners refinish floors to mitigate stains and chips, while others want to use a different stain color to update their interior look. 

Refinishing vs. Replacing

The condition of the flooring is the most significant factor when choosing to refinish the existing material or install a replacement. If the current planks are salvageable with sanding, refinishing is often the better choice. For flooring that has signs of rot or water damage, it’s best to replace the damaged areas or the entire flooring to promote continuity and longevity. 

If you’re looking to improve your interior design, refinishing can bring a shine to the room. However, if you’d like to adjust the wood style or the size of the planks, install an entirely new floor.

Hardwood that is decades old and has already been sanded down many times cannot be refinished without destabilizing the flooring. Thus, take the age of the material into account.

If you’re looking for the quickest option, install new boards, as ripping up the old ones and putting in updated materials will often be faster. Refinishing older wood with many stains, scratches, or areas that need patching may take a week or more, while a new installation often requires just a few hours or days.

If you’re looking to replace or refinish your flooring, contact Carolina Wood Floors in Winston-Salem, NC. Their expert contractors have over 25 years of experience offering floor installations, maintenance, and refinishing services. Call their Tucker Avenue location at (336) 765-0680 or visit the website for information on their flooring refinishing services.