5 Signs It's Time to Replace Your Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring has elegant beauty and can last years if properly maintained. But the floors will eventually show signs of wear and tear. Simple repairs can solve minor cracks and dents, but replacement might be the right option if the damage is extensive. Here are a few indicators that you need to replace your old hardwood flooring.

1. Moving or Creaking Floorboards

Natural hardwood floor movement can cause creaking from time to time. The movement is due to floor expansion in the summer months and contraction in the winter months. The contraction and expansion create gaps between floorboards and can cause the floor to move and creak occasionally. But inspecting your hardwood floor is necessary if the creaking sounds like you are walking in a haunted house. 

Moving and creaking sounds often are a symptom of aging hardwood floors but can also point to a structural issue. Other symptoms include soft spots on the floor and a wiggling movement when you walk on your floor. The hardwood floor may also swell and dip, indicating issues with the floor's structural integrity. 

2. Extensive Water Damage

Homeowners with hardwood floors always have to contend with the risk of water damage. The damage's severity depends on the hardwood type, with engineered hardwood being more resilient than solid hardwood. But both hardwood varieties can experience staining, warping, and other forms of water damage. The damage typically occurs due to flooding, but even excessive moisture can damage your hardwood floors. 

Staining or sealing the hardwood floor can prevent spills from penetrating the floor. But if you don't react quickly, irreversible damage will occur and cause spongy or soft spots to appear on the floor. By this time, refinishing alone won't save your floors. 

3. Popped-Up Nails

Worn-out hardwood floors can have nails popping out of them, especially in high-traffic areas such as the living room or kitchen. The exposed nails are unattractive and can be painful if you walk barefoot. A few nails popping out of the floor are not a big deal and don't require a total floor replacement. Instead, use a hammer to sink the nails into the floor and prevent injuries.

But if nails appear in various sections of your floor, you might have to install a new floor. If you try to refinish the floor, the wood will grind down and expose more nails.

4. Significant Marks and Scratches

Children and pets in your home can cause strain on your floors. The same problem can occur when you rearrange or move furniture around. The result will be surface-level scuffs and wearing of the floor finish. A few marks on the floor add to the character of your flooring and only requires simple refinishing. 

But if the scratches are on a large area and are quite deep, the floor is at risk of water damage. Refinishing will only remove the surface level marks and scratches, but the rest of the floor will be susceptible to minor spills that can spill into the wood below. In such a case, you can save money by replacing the hardwood floor.

5. Mold or Rot

Excessive moisture and humid conditions in your home can encourage mold to grow on your floor. The hardwood floor may also rot and become weaker. Deep cleaning can solve the mold issue, but hardwood floor replacement might be the only solution if the damage is extensive.

Hardwood flooring is highly durable and rarely requires repairs or replacements. But if the damage is extensive, new hardwood floors can help update the appearance of your home. When you want to change the hardwood floor, Sandmasters Hardwood Floors can help you. Our experts can install, repair, and replace hardwood floors. Contact us today.