Should you refinish or replace hardwood floors?

Refinish, refinish, refinish! In almost every case it is preferable to refinish rather than replace hardwood floors. Part of the appeal of hardwood is that it lasts so long. A quality hardwood floor can be sanded down and refinished at least six times, and up to ten times before you need to replace it.

In respect to this, is it better to refinish or replace hardwood floors?

In general, it will almost ALWAYS be less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors. If you replace them, you need to pay for additional wood as well as ripping up and hauling away existing hardwood. Even if you have this, it will still be less expensive then replacing the whole floor.

Also, how expensive is it to have hardwood floors refinished? The average cost to install hardwood flooring is between $4 and $10 per square foot whereas refinishing your floors costs about $3.75 per square foot. Most homeowners spend between $2,200 and $8,100 to install new wood flooring vs. an average of $1,550 to refinish.

Consequently, is it cheaper to refinish hardwood floors or replace with laminate?

All solid hardwood flooring can be sanded and refinished a limited number of times. Local repairs of existing finish are possible in some cases. Good-quality laminate cost about $3.00 per square foot and up. Lower-quality laminate can be much cheaper but at a loss of looks and performance.

How often do wood floors need to be refinished?

Usually engineered hardwood flooring is ¾ inches thick or sometimes more. With this thickness it is safe to refinish them up to 4-6 times. If you are happy with your flooring and just want to refinish your flooring to give them new life, hardwood flooring usually only needs to be refinished once every 7-10 years.

34 Related Question Answers Found

What is the average cost to sand and refinish hardwood floors?

Cost to Sand and Refinish Hardwood Floors

Sanding costs $0.50 to $3.00 per square foot to sand hardwood floors. An average 12 x 14 foot room would cost $80 to $500 depending on how many passes it needs and the area you live in.

Which hardwood floor is most scratch resistant?

Maximizing Scratch Resistance

Oak is the most common flooring material in North America; it is 6 percent softer than maple. Whether you opt for oak, maple, hickory or an exotic hardwood, choosing prefinished boards is the best way to ensure scratch resistance.

What is the difference between refinishing and resurfacing wood floors?

Refinishing involves sanding off the top layer of the floor and adding a fresh top coat over the existing wood. Resurfacing your floor involves more than just putting a layer of polish on top. It may require removing old floorboards, grinding down uneven boards, and reinforcing wood planks with new nails.

How do you tell if you can refinish hardwood floors?

Make a mark with pencil along the floor edge. Then remove the card and measure from the edge of the card to the line. If it's less than 3/4 inch, the floor is worn or the installed wood is too thin. You might want a professional to do sanding, especially if there are deep scratches or dings in the floor.

Can you Restain hardwood floors a different color?

Changing the Color of Your Hardwood. When you refinish your floors, you can change the color of your flooring. Most hardwood floors can be made darker, lighter, redder, or anywhere in between. If your flooring is solid hardwood, it can be sanded and refinished in a different stain for a different appearance.

Should you mop laminate floors?

Cleaning Laminate Floors: Do not use steam cleaners or wet mops, which may cause irreparable damage to your floor. Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent or any other liquid cleaning product.

Should I cover hardwood with laminate?

Laminate flooring can be installed directly over hardwood, often with no preparation necessary. If the hardwood floor is wavy, you will need to do some work to level it out before installing your laminate floor. Installing a laminate floor over hardwood is a great option in many cases.

How can you tell the difference between hardwood and laminate?

How to tell the difference between hardwood and laminate flooring

1) Look for discolouration. Most laminates have a protective layer so the flooring won't wear that much.
3) Look for staples. Laminate planks have a tongue and groove design for easy installation.
4) Look at the wood grain. Laminate flooring will have a repeating pattern.

How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?

about 2 days

How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of laminate floors?

Laminate Installation & Labor Cost

In addition, the costs incurred for purchasing the laminate panels, you should also keep in mind labor and installation for each square foot. This cost can lie anywhere between $2 and $8 per square foot.

What are the steps to refinishing hardwood floors?

Refinish Hardwood Floors

Step 1: Prepare the Room. Start your refinishing project by preparing the room.
Step 2: Use a Floor Sander. Rent an upright, electric floor sander.
Step 3: Start Sanding. Attach a high-grit sheet of sandpaper to the sander and begin sanding your floor slowly and evenly with the wood's grain.
Step 4: Apply Finish.

How long do laminate floors last?

The average lifespan for laminate flooring is between 15 and 25 years, but it can vary from as short as 10 years to as long as 30 years. The difference in life expectancy depends on the quality of the flooring, whether it was properly installed and the amount of traffic it receives.

Is laminate flooring good for resale?

Laminate Flooring

And though it doesn't last as long as hardwood, it costs 50% less on average to buy and install. Expect to pay about $5 to $8 a square foot for laminate flooring. Because of its lower price point, laminate also won't do much for your home's resale value.

What is the most popular wood floor color?

Gray wood floors

Much has been made about the progression of gray as an option in hardwood flooring colours. There are some good choices like Vintage's 'Fumed White Oak'. That being said, the bigger trend here is the influence gray has had on the shade of brown and especially lighter, blonder colours.

Can you refinish floors one room at a time?

Refinishing your hardwood floors can be done one room at a time just like you said! keep the room well ventilated, using fans to ensure you are getting fresh air. If you want the stain and polyurethane to be the same throughout your home, make sure that you have enough for each room.

How much does it cost to sand and varnish a floor?

What can you expect to pay around an average of 15 euros' per square meter. This cost is for sanding only and any repairs and add-on work would usually be extra. A bedroom size of 12ft wide by 12 ft long is around 13 m2. (meters square).

Is it worth refinishing hardwood floors?

In Conclusion. So, is it worth it to refinish your floors rather than replace them? In most cases, yes. The average cost to install new hardwoods is around $8 per square foot, which is $3 more than the high-end cost to refinish your floors.