Well, your choice depends on different factors, including the age of your hardwood floor, its condition, your budget, and how much you like your current hardwood floor. Here are important things you should think about when deciding whether to refinish or replace your hardwood floor.
Cost
It’s important to consider the cost of refinishing or replacing a hardwood. Generally, refinishing is less expensive compared to replacing the entire floor. Hardwood floor replacement requires removal of the old floor, acquisition of new wood, and other necessary materials.
On the other hand, you can refinish the damaged section of the floor. This is a cheaper option because you will not incur the cost of removing the entire floor and buying new flooring materials.
The age of your floor
One benefit of hardwood floors is that you can refinish them so many times instead of replacing them completely. Refinishing involves sanding the wooden surface and adding a new layer of sealant or stain. This is an excellent way to maintain your hardwood floor.
Unfortunately, too much sanding and other forms of repair can wear the floor down until it’s too thin. Refinishing your hardwood floor too many times compromises its structural integrity and can cause it to crack easily. So, if your floor is very old and has been repaired several times, it’s the right time to get it replaced.
Your preferences
One of the top reasons people replace hardwood floors is to change the species of the wood used. Most homes in the North American region have oak hardwood flooring. Some property owners love oak’s unique graining, but others prefer a unique hardwood graining such as clear maple or beautiful Brazilian cherry.
If you desire to install a modern-looking bamboo flooring and you have an old maple flooring, it is best to replace the entire floor. Note that you can stain your current hardwood floor with a unique color so don’t just rush to replace your current floor unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Another reason many property owners replace hardwood floors is to change the direction of the wood’s grain structure or the floor plank’s width. The standard width for oak flooring strips in most homes is 2¼,” but today, you can find planks that are 3¼” to 5″. Such floors look more modern and usually make a room appear larger.
Another trick to make smaller rooms appear bigger is to lay the hardwood planks on a diagonal pattern. This way, the planks carry the viewer’s eye along the longest length of a room. If you want these changes, refinishing your hardwood floors may not do the trick. Instead, it would help if you replaced the entire floor with an option that suits your preferences.
Summary
Your decision to replace or refinish your hardwood floor depends on many factors. In addition, your personal circumstances may also affect your decision. For example, if you are moving to a new house, refinishing your floors is more cost-effective than getting them replaced.
