6 Signs It's Time to Refinish Your Hardwood Floors

Most worn hardwood floors don't need to be torn out. They need to be refinished. The wood under the damage is usually fine. What wears out first is the finish on top.

Here are the signs your floor is ready.

1. Gray or dark spots in high-traffic areas

When the finish wears through, bare wood is exposed. Bare wood soaks up dirt and water, and it starts to turn gray or dark. You'll see it first in hallways, by the kitchen sink and in front of doorways.

2. Scratches you can feel with a fingernail

Light scuffs live in the finish. Deep scratches go into the wood. If your nail catches on them, a cleaning or a new coat on top won't fix them. Sanding will.

3. Water no longer beads up

Drip a little water on the floor. If it beads, the finish is still protecting the wood. If it soaks in or leaves a dark mark, the finish is gone in that spot.

4. The color looks dated

Orange oak and heavy red stains were popular for years. Refinishing takes the floor back to bare wood, so you can pick a new color. We test colors right on your floor, so you see the real result before we commit.

5. You found hardwood under the carpet

A lot of older homes have oak hiding under carpet. It often looks rough at first, with staple holes, paint drips and stains. Much of that sands away. A refinish can bring that original floor back.

6. The floor looks dull even after cleaning

If a deep clean doesn't bring back the shine, the finish is worn thin. Cleaning can't add finish back. Only new coats can.

What refinishing actually involves

A full refinish has a few steps:

• Sanding the floor down to fresh, bare wood so it's flat and clean
• Repairs to loose, damaged or gapped boards before any color goes on
• Stain, tested on your floor first, then applied evenly
• Clear finish coats that protect the wood and set the sheen

Every floor is different. Board thickness, past sanding and damage all decide what's possible. That's why we look at the floor in person before we quote it.

Refinish or replace?

If the boards are solid and thick enough to sand, refinishing is usually the way to go. You keep the real wood and get a floor that looks new. If boards are badly water damaged, cupped or too thin, some may need to be replaced or woven in first. We'll tell you which one your floor needs at the estimate.

The Floor Monkeys way

We move your furniture and move it back. Kirill checks every job himself, and every project comes with a 1-year workmanship warranty in writing.

As Kirill puts it: "The work beneath your floor matters just as much as the surface you see."

Want to know if your floor can be saved? Get a free in-home estimate.