There are really 4 main options and I will tackle them from most expensive to least expensive.
1.Floor replacement: Deciding on replacing or repairing of the floors comes down to three main factors. a. Is the wood in a condition that it can be repaired? Does it have enough of a wear layer left to be sanding and refinished? b. How bad and how extensive is the wear? Are there pet stains in a lot of different spots or just a few? Is the damage just wear or are there dark stains?
If there are few bad stains it is often practical to replace the old boards with new boards lanced in to make the new boards virtually unnoticeable. If there is enough would left to sand it usually will be more cost effective and a good result to repair as opposed to replacing. This is obviously a big money saver as the savings of material and also demo work.
On the other hand, if the floor has pet stains everywhere or there is extensive damage to the subfloor it is most likely time for a new floor!
Sanded and refinished!
2. Sand and Refinish: Most hardwoods fall into this category. This is roughly half the cost of a complete floor replacement. If your floor is dull, maybe scratched up, getting some wear spots in high traffic areas they can often be brought back to life with a traditional sand and finish or if you want to change the color to a more “on trend” color sand and refinish is your best option.
This is no longer the dusty disaster it was 20 years ago! We use a dustless system (nothing is actually dustless) and our team cleans up well. However, we know that after a long few days of sanding, staining, applying multiple coats of a finish my teams will miss some dust, EVERYONE DOES! Our solution to that problem is to follow up the next day with a professional cleaner (at our expense).
3. Screen and Recoat: Opt for a screen and recoat if your hardwood floors have minor surface scratches, dullness, or light wear and tear, but the overall condition is still good. This is typically a one day process and it involves abrading the existing finish with a fine abrasive screen or pad. After that, a new layer of finish is applied. It doesn’t involve a completing sanding down to the bare wood. This is a good maintenance procedure that can be done more frequently and brings the “pop” back to a floor.
Before making a decision, it’s advisable to consult with a flooring professional who can assess the condition of your floors and provide personalized recommendations based on your specific situation. At R3 Flooring we are available for a free consultation to discuss the various options, costs and the best solutions for you!
I am often asked, what questions should I ask a floor refinishing company when I am getting estimates. I think the following questions are critical:
-
Do you have insurance?
-
Is the estimate price firm?
-
Can I have some references?
-
How far out are you booked?
-
Do you offer financing?
-
What is the warranty?
-
What is your preparation and cleanup?
-
How long will this disrupt our normal day to day life?
R3 Flooring (r3flooring.com)
Mr. Sandless Kansas City (Facebook, Mr. Sandless Kansas City)
Fortress Floors KC (fortressfloorskc.com)