How Often Do Hardwood Floors Need To Be Refinished?

Hardwood floors are more than just a surface to walk on—they're an investment in the beauty and value of your home. In fact, they can add up to 2.5% to the value of your home! Over time, however, daily wear and tear can take a toll, leaving your floors looking worn and dull. This is where refinishing can make a big difference. 

Refinishing hardwood floors is essential for keeping them looking their best and preserving their integrity for years to come. Not only does it restore the luster and beauty of your floors, but it also helps to protect them from further damage. By addressing scratches, dents, and worn-out finishes, refinishing can breathe new life into your hardwood floors, making them a focal point of your home once again.

The question is - how often do hardwood floors need to be refinished? The answer depends on various factors such as foot traffic, the type of finish used, and the overall condition of your floors. In this guide, the team at  Red Label Abrasives goes over everything you need to know about hardwood floor refinishing, including when and how to do it for the best results.

How Often Should Hardwood Floors Be Refinished?

Hardwood floors add warmth and elegance to any home, but to keep them looking their best, they need regular maintenance. Refinishing hardwood floors is an essential part of this upkeep, but how often should it be done?

Several factors influence how often hardwood floors should be refinished:

• Traffic:High-traffic areas such as hallways and living rooms tend to wear down faster than low-traffic areas like bedrooms. If your floors experience heavy foot traffic, they may need to be refinished more frequently.
• Wear and Tear:Pets, furniture, and other sources of wear and tear can take a toll on hardwood floors by causing scratches, dents, and worn-out finishes. The more wear and tear your floors endure, the more often they'll need refinishing.
• Type of Finish: Oil-based finishes typically last longer than water-based finishes and may require refinishing less frequently.

While there's no one-size-fits-all answer to how often hardwood floors should be refinished, here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Light Wear:If your floors have minimal wear and tear and are only starting to show signs of dullness or minor scratches, they may only need to be refinished every 7-10 years.
• Moderate Wear: For floors with moderate wear and tear, such as visible scratches and worn-out finishes, refinishing every 3-5 years is recommended to maintain their appearance and integrity.
• Heavy Wear: If your floors experience heavy traffic and significant wear and tear, they may need to be refinished every 1-3 years to prevent further damage and keep them looking their best.

Signs Your Hardwood Floors Need To Be Refinished

There are several different visual signs you can look for in the appearance of your hardwood floors to determine if your floors need to be refinished. Signs you should look for include:

• Visible Scratches and Gouges:Deep scratches or gouges that can't be buffed out indicate that the protective layer has worn away, leaving the wood vulnerable to damage. Refinishing can smooth out these imperfections and restore the appearance of your floors.
• Worn-Out Finish: Over time, the protective finish on hardwood floors can wear away, resulting in areas where the wood is exposed and looks dull. If you notice patches where the finish has worn off or the wood appears discolored, refinishing can renew the protective layer and restore the shine to your floors.
• Discoloration or Staining: Stains and discoloration can occur on hardwood floors due to spills, exposure to sunlight, or general wear and tear. If you have stubborn stains that won't come out with regular cleaning, refinishing can remove the damaged layer and restore the original color of your floors.
• Unevenness:As hardwood floors age, they may become uneven due to wear in high-traffic areas. Uneven floors not only detract from the appearance of your home but can also pose safety hazards. Refinishing can level out the surface of your floors, making them look more uniform and reducing the risk of tripping or falling.

Regular refinishing offers several benefits, including restoring the appearance of your hardwood floors, protecting them against damage, extending their lifespan, and increasing the resale value of your home. By addressing wear and tear early on, you can keep your hardwood floors looking their best.

Do You Need to Refinish or Simply Polish?

In some cases, your hardwood floors may need a simple polishing instead of total refinishing. One easy way to tell is using the water droplet test. Here's how it works:

1. Place a few drops of water on the floor in an inconspicuous area.
2. Observe how the water behaves. If the droplets soak into the floor immediately, leaving dark spots behind, it indicates that the wood fibers are exposed and the floor needs to be refinished. If the water beads up on the surface and does not soak in, the finish is still intact, and you likely only need to clean and polish the floor.

This simple test can help you determine the condition of your hardwood floor and decide whether refinishing or polishing is necessary to restore its appearance.

Recommended Abrasives for Hardwood Floor Refinishing

While you can hire a professional to refinish your hardwood floors, it’s also a task you can do yourself with the right supplies and equipment. We have a complete step-by-step guide on how to refinish hardwood floors that you can use as a reference. When sanding hardwood floors, we recommend using abrasives with a zirconia grain. Zirconia strikes a good balance between performance and affordability, making it an ideal choice for floor refinishing projects. 

Unlike aluminum oxide abrasives, which are more common but may not provide the same level of efficiency, zirconia can help speed up your work without being too aggressive for hardwood floors. It is also more durable than aluminum oxide, ensuring that zirconia sanding discs, belts, and sandpaper last longer and deliver consistent results throughout the sanding process. 

Refinish Your Hardwood Floors With Products From Red Label Abrasives

Maintaining the beauty and longevity of your hardwood floors is essential for preserving the value and appeal of your home. By regularly assessing the condition of your floors and performing simple tests like the water droplet test, you can determine whether refinishing or just polishing is needed to keep them looking their best.