Hardwood floors are a beautiful and durable choice for flooring. Still, just like any other type of flooring, hardwood occasionally needs maintenance, including repairs to keep them looking great for years to come. Fixing your hardwood floors when they start showing signs of distress is an excellent way to prevent needing a replacement floor earlier than you’d otherwise need to. Here are a few signs that your hardwood floor needs repairs.
Splinters
If you have a shoes-off home, you’ll notice if your floors are splintering pretty quickly. If not, lightly run your hand over sections of the flooring to see if the floor is smooth or if it catches. A splintering floor means that the current sealer has worn off, so you’ll need to reseal it. However, before you do that, you should sand the floor to get rid of loose splinters and roughness.
Dents and Scratches
A little bit of surface scratching is unavoidable with hardwood floors, but this shouldn’t be a problem with a proper sealant. However, if your sealant is old or improperly placed, scratches can get through to the wood below. If you notice significant scratches or dents, you’ll need to start repairing them before the exposed wood becomes damaged further.
Graying
If your hardwood flooring is turning gray, water damage is usually the culprit. Generally, these floorboards can be repaired to be good as new, but if the water damage has gone too far and the boards have turned black, you’ll need to replace them.
Stains
Staining can occur for several reasons, but the most common cause is water damage. If water or pet urine is cleaned up immediately, there isn’t usually a problem. However, even a small drip can stain hardwood flooring over time. Pipes, air conditioners, and pets should all be monitored, so they aren’t leaving unwanted puddles on your hardwood flooring.
Cupping
Cupping is when individual floorboards begin to sink in the middle or pull up at the edges. Again, the most common reason for cupping is water damage. However, even the humidity in the air can cause this type of damage; a dehumidifier may be necessary to prevent cupping.
If caught early on, mild cupping can be mended by sanding. Once floorboards begin to separate from each other, though, you’ll need to think about replacing them.
Fading/Discoloration
Fading and discoloration of hardwood flooring are usually due to sun damage, so if you have large windows that let in a lot of light, you’re likely to see fading over time. Luckily, this can be easily remedied with refinishing to get the floorboards back to their original color.
Contact Central Mass Hardwood
If your hardwood floor needs repairs, Central Mass Hardwood has you covered. As expert hardwood flooring contractors, we’re ready to assist with refinishing, repairs, and replacements. Contact us today to request a custom quote and schedule a service!
