Refinishing Wood Flooring vs Buying a New One: Pros and Cons

Engineered wood flooring in a traditional home

For those out there who already own hardwood flooring, at some point you will most likely find yourself looking at a floor that maybe has lost its luster, whether scratched, damaged, faded, or the color just doesn’t pop the way it once did. The floor is an inherently visible, focal point of the design aesthetic, and a question usually arises: What steps can be taken to remedy this problem? Can we fix the current floor? or is it time for something new? In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of refinishing your existing wood flooring or buying a new pre-finished floor, in order to make the most well-informed decision. 

Refinishing an existing wood floor:

man installing wood flooring

Pros

  • One advantage of refinishing a hardwood floor is that you can change the color if the current one is not on trend anymore or if you are simply looking for a different look. 
  • Having your floors refinished will always be considerably less expensive than purchasing a new floor, due to the fact you are paying mostly for labor while with a new floor you will be incurring in material and labor costs. The average price to refinish a wood floor can oscillate between $5-$10 per sf. 

Cons

  • A drawback of refinishing a wood floor is the fact you need to leave the property for the time the floor is being installed. This can be expensive if the job takes longer than expected. 
  • All the furniture needs to be removed before the professionals get to the job site. 
  • Due to all of the debris generated, it is important to take precautions such as taping your vents and covering all of your fixed furniture in plastic. Dust gets everywhere even in the smallest spaces and openings. 
  • If you or a family member suffer from allergies or asthma, just be aware that refinishing will spread a considerable amount of dust and other allergens, which can be difficult to breathe or ingest and can linger in the house even after the professionals have cleaned. 
  • The floor finish needs a couple of months to cure. Be aware that the strong smell will linger during this time, and the floor is more susceptible to shoes, high heels, pets, etc…

Notes

  • Refinishing or installing a wood floor is an art, it involves technical knowledge and experience. Therefore, we strongly suggest you look for a professional and avoid trying to do this on your own as it can be even more expensive than hiring an expert from the beginning.
  • Make sure your contractor checks the remaining life of the floors if this is something that you will take into consideration when deciding to either buy a new floor or refinish the existing one 

Buying a new wood floor:

Engineered wood flooring in a living room

Pros

  • Installation of a new floor is generally a much quicker process as opposed to refinishing. You just need to move your furniture away, so the contractors do their art, and when you come back from work, you will be able to use the room right away. 
  • You also won’t have to worry about any dust or allergens being spread around your home. 
  • A new hardwood floor will come with a warranty, giving you some peace of mind in case anything goes wrong. Woodpecker floors come with an impressive 100-year warranty. 
  • Pre-finished boards are made in a controlled environment to avoid irregularities. The finish is evenly spread making the color and thickness consistent. For Woodpecker floors, five coats of finish are applied to enhance their durability. Also, between coats, each board is cured with UV light to seal the finish and make it last for a century. Very few contractors offer this service due to the high cost of the machinery, this doesn’t mean the refinished boards are not durable, rather that the factory finish is guaranteed for longer.

Cons

  • The main disadvantage of going with a pre-finished hardwood floor is you are limited to certain colors and finishes. You can certainly go with custom options but it’s normally more expensive.
  • Normally, pre-finished floors come from the factory with a micro-beveled edge. This is a beautiful, natural, and distinctive look that might be preferred by some, but not by others. With a site-finish, you have the option of having a square edge that the installer can sand, leaving it smooth, giving the appearance of a more uniform look. 

Notes

  • Most manufacturers will cycle product lines every few years, making it considerably harder to match replacement planks. Therefore, remember to buy a few extra boxes to keep in storage in case you need to replace some boards. 

We hope this information has helped you make your decision. However, if you still have questions
please reach out and contact us. We will be happy to help you. We offer complimentary samples so you
can see and feel our exquisite product in real life before you make your final decision.