Foot traffic and moisture. Kids and pets. Your wood floors work hard day in and day out, but even the toughest floors don’t last forever, and everyday wear eventually takes its toll. 

Scratches no longer disappear. Boards creak and shift. Are these just signs of normal wear that refinishing can remedy, or is it time for an upgrade? How do you know when to replace hardwood floors?

Here, the professionals at Interior Motives Flooring uncover the key indicators for when to replace old hardwood floors, replacement options, and how to decide on the best flooring solution for your home.

when to replace old hardwood floors

Table of Contents

When To Replace Hardwood Floors: 7 Signs It’s Time

Signs it’s time to replace hardwood floors range from structural damage to aesthetic appeal and lots of things in between.

If you’re in the market for new flooring, look no further than Interior Motives Flooring. Operating with a showroom (by appointment only) in Auburn, WA, we’re a full-service carpet, hardwood, tile, vinyl, and laminate flooring store led by father and son, Dave and Bradey Krone. 

Reach out today to book your free flooring estimate.

when to replace hardwood floors

#1: Structural Damage

Indicators of structural damage that necessitate replacing your hardwood floors include: 

  • Severe warping or buckling: If planks have become permanently crowned or cupped, or have lifted from the subfloor, they generally can’t be sanded flat or salvaged.
  • Massive pest or termite damage: If the overall structural integrity of your planks and support joists has been compromised by wood-boring insects, all affected spots must be removed, and the underlying structure must be treated.
  • Extensive rot and decay: If the flooring or the subfloor underneath it is soft, rotted, or crumbling due to long-term moisture exposure, there’s no way to safely repair it.
  • Floating or bouncing floors: Floors that sag, dip, or bend under weight indicate uneven or failing subfloor structures.
  • Subfloor moisture degradation: If moisture has completely compromised the integrity of your floor’s plywood or OSB subfloor, surface restoration is impossible.

#2: Floor Movement

Are your hardwood floors obviously swaying, bending, shifting, or buckling under your weight? If so, those are obvious signs it’s time to replace that section, or sometimes the entire floor.

Occasionally, however, floor movement is much more subtle. Check your floors by using a level or by seeing if a marble stays put or rolls from one end of the room to the other. This type of movement could be caused by something like a water leak or foundation cracks, and a contractor should be called in to assess the damage.

when do hardwood floors need to be replaced

#3: Excessive Wear

The in-and-out scooting of chairs, high-heeled shoes, sharp pet claws, and aggressive cleaning products can wreak havoc on hardwood flooring. 

Examples of excessive wear and tear that may indicate the need to replace hardwood floors include: 

  • Deep scuffs, gouges, and scratches
  • Gaps
  • Discoloration
  • Wearing away of the thickness due to multiple sandings as evidenced by a visibly thin wear layer, exposed nails or staples, and an inability to achieve a smooth, even finish

#4: Extreme Floor Damage

If more than 30% of a hardwood floor has been damaged, replacing the flooring becomes more cost-efficient than refinishing it.

Common signs of severe floor damage take the form of: 

  • Warping
  • Chipping
  • Stains
  • Termite infestation
  • Water exposure
  • Paint stains
  • Black spots
  • Nail holes
  • Patch jobs
  • And more

#5: Outdated Floor Design

Flooring trends ebb and flow, and what was once the height of flooring fashion might now be profoundly out of style today. Outdated flooring can have a significant impact on your home’s overall aesthetic. 

Updating old hardwood floors with one of the new, stylish options can revitalise your space and create a fresh, modern look. 

If it’s time to replace your hardwood floors, Interior Motives Flooring has a variety of modern flooring options to choose from, including a wide selection of:

  • Tile
  • Vinyl
  • Laminate
  • Hardwood
  • Carpet

Contact us today to schedule an appointment to tour our Auburn showroom!

when to replace hardwood floors

#6: Noisy Floors

Squeak. Creak. Creak. Squeak.

If those are the sounds you hear every time you walk into a room, it’s a sign that it may be time to replace them. 

In wooden floors, these noises can result from: 

  • Loose planks or nails
  • Gaps between boards
  • A weakened subfloor
  • Flooring materials that have deteriorated with age

#7: Property Value

If you’re looking for a way to boost the residual value of your property, replacing old hardwood flooring will likely be a wise investment. Research has shown that new hardwood flooring can give you up to 118% in returned investment. 

While solid hardwood is the ultimate buyer favorite, engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) are also popular options. 

New floors can significantly enhance the appeal of your home by:

  • Projecting a “move-in ready” feel
  • Maximizing square visual space
  • Giving an improved perception of cleanliness
  • Preventing buyer concessions for repairs

when do you replace old hardwood floors

When Hardwood Floor Replacement Is Necessary, Consider These Options

When you decide it’s time for your hardwoods to be replaced, you’ll need to choose the type of flooring you want to replace it with. The great news is, you’ve got plenty of options!

Solid Hardwood

Overall, solid hardwood floors are the top replacement option. Not only are they timeless and beautiful, but they’re also known for:

  • Their long lifespan
  • Increasing home value
  • Providing timeless interior aesthetics
  • Natural features, including low to no VOCs
  • Superior durability
  • A wide variety of options to choose from
  • The option to refinish

Softwood Flooring

Softwood flooring is crafted from evergreen or conifer trees such as fir, spruce, pine, and cedar. Unlike what the name implies, softwood flooring isn’t soft. “Soft” actually refers to the tree’s method of reproduction (seeds with cones and needles), not its density. 

While softwood floors are more prone to dings and scratches and aren’t ideal for rooms that receive heavy use, these floors are highly valued for their:

  • Affordability
  • Light, natural tones
  • Rustic charm
  • DIY-friendliness
  • Warmth underfoot
  • Sustainable growth rate compared to traditional hardwoods

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is made of a plywood core with a thin veneer of real wood on top and looks and feels identical to solid hardwood flooring. 

While virtually every type of hardwood can be used for engineered hardwood floors, natural hardwood is typically a more solid choice over engineered wood as it’s more durable, longer-lasting, and generally more versatile. You also cannot refinish engineered hardwood flooring more than once or twice. 

Advantages of engineered flooring include:

  • Affordability (costing around $4–$7 per square foot)
  • More water-resistant than solid hardwood
  • Ease of maintenance, usually just requiring a wet mop

Laminate and Luxury Vinyl Planks

Two other popular flooring replacement options include laminate and luxury vinyl planks. 

Laminate flooring is a modern hybrid type of flooring that consists of a wood base, an image layer, and a durability layer at the top. It comes in a variety of styles, textures, and finishes and boasts several popular benefits, including:

  • Easy and quick installation
  • Budget-friendly options
  • Wide variety of styles and designs to choose from
  • Comfortable under-foot feel
  • Practical for families with children or pets
  • Availability of water-resistant options

Luxury vinyl flooring is made of synthetic material and consists of a number of styles including:

  • Wood-look LVP
  • Stone-look LVP
  • Tile-look LVP

It’s also known for: 

  • Versatility
  • Ease of installation
  • Budget-friendliness
  • Resilience and durability
  • Being waterproof
  • Low maintenance
  • Availability in a wide range of style and design options
  • And more

Is It Worth Refinishing Old Hardwood Floors?

Refinishing vs. replacing old hardwood floors depends on a variety of factors that include: 

  • Type of wood
  • Wood thickness 
  • Project logistics
  • Cost
  • Time
  • Living situation

Type of hardwood: Typically, solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished four to six times while engineered hardwood can usually only be refinished once or twice.

Thickness of the wood: To be refinished, the floor must have at least ⅛” of thickness above the tongue and groove.

Project logistics and cost: Nationally, the cost of professional refinishing averages $3 to $7 per square foot. While doing it yourself is more economical, the process is highly messy and labor-intensive.

Time: The refinishing process consists of sanding, puttying, staining, and multiple top coats and generally takes about a week.

Living situation: The refinishing process creates a considerable amount of dust, and finishes produce strong fumes, so you’ll need to move your furniture and vacate the house until the project is complete.

Not Sure Whether To Replace or Refinish Your Hardwood Floors? Call the Pros at Interior Motives Flooring To Help You Understand Your Options

The professional team at Interior Motives Flooring has been serving residents in and around Auburn, WA, since 1989. 

We have the expertise it takes to help you choose a flooring option that uplifts your home’s appearance and brings functionality to your life. With our premium selection of high-quality flooring and our professional flooring installation, we provide the level of care and attention you expect from a small-town company with the wide selection and pricing you’d get from a big box store.

Whether you’re looking for hardwood flooring installation in Auburn, WA, or are unsure what flooring will best meet your needs, our team can guide you in the right direction. 

Ready to get started? Contact Interior Motives Flooring today for a free estimate. 

when to replace hardwood floors