Signs Your Hardwood Flooring Is Scuffed Or Worn Down

Homeowners are particularly fond of hardwood floors. The timeless beauty and durability of wood make it a popular choice for flooring. However, hardwood floors are not indestructible. Over time, they will begin to show signs of wear and tear.

If you’ve been living in your home for a while, you may have started to notice that your once-gleaming hardwood floors are now looking a little worse for wear. Before you can do anything about it, you need to be able to identify the signs that your floors need repair.

Here are some common symptoms that it’s time for a change.

Considerably Large Scratches:

Dragging heavy furniture across the room, flaunting your high heels, aggressive pet claws – there are many ways that your hardwood floors can become scratched.

While light scratches might not be too noticeable, deeper ones will start to become eyesores that can make your whole room look shabby.

If a scratch is deep enough to go through the stain and into the wood, your floor becomes more prone to water damage. Even little spills may cause significant damage if they seep beneath the stain and into the wood.

Discoloration and Fading:

Sun exposure can cause your hardwood floors to fade and discolor over time.

If you have a room that gets a lot of sunlight, you might notice that the floor starts to look lighter in color. But that’s manageable with a fresh coat of stain.

However, more severe fading and discoloration can occur when the floor is constantly exposed to water or humidity. If you observe your hardwood flooring turning from the beautiful deep brown it once was to a dull and lifeless gray, water has already done its job.

Creaking or Moving Floorboards:

The crisp sound of freshly installed hardwood flooring is music to any homeowner’s ears. But as the years go by, you might notice that walking on your hardwood floor has a spooky creaking noise. What could be the cause?

Water damage! Floorboards that shift when you move indicate that the hardwood has absorbed too much moisture and is beginning to swell. At this point, it’s time to call in a professional.

Peeking Nails:

We all know they are there, but do we want to see them every day? Nails that are starting to peek through the surface of your hardwood flooring are a sign that the wood has shrunken and dried out.

If you have stubbed your toe or snagged your sock on a nail, it’s time to take action. You can either replace the boards or fill the holes with wood putty. Nails usually peek out to say hi in the high-traffic areas of a home.

You’ve Already Refinished Them:

An upside to hardwood flooring is that you can refinish them multiple times. However, there comes the point where the floors have been sanded down so much that they are almost paper-thin.

When you see the seams between boards, you can tell it’s time to replace your floors. If the panels are cupping or warping, that’s also a sign that they need to be replaced.

Final Thoughts:

Flooring defines the style of a home, and hardwood floors are a luxurious addition. If you’re planning on installing hardwood floors, reach out to ABP Construction, serving Fort Worth, TX.

We offer flooring solutions for residential and commercial properties. Our team of experts would be more than happy to help you choose the right type of flooring for your needs.

Schedule a free inspection today, and let us help you decide if it’s time for new hardwood flooring.

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