Maintenance
When to refinish vs. replace a hardwood floor
August 3, 2025 · 4 min read
Most floors get sanded too late or ripped out too early. A few checks tell you which side you are on.
Refinish when the wear layer is intact. Deep scratches, gray traffic lanes, and a dull finish are surface problems. If the boards are flat and the wood is solid under the finish, sanding brings it back for a fraction of replacement cost.
Replace when the structure is gone. Cupping that will not flatten, boards sanded past the tongue, widespread water damage, or a subfloor that has failed are not refinish problems. Patching around them leaves a floor that looks patched.
The line between the two is the wear layer. We measure it with a gauge before we quote. If there is a quarter inch of wood above the tongue, the floor can be sanded. If not, we talk about replacement or a targeted board-level repair.