There are several common reasons to restore your floors. These reasons include discoloration, water damage, and scratches. Some homeowners choose to replace their floors instead. Others want to change the look and feel of their house. Fortunately, there are several excellent options available today.
Water Damage
A major flood can cause extensive water damage to your floors. While most of the damage can be repaired with the proper equipment, more severe water damage may require replacement. In such cases, professionals can significantly help with flooring restoration Manhattan NY. However, if you suspect the damage is permanent, you may need to replace the floor.
Water damage is a hazard, so restoring your floors is essential as quickly as possible. One of the most common problems that your floors may experience is discoloration. This typically occurs if the entire floor is wet. Water damage can cause the growth of mold, which can change the color of the wood planks. It may also cause spots or specks to appear on the surface.
Scratches
Scratches on your hardwood floors are a common occurrence. They are caused by foot traffic, furniture dragging, and pets. While these can appear unsightly, they may even buff out over time. If you choose to tackle the repair yourself, consult the maintenance guide provided by the manufacturer to determine the best method. You can use wood putty in the same color as the wood planks for minor scratches.
Discoloration
The first step in restoring your floors is to clean them. To do this, wipe them with a wet microfiber cloth soaked in water. You can also use rubbing alcohol to remove stains. This method removes ink, makeup, crayon marks, and dirt. Make sure to rinse the floors well afterward to prevent further discoloration.
Exposure to sunlight can cause hardwood floors to change color. While refinishing your floors can correct this problem, the discoloration will turn black if left untreated. This will eventually ruin the wood’s structure, which will eventually have to be replaced.
Lack of subflooring
Despite its importance, the subfloor is often forgotten until it’s time to restore your floors. If you’ve noticed that some areas of your floors are creaking, sagging, or uneven, the problem may be with your subfloor. Thankfully, there are several ways to solve this problem. The first is to add more joists. This will help to make the subfloor more stable. Adding more joists will also help to repair the floor, but if you can’t do that, you may need to change the flooring.
The simplest way to check if your subfloor is damaged is to listen for a squeak. These sounds are often unnoticed, but they signify that the subfloor is warped or twisted. If you notice a squeak, you can fix the problem by running extra screws through the subfloor and into the floor joists.
Older Home
Often, the wooden flooring in your older home has seen better days. Restoring it can be less expensive than installing carpet. It also keeps the original design of your home. You should avoid mixing styles from different eras, as they will not look good. Restoring your floors is an excellent way to bring your old home back to life. If your floor has been in use for decades, it is probably time to have it refinished. Excess water in a home can cause structural support beams to weaken and floor joists to buckle and sag. It can also lead to mold and rot.
Floating or Sagging Floors
Sagging and uneven floors can be hazardous and cause numerous accidents in your home. A sagging floor increases the risk of tripping even if you do not have a high-traffic area in your home. Even minor falls can cause serious injury with sharp edges or hard-to-reach places. This is especially dangerous for the elderly or the most vulnerable individuals. Luckily, there are solutions to sagging floors.
While local treatments can remedy most floor problems, some require more extensive repairs. The total repair cost depends on the problem’s nature and how many square feet of flooring are affected. Depending on the cause of the sagging, you may need to replace or reinforce the joists on your floor. This will restore the floor’s level. In severe cases, however, you may have to replace all the flooring sagging above the problem area.
