Even though wood flooring is long lasting and capable of withstanding a large amount of damage or mistreatment, there comes in a time where it is in need of being touched up because of scuffs, scratches or water damage. Treating wood floors can help you preserve your flooring for years. Depending on the degree of the damage to the floor, it may just need a refinishing or a partial replacement in some areas. Nevertheless, in cases of more serious damage, the entire flooring might need to be replaced. If the floor looks damaged it is probably best to evaluate the extent and proceed appropriately so that professionals can repair the strips or planks.
For plain scuffs and shallow scratches, it is most likely a simple job of refinishing the polish on the planks to make it look good as new. The method of refinishing a floor may involve either polishing or sanding down the damaged wood until it is smooth and is an even level across. After the strip is repaired, usually a sealant or coating is used on the plank to keep the wood from further damage. For solid hardwood flooring, the wood may even need a proper varnishing in order to keep a constant aesthetic across the flooring.
On floors with more considerable damage, it may not be possible to restore the individual strips by means of refinishing and instead the tiles has to be replaced with brand new strips. In order to maintain the same look, it is very important that the manufacturer and type of the planks replaced are the same as the previous installation. To prevent further damage to the flooring, the installation must be handled by certified installation technicians and secured with correct fastenings.
If ever the planks are damaged as a result of water damage, it may be necessary to replace the supports under the wood, which needs tearing up the strips and pulling up the cushioning, and reinstalling the new strips and supports. This is a difficult and lengthy process that will cost you a lot of money and requires a lot of technical knowledge, which can be troublesome for a beginner. If a full replacement is needed due to the level of damage, any kind of flooring can be used. This may be a good time to upgrade it to water-resistant flooring that is less prone to damage.
Whether your hardwood flooring just requires a partial touch-up in some spots or a whole replacement, it is always best to contact a professional service to properly check the damage and decide the ideal treatment plan. After the maintenance, it is important to maintain tongue and groove flooring with regular cleaning and polishing to reduce further damage to the strips and prevent unnecessary treatments. Contact the manufacturer to learn the perfect maintenance plan for your flooring, follow their treatment plan, and use recommended maintenance companies and products.
