03/31/2024
CAN THIS FLOOR BE SAVED?
If you’re not someone who sands floors every day, it can be difficult to know if a particular floor can be screened, sanded, or if it needs replacement. In order to save yourself time, headaches, and unnecessary expenses, this is a question that should be asked before you start any wood floor project.
People who chose to have hardwood installed in their current home know the history of their floors. For example, they know that a particular liquid stain is urine from a pet accident and not an overflow from a watered house plant. However, many people do not have that luxury - they inherited floors with an unknown past. When deciding the fate of their floors, these individuals can only make decisions based on what they see. Generally speaking, wear from dirt, dog nails, and heavy foot traffic can be screened or sanded out. Damage from liquids, on the other hand, are often permanent and require board replacement.
The following samples are presented to help you understand the capabilities and limitations of screening and sanding. Note: these conclusions are made with the assumption that the floor is still sandable. Hardwood floors which have already been sanded in their lifetime may not be sandable, because solid hardwood floors and the veneer of engineered hardwood floors are only so thick - at some point they can no longer be sanded.
NEGLECT: Machine marks. Homeowners without the requisite knowledge or hired individuals with machinery that isn’t properly adjusted can leave behind unsightly marks all over a floor. Though it will require an aggressive approach, sanding can fix this issue.
CONCLUSION: Yes, it can be saved
