Hardwood floors last for many years but there will come a time when they are beyond repair and need to be replaced, but when are hardwood floors beyond repair and what are the signs?
Although there are several things that can cause hardwood flooring to be replaced, the most common are structural damage such as severe warping or infestations like woodworm or termites.
This is not the entire list, however, so keep reading to find out all the factors that can cause a hardwood floor to be replaced, as well as when you should consider repairing instead.
How To Tell If Your Hardwood Floor Needs Replacing
Below we have listed the telltale signs that your hardwood floor is beyond repair and needs to be replaced. If you notice any of these problems then you should get in touch with a professional as soon as possible.
Water Damage
If your floor has experienced significant water damage this can lead to subfloor damage as well as severe warping, cupping and buckling.
While mild warping, buckling or cupping can be repaired severe cases require replacing planks. An easy way to distinguish between the two is to see if any floorboards have come loose or out of position, but it should be quite obvious if the problem is beyond repair.
Water damage can also lead to mold problems underneath the floor.
Mold
Mold is much less common to find in households, but it can build up over time if you don’t maintain the right amount of humidity or if you spill liquids on your floor without clearing them up properly.
If the floorboards remain damp for a long enough period of time they will begin to rot as the mold develops and grows. Once the floorboards are rotting they lose structural integrity and must be replaced as soon as possible.
Infestations
Another thing that can cause a hardwood floor to need replacing is infestations such as woodworm or termites.
Some smaller infestations, especially if you can notice them early and deal with them, might not be a big deal. But if you have an infestation and don’t notice it before it is too late you will need to replace the entire floor as well as fumigate your house.
Squeaks and Other Sounds
If your floor starts to make loud noises as you walk over it, this can be a sign that the floor is expanding or contracting or that the subfloor beneath has become damaged.
While small creaks can be common, if you notice the sounds starting to get louder and more complex it might be the right time to contact a professional and get your floor replaced.
When To Repair Instead
It is crucial to know the difference between problems that can be repaired easily and those that can’t.
Fortunately, hardwood floors are pretty resilient and you can repair a lot more problems than you would expect. Let’s take a look at the main problems that can be fixed with a repair rather than replacing individual floorboards, or the entire floor!
Early signs of Buckling/Cupping/Warping
If you can notice any changes in shape to your hardwood floor these are likely the early signs of buckling, cupping or warping.
These can all be reversed by changing the level of moisture content within the floor, which can be achieved by altering the humidity in the room as well as a few other methods. If you can spot these signs early you can easily reverse the process and not have to worry about replacing the affected floorboards further down the line.
Early Signs of Infestations
The key sign of an infestation is if there are small holes either on the surface of your hardwood floor or in between any gaps. We highly recommend checking for signs of infestations every week or even daily depending on your location and how prone your location is to insects.
Get in touch with a pest control company as soon as you notice any signs of an infestation and you may be able to stop it before it spreads to your entire floor and damages it beyond repair.
Gaps Between Floorboards
Having gaps between some floorboards is very common and happens as a result of individual floorboards changing size.
Floorboards change size as the moisture content within them changes. This can happen throughout the year as the seasons change and the humidity of the air changes with it, or from other factors like water spills or showering and cooking.
If you notice large gaps forming this is because the floorboards are shrinking due to low moisture content. In this case, you can try to increase the humidity of the air which in turn will increase the moisture content within the wood – causing it to expand.
An easy way to increase the air humidity is by using a humidifier, but there are other ways to do this as well which you can read about in our guide here.
Final Thoughts
Hardwood floors can be beyond repair due to a number of different reasons, and hopefully, you understand how to spot the signs by reading this article.
Most of the time you should be able to repair your floor, as hardwood flooring is very hardy and should last for many years assuming nothing drastic happens.