With proper maintenance, hardwood floors can last a lifetime. Even neglected hardwood floors in old homes can often be refurbished to look like new. Regular cleanings and protecting your floor with doormats are great ways to preserve your hardwood floors, but after years of wear and tear, you may need to invest in hardwood floor refinishing. This blog will cover how often hardwood floors need to be refinished and signs that you should contact a professional.
G3 Flooring has craftsmen who have invested in the best materials and training to serve our community. As a result, we are Bona certified, which means that we have been recognized as top professionals in our field. We are proud to offer local hardwood floor refinishing and installation services.
How Many Times Can You Refinish Hardwood Floors?
Refinishing hardwood floors involves sanding down the wood to remove old stain and finish. Doing this also removes a small layer of wood. For solid hardwood floors, this isn’t a huge issue. After several refinishings, however, your floors will become worn down and eventually need to be replaced.
Some people use floor refinishing as an opportunity to pick a new stain color and revitalize their space. Though this is a great benefit of refinishing, we recommend waiting until your floors need this service rather than simply using it as a facelift. This way, you can avoid shortening your floor’s lifespan.
The hardwood professionals at Bona estimate that you can refinish hardwood floors 4-6 times before this becomes an issue. You’ll need to be more careful with engineered hardwood floors since they usually have a thinner surface layer.
How Long Do Hardwood Floors Last?
With regular wear and tear, the finish on your hardwood floor should last about 7-10 years. Floors in high-traffic areas or that are exposed to a lot of sunlight may need to be refinished more often. So if we do some quick math, your hardwood floors will last up to 60 years with being refinished every ten years! That’s pretty impressive compared to the 15-year lifespan of a carpet.

Signs it’s Time to Refinish Your Floors
Since there isn’t an exact timeframe for refinishing your wood floors, let’s cover a few signs that your floors may need refinishing.
Deep Scratches
Though you may be tempted to write this off as a cosmetic issue, deep scratches on your floors can affect the seal of your finish, leading to water damage.
Discoloration
If your floors are regularly exposed to harsh sunlight, they may start fading in areas. Though this isn’t a huge issue, refinishing will allow you to restore an even color to your flooring.
Water Damage
It’s important to catch water damage early, so that your floorboards don’t start to warp or splinter. Sanding down and resealing your floors can repair minor water damage and prevent it from worsening.
Hardwood Floor Resurfacing Vs. Refinishing
You may have heard the terms resurfacing and refinishing used interchangeably, but they’re actually different processes. Refinishing is the process of sanding down your hardwood floors to remove old stain and finish before resealing them. Resurfacing is a much more involved process for heavily damaged wood floors.
In resurfacing, your flooring professional will remove and replace damaged boards, grind down uneven boards, and reinforce the floor with nails.
Professional Hardwood Floor Refinishing with G3 Flooring
You may be wondering if you can refinish your hardwood floors yourself. It is possible, but refinishing floors requires state-of-the-art equipment that can be dangerous if not operated properly. Also, if you aren’t familiar with hardwood floor finishing techniques, you could end up with an uneven or blotchy finish. At G3 Flooring, we have the expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to beautifully refinish your hardwood floors using the highest quality products. Contact us today if you have questions!