Refinish Hardwood Floors Or Buy New?

Many have been asking this question and not long ago, it might have made more sense to sand and refinish hardwood flooring before replacing it. It can potentially save money, but is it worth the hassle?

Today’s hardwood floors are vastly superior to those made in years past, so that’s one thing to consider before you take on a hardwood floor refinishing project.  Is the old floor worth it? Are you doing this to save time, money, or do you just love your old wood floor?

If it’s an issue of wanting to save money and you’re planning to have your hardwood flooring professionally refinished, the cost might be similar dependent on who performs the work. And you’ll want someone reputable, because the mess created by sanding and refinishing hardwood floors can remain in a home forever.

Tiny sawdust particles, finish chemicals and dirt permeate the air and if not properly removed can coat everything in your home. It’s nearly impossible to remove all of it, but there are companies who do a better job than others and the better ones will be higher on the price scale.

If you’re refinishing hardwood yourself, consider the above paragraph and get ready to encase the entire space in plastic, in addition to having a tedious project that could last days to weeks.

If you have the time, patience, tools and know-how, this could be a project that doesn’t concern you. But if you’re a casual weekend warrior, think carefully before you tackle this project and plan even more carefully.

If you’re planning to do the work yourself or even if you’re not, while a new hardwood floor will likely cost you more, it might not cost you that much more. You also get a better floor with a brand new warranty, superior manufacturer finish and if you like, one that will never have to be sanded and refinished.

The combination of floor manufacturing technology and the internet have made it so these floors are less expensive to produce, easier to install and less expensive. While at one time it could cost thousands upon thousands to replace a wood floor (and it still can), you can now install a new hardwood floor in an average sized room for under one thousand dollars. It’s an option to consider before beginning as large a project as hardwood floor refinishing.

Try not only to compare the actual costs, but also the amount of time it will take, if that time has a value to you, the benefits of having a new floor vs. an old floor, and whether or not it’s worth an extra minimal investment to have a manufacturer backed warranty and superior manufacturer applied surface protectant.

Will it cost more to get a new floor? Perhaps, but perhaps not. If you’re willing to install it yourself (which is much easier than sanding and refinishing a hardwood floor), then it might cost you about the same. You can buy new hardwood on the internet for a fraction of what it used to cost, so if it ends up costing around the same, the decision should be a pretty simple one.