When you have hardwood floors, refinishing is part of maintaining them in the best possible condition over their lifespan. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine when the floors need refinishing. There are a few key things that every homeowner needs to understand when trying to decide how to proceed with hardwood floor care.

Deep Clean The Floors First 

Start with a thorough deep cleaning to help determine if the floors need refinishing. Sweep the floors completely, then vacuum as thoroughly as possible. After vacuuming, you need to clean the floors with a deep cleaning product to eliminate any residual dirt and clean the wood surface. Assess the appearance of the wood floors after the deep cleaning and decide if the surface still shows signs of damage.

Evaluate The Dull, Scratchy Finish

When you clean your wood floors and you're still left with a dull, scratchy finish, that's an indication that the floors need to be refinished. Consider whether you could benefit from applying a different stain or finish on the floors to brighten and restore the finish. You might also need to seal the floors with a urethane coating for added protection.

Check For Gaps And Cracks

When your hardwood floors dry out, they constrict. This leads to gaps between the planks, which can collect dirt and increase the risks of cracks and crumbling on the outer edges of those planks. If you're seeing gaps between the planks or any cracks in the flooring, those are signs of significant damage due to drying, weather issues, or general neglect. You'll have to talk with a hardwood floor refinishing contractor for more guidance about the floor condition.

Consider The Lifespan Of The Floors

Even when your hardwood floors show indications that they need refinishing, you need to consider your flooring's history. If you've had those floors for many years and they have been refinished in the past, you'll need to have a contractor assess the flooring to make sure that you have enough wood available to refinish. Remember that the refinishing process includes sanding, which reduces the thickness of the wood. Make sure you have enough residual wood to complete the process.

These are just some of the things that you need to think about when you're considering whether or not your floors need refinishing. Your local contractor can help you evaluate your hardwood floors, assess their condition, and help you determine the best course of action.

For more info, contact a company like Temple Johnson Flooring Co.