Should you remove old hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors lend a warm, welcoming look to a home but they are not easy to remove or replace once they have done their time. Ripping off the planks the wrong way can ruin your flooring and cause irreparable damage to the subfloor.

Can you put new flooring on top of old flooring?

If the current flooring is fixed to the subfloor and in good condition, you may be able to apply a new flooring over top. However, if the there are broken or worn parts of the current flooring, or if the subfloor itself needs some work, you will need to remove what’s there and start from the bottom.

Do you have to remove old flooring?

If you are ready to upgrade your existing floor, you will need to remove the old vinyl first. In some circumstances, you can install new flooring such as laminate flooring, hardwood or engineered flooring over vinyl flooring as long as it is in good condition.

Can hardwood floors be refinished without sanding?

The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to use a technique called screen and recoat. This involves scuffing up the finish with a floor buffer and applying a refresher coat of finish. The former is a proven floor restoration method, while the latter is the “Hail Mary” pass of floor care.

Should I refinish my hardwood floors before selling?

#1 The Most Important Repair to Make Before Selling: Fix Damaged Flooring. Scratched-up wood flooring; ratty, outdated carpeting; and tired linoleum make your home feel sad. Buyers might take one step inside and scratch the property from their list. If your home already has hardwood floors, refinishing does the job.

Is it cheaper to refinish hardwood floors or replace them?

In general, it will almost ALWAYS be less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors. If you replace them, you need to pay for additional wood as well as ripping up and hauling away existing hardwood. Even if you have this, it will still be less expensive then replacing the whole floor.

Can you install hardwood floor over existing hardwood?

With all that said, although you can add New Wood Flooring over the old one, the answer is YES. New Hardwood Flooring Over Old Hardwood Flooring: 3/4 “thick or thicker Solid or Engineered hardwood flooring must be built over old wood flooring boards (at an angle of 90 degrees).

Can I lay hardwood over existing hardwood?

Yes, you can install new hardwood over your existing yet need to look first to see if this is going to cause height issues for doors, thresholds, cabinetry, wallbase, etc.

Can you put flooring over wood floor?

Laminate flooring can be installed directly over hardwood, often with no preparation necessary. If the hardwood floor is wavy, you will need to do some work to level it out before installing your laminate floor. Installing a laminate floor over hardwood is a great option in many cases.

How can I make my old hardwood floors look better without refinishing?

3 Approaches to Refinishing Hardwood Floors Without Sanding

1. Use a store-bought chemical abrasion kit.
2. Buff and recoat floors with polyurethane.
3. Use a revitalizer.