What Is The Life Expectancy of Your Hardwood Floor?

How long will your hardwood floor last? It depends on several things, but wooden floors can last for hundreds of years. Up and down the east coast of the US, there are homes built before the American Revolution that have their original wood floors.

The life expectancy of your flooring will depend on:

The flooring material

Maintenance

Unusual damage

Type of Flooring

Recently installed wood floors are commonly solid wood, 3/4 inch thick. Solid wood floors are made from a variety of wood species, generally hard woods, that will stand up to everyday use. Solid woods are very durable and can be sanded and refinished multiple times. The surface that can be sanded is not the entire thickness of the plank, but the thickness to the tongue and groove which is used to nail the floor to the substrate. This is approximately 1/4 inch in most solid wood flooring products.

Engineered woods or veneered products have strength and structural stability, but the exposed wood surfaces can be thinner and may not withstand substantial sanding. They can be cleaned, of course, and surfaced with waxes and other such products, which will extend their useful life and appearance.

Maintenance

Maintenance can extend the life of a wood floor. Sweeping, vacuuming and gentle washing are normally all that is required to maintain a wood floor. For scratches in the surface, some waxes can be used to disguise the scratch. Oil, wax, or polish the original flooring to keep it in the best shape.

Unusual Damage

Serious gouges or marks in the floor can affect the floor's appearance. Grit, sand and other similar materials can affect the appearance of the floor, although those materials may not affect the structural stability of the floor. In areas where there may be unusually harsh traffic patterns repair may be required. Complete replacement of the floor is normally not necessary.

Wood floors are very durable and, once installed, will likely last for decades if not longer. The surface can be sanded from 6 to 10 times or more, before the floor needs to be replaced entirely. If the floor is resurfaced every 10 to 20 years, the floor will last for a century or more.

Hardwood floors are very long lasting and add to the attractiveness of your home. Sanding and refinishing will put back the original gleam and is a great way to improve the way your home looks.