5 Signs It’s Time for a Floor Remodel

Laminate flooring will typically last from 15-25 years, while other floor types may last for a longer or shorter time than this.

Flooring is one of the most important elements of any home. It’s one of the few components that’s absolutely essential for habitation, but it can also serve as a key aesthetic feature.

You have a range of choices when it comes to flooring, but no matter what you go with, time will take a toll. Eventually, issues will arise, and you’ll need to start considering a full floor remodel. The question is, how do you know when you should do this?

In this guide, we’ll go over 5 key signs that it’s time for a floor remodel. Keep reading for more.

1. Wear and Tear

You can work to keep various parts of your home in good shape. Proper care and maintenance will help you get the most out of things like your flooring, but eventually, wear and tear will start to have an effect.

This is especially true of flooring, as you and your family are constantly walking on it. Regular use will naturally lead to things like scratches, scuffs, gouges, and more. If you have children and/or pets, this will likely occur more quickly.

It’s worth noting that different types of flooring will suffer from wear and tear at different rates. The ways in which certain floor types are affected can also vary. Carpet, for example, won’t scratch, but it can tear.

Sometimes, small scratches and cracks in wood flooring can be repaired. When this kind of damage occurs, you should deal with it quickly. If you leave it, things can get worse, making it more difficult to repair.

Any cracks or scratches that are quite deep can lead to other issues. Contaminants can get trapped in them, and you may not be able to clean them out properly.

As these pollutants sink in, they can lead to issues like mold and mildew which can start to smell, and may even attract termites. Such problems can be incredibly difficult to deal with, so making repairs as soon as possible is always a good idea.

Different Flooring Types

With laminate flooring, you may be able to replace individual sections. This can be much easier and more cost-effective than replacing the whole floor.

The issue here is that the new panels might not match up due to the tone or pattern being slightly different. If this happens (and it’s very noticeable) you might need to replace the entire floor.

If you have carpet, and there’s any damage, it may be possible to replace small sections. Like with laminate flooring, however, a new section might look out of place as it won’t have experienced any of the wear and tear that the older carpet has.

Joining sections of carpet is also only really a short-term solution. Joins can be susceptible to coming apart, especially if there’s a lot of foot traffic on that section of carpet.

2. Water Damage

Water damage is something that can happen in any home, and it can be a huge problem. Any part of your home that’s affected by water damage will need to be replaced, and this includes your flooring.

This is more likely to happen in areas that are prone to flooding, but it can still occur anywhere. Plumbing issues are one of the most common causes, and underfloor leaks can be difficult to detect. In many cases, you won’t know there’s an issue until it’s too late to salvage your flooring.

When water has been seeping into flooring materials for some time, the damage can be extensive. Not only does it promote mold growth (which can be a health hazard for you and your family), but it may also lead to structural issues.

Some other things you might notice are warping floorboards or stains. While other things can cause stains, if you try to clean them and it makes no difference, it’s probably due to water damage.

A clear indicator is when the edges of the flooring “cups” upwards. This doesn’t always happen, but when it does, it’s almost certainly due to water damage.

Sometimes, water damage can affect other areas, not just your flooring. As a result, a full home remodel may be a suitable solution, although this may only be something you’re willing to do if you have various other aspects of your home that you want to change already.

It’s important to note that while water can affect different flooring materials in different ways, it will almost always cause irreparable damage. When unexpected damage occurs, you might not want to splash out too much money dealing with things. Fortunately, you can find cheap flooring options that are still high quality.

3. Noisy Flooring

Noisy flooring might not present any major health risks or structural issues, but it can still affect you every day of your life. Over time, wood floors may become creaky, squeaky, or crunchy. This can be incredibly irritating and is a clear sign that something is wrong.

In some cases, this will happen because some floor boards have come loose. Fastening them can fix things, and this is generally quite easy to do.

This can also happen due to other issues, however, and these can sometimes be a lot trickier to deal with. If a floor hasn’t been poorly installed, for example, replacing the floor might be the only way to get rid of the noise.

Floors might also start to make noise if there’s damage or rot in the flooring or foundations. It can often be very difficult to determine what’s causing such noises.

If you start noticing them, it’s best to call in a professional so they can figure out what the issue is. You should do this as soon as you can. If it is rot, you want to act quickly so that things don’t have time to get worse.

4. Discoloration

Discoloration can happen for various reasons, and some can be more problematic than others. One of the most common causes is natural fading over time. This is generally unavoidable, but UV rays can make it worse.

If you have any rooms that have windows that allow direct sunlight onto specific areas of your floor, this can become quite noticeable. Any areas that are hit with UV rays directly will fade faster than the rest of the floor.

Moisture and chemicals can also alter the color of flooring. If you act quickly to clean up spills, you might be able to prevent permanent staining or discoloration, but this isn’t always possible. It’s worth noting that moisture and chemicals can cause worse issues than discoloration, so this might not be your biggest concern.

When you experience issues with flooring colors, it may be impossible to restore things to their original state. It’s not always the most pressing issue, but the only solution will likely be to replace your flooring.

5. Your Flooring Is Outdated

Flooring trends (like all other trends) change with time. As such, there will likely come a time when the style of flooring you have is simply old-fashioned. On top of this, the quality will degrade over time to the point where you’ll need to replace it.

You can work to keep your flooring in a good state by keeping it clean and making any necessary repairs quickly and effectively. This will help extend its lifespan so you can get as much time out of it as possible.

You won’t be able to avoid replacing it forever, unfortunately. When considering your new flooring, you may want to go for something that you know will stand the test of time well.

At this point, you should look into modern flooring trends to see what materials and styles are popular. You should take your own preferences into account, and before looking into it too much, set a budget so that you know how much you can afford to spend on your new flooring.

When It’s Time for a Floor Remodel

It’s natural to want your floor to last as long as possible. Taking good care of it will help with this, but eventually, it will succumb to water damage, discoloration, wear and tear, or something else.

When such issues occur, you may not be able to make suitable repairs. In this case, a floor remodel will be the best choice. Take the time to look at the different options available so that you can get a new floor in your home that’s perfect for you.

For more home design articles, check out some of our other blog posts.