Refinishing Solid vs Engineered Hardwood Floors
What Floors Can Be Refinished and What is the Process?
Wood flooring remains the most popular type of flooring in residential properties throughout Texas. Nearly all types of flooring are either made with wood or designed to mimic wood. Within the field of hardwood flooring, there are two types of flooring that are especially popular:
- Solid Hardwood Flooring
- Engineered Wood Flooring
Both are good options, and at Texas Hardwood Flooring in Dallas, we’ll happily consult with you to determine what type of flooring meets your needs and your budget. But one of the primary questions that people have with this type of flooring is “how long will it last?”
All flooring is an investment, and so it is understandable to worry that your flooring – especially wood flooring, which is a bit more at risk for dings and scratches – is something that you can capably repair should issues arise. “Refinishing” is the answer!
About Hardwood Refinishing
The term for restoring an older floor is “refinishing.” It is the process of enhancing and restoring the look of a floor after it has become faded and damaged. Not all floors can be refinished. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), for example, is highly resistant to damage but cannot be refinished.
Both solid and engineered hardwood floors can be refinished, but the conditions differ for each type. Find out more below:
Solid Hardwood Floor Refinishing
Solid hardwood flooring is flooring made from a single piece of real, natural wood. It is also quite thick, giving homeowners a lot to work with.
Solid hardwood can absolutely be refinished: In fact, refinishing hardwood is considered a standard part of maintenance for solid hardwood flooring. Traditional refinishing involves sanding down the solid hardwood floor with a drum sander or orbital sander, filling any damage and imperfections with wood filler, staining (if desired), and then applying a protective finish.
The thickness of the wood, which is typically ¾ of an inch, means that it can be refinished multiple times without losing the heart of the wood. You should expect to be able to refinish your hardwood up to 5 or 6 times before the flooring will need to be replaced. We recommend that you always have a professional perform this type of maintenance to prevent over-sanding of the wood.
Engineered Wood Floor Refinishing
Engineered hardwood flooring is still real wood but consists of a thin layer of real wood veneer over a plywood or HDF core. The thickness of the veneer is typically only a few millimeters, though some higher end engineered wood flooring can be as much as 6mm.
Because the top layer of wood is so thin, refinishing is both difficult and risky. But it may be possible. It will depend entirely on the thickness of the veneer:
- 2mm – Do not refinish, as it is too thin.
- 3mm to 4mm – You can potentially refinish once, though it comes with risks.
- 5mm+ – This is made to be refinished once. Some 5mm engineered floors could be refinished a second time but you should consult an expert you trust who can make sure you fully understand the risks involved.
The process to refinish the floor is otherwise the same as solid hardwood flooring, but one would have to be much more careful because any unnecessary additional sanding could cause irreparable damage. It is also best to consult your flooring company before refinishing to double check the thickness of the floor.
Conclusion: Refinishing With Texas Hardwood Flooring
One of the benefits of hardwood flooring is that it can last for decades when properly maintained. This is true not only of solid hardwood flooring, but also some types of higher end engineered hardwood, provided it is more than 3mm thick and has not been refinished before.
No matter your flooring, always consider reaching out to Texas Hardwood Flooring in Dallas. We’re flooring experts that are here to address your most pressing concerns and can provide you with both maintenance and new flooring at some of the best rates in DFW. Call today to get started.
