Repair when the damage is localised and the rest of the floor is sound. Replace when the subfloor is compromised, when boards are cupped beyond flattening, or when there is not enough material left to work with. The decision is usually made by what is underneath, not by how bad the surface looks.
When repair is the right call
Scratches and worn finish on hardwood, which is a refinishing job rather than a repair. A handful of damaged boards in an otherwise sound floor, which can be cut out and replaced. Cracked tiles where the substrate is still solid. Lifted or separated vinyl planks at a seam. Loose boards that squeak, which is usually a fastening problem.
When replacement is the honest answer
Water has reached the subfloor and it has swollen or delaminated. Hardwood boards are cupped so severely that sanding flat would remove too much material. A previous refinish has already taken the floor close to the tongue. Laminate has swollen at the seams, which cannot be reversed. Tile is cracking in a pattern that follows the joists, which means the substrate is flexing and relaying tile will simply repeat the failure.
Refinishing: the middle option people forget
A tired hardwood floor is usually a finish problem, not a wood problem. Refinishing runs $3 to $8 per square foot against $8 to $15 for a new solid hardwood floor. A standard three-quarter-inch solid floor typically allows four to six full sandings across its life. We measure the wood remaining above the tongue at a vent or doorway before advising, because that is what decides whether another sanding is possible.
It is also one of the better-returning interior projects. The National Association of Realtors Remodeling Impact Report puts hardwood refinishing at roughly 147% cost recovery at resale.
Matching repairs into an existing floor
Replacing a few boards in a floor that has aged for twenty years rarely matches invisibly, because the surrounding wood has darkened and the new boards have not. Options are to accept the difference, to take boards from a closet or under an appliance so the mismatch is hidden, or to refinish the whole floor after the repair so everything takes the same finish. We will tell you honestly which is realistic before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Can a water-damaged floor be saved?
Sometimes, if the subfloor is fully dried first and the damage has not gone through. Laying anything over a damp subfloor guarantees a second failure.
How much does a floor repair cost?
Localised repairs are quoted per job rather than per square foot, because the work varies enormously. We will tell you if repair is not the better value.
Why does my floor squeak?
Usually movement between the floor and the subfloor, or between the subfloor and the joist. It is often fixable without replacing anything.