Is it Time to Replace Your Floors? 5 Signs to Look For
Your floors work hard everyday. Eventually the foot traffic, pets, spills, and drops start adding up. Even the highest quality floors will show signs of wear after a long life. But how do you know when it’s time to stop repairing and start replacing?
Damaged flooring. The most obvious sign that it’s time to replace your floors is when they are damaged beyond repair. Perhaps you have 15 year old tile in the kitchen with multiple cracked pieces. Chances are the tile is no longer being made and if it is, the dye lot is almost certainly different. This is a sign that it may be time to update your floors. The same thing goes for frayed or torn carpet, deeply scratched vinyl, or warped hardwood. Sometimes repairs just aren’t possible.
Permanent stains or odour. This one also seems fairly obvious and pertains mostly to carpet. If a stain or odour can’t be removed from your floors, it’s probably time to redo them. There is a silver lining though. Carpet has some of the most impressive warranty in the industry. With proper cleaning your carpets will last a lifetime, and manufacturers agree. Make sure you go over your warranty carefully and adhere to the cleaning requirements. If you do have signs of wear or an unfortunate stain, you can get your carpet replaced for free.
Loose, squeaky, or uneven flooring. If you notice a change in your flooring some years after it was installed, it may be cause for concern. While it’s natural for homes and floors to move, a drastic change often means something is not right. A little bit of movement is expected in Edmonton homes because of our crazy weather fluctuation. But if you’re feeling loose. squeaky, or uneven floors, it may be a subfloor issue. This can happen when water finds a way under your floors. It could also be a result of an improper installation. Either way, your flooring may need to be replaced.
Outdated flooring. This one is technically non-essential unlike the others reasons above. If you have old flooring in your space, it’s probably experienced some signs of age. We don’t see a lot of 25 year old linoleum that hasn’t faded or yellowed with time. Your floors compliment the rest of your home. In other words, your house is only as strong as its weakest link.
You’re already renovating. If you’re getting done on your home and haven’t addressed the floors in some time, this could be the perfect opportunity. You can create a cohesive design across your entire home and modernize it at its core.
With proper maintenance your floors can last you a long time!