Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Floors

It’s a sad truth, but flooring doesn’t last forever. The more durable the material, the longer it’ll last, but you’ll have to replace your flooring with a new layer at some point or another. That can be pretty expensive to do, however, so it’s best to get to know the signs of a worn-out floor. This will prevent you from having to replace your home’s flooring ahead of time and ensure you get as many years out of your hardwood, laminate, vinyl, lino, tile, or carpet as possible. 

Seeing as we’re a flooring company with 25 years of experience, and we’re staffed by specialist installers who have worked with every floor type and in every condition possible, we’re all too familiar with these signs!

So, is it time to replace your floors? Be on the lookout for signs like these for the right answer. 

The Floor Smells Bad

When a floor has lasted so long it’s taken on an odor of its own, it’s time to replace it. This is more common when you have carpet - especially a deep pile type - as dirt, grime, and moisture can work their way in and settle without you even noticing. 

A definite sign that the floor is too smelly for its own good is when you can’t shift the smell, no matter what substances you try on it. That’s the point at which it absolutely needs to be replaced, as it’s likely the material has fully absorbed the cause of the smell, and that’s impossible to get out. 

Smelly floors can hamper the peaceful experience of living in your home, so be sure to get the old material out of the way and replace it with fresh and clean flooring in good time. 

You Can See Dull and Dark Areas

If your floor no longer has the shine or luster it once did, it’s time to replace it with a new version that’ll bring the color and brightness back into your space. Any and all types of flooring can become dull and darkened over time, usually due to normal wear and tear that leaves them scuffed and marked from years of usage. 

You may notice that some of your floor is darker or duller than other areas, but this is still a sign that your floor is on the way out. 

Some patches of floor will see more traffic than others; in the living room, for example, the carpet underneath the sofa is likely to still be in good condition when compared to the carpet in front of it. Replacing the whole floor will ensure the entire space looks good and will do so for much longer. 

Dark spots can also be a sign of water damage. If water has gotten into your floor, or underneath it, it could be harboring dampness and mold, and will likely start to damage the entire floor after a while. What was once a small spot of dampness can soon turn into entire floorboards starting to bend and twist. Get the damaged boards up and let the water dry ASAP. 

There’s A Lot of Scratches

Scratches that are visible on the floor aren’t necessarily a problem, but they can be a major eyesore. The moment they start to build up, your whole floor seems to be one big scratch—that’s when you need to replace it. This is a much more common issue for those who live with pets. Dogs and cats alike can leave grooves on the floor all over your home, whether it’s wood, laminate, or carpet. 

You may also notice that some scratches are only surface level while others have punctured deeper into the flooring material. Too many of these deep scratches can be a hazard, as they’re more likely to let moisture get under the floorboards. It’s best to replace the floor before any water damage sets in, as that can be a pretty expensive job to have to cope with!