Should You Repair or Replace Your Flooring?
Even with proper care and maintenance, your flooring will eventually experience wear and tear and damage. If you notice missing tiles, cracked or damaged flooring, water damage, wood rot, pest or animal damage, or other problems, you may need flooring repairs or new flooring installation. But which option is a more cost-effective and sustainable solution for your home? Here are some important factors to consider that will help you choose between flooring repair and new flooring installation.
How Old is Your Flooring?
The older your flooring is, the harder or more expensive it may be to repair. If your flooring is outdated or made from hard-to-source materials, it may be expensive or difficult to find repair materials. While hardwood floors and natural stone floors can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance, other types of flooring like carpeting and ceramic tiles can sustain damage as they age and may be easier to replace than repair. If you have damaged flooring that is over 15 years old, you may find it’s more cost-effective to invest in new flooring installation.
Are You Still Happy with the Style and Type of Flooring?
If you don’t plan on selling your home anytime soon and you aren’t happy with the style and type of flooring you have, you should consider investing in new flooring. For instance, if carpet flooring just isn’t your style, installing a more low-maintenance flooring type like luxury vinyl flooring can enhance your comfort and satisfaction with your home.
Do You Plan on Selling Your Home?
If you plan on selling your home in the next 5-10 years, installing new flooring can offer a great return on your investment. Homes with new flooring may sell faster and for a higher asking price than homes with damaged or outdated flooring. A home with new, modern flooring like laminate flooring will also attract more high-quality buyers who don’t want to invest in extensive renovation and repair costs for a new home.
Where is the Flooring Installed?
Some areas of your home get more foot traffic than others, and so they experience more wear and tear. In those areas, you need durable, high-quality flooring that can withstand the foot traffic. Additionally, the location of your damaged flooring will help you choose between flooring repairs and new flooring installation because you will need to consider the moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations in that part of your home. For instance, bathroom flooring may not last as long as bedroom flooring, and damage may be more extensive. If you have moderate to significant flooring damage in your bathroom, it will often be more cost-effective to install new tile flooring. If you have minor damage in a low foot traffic area of your home, flooring repairs are a more economical solution.
Is Your Flooring Showing Major Signs of Damage?
Even if your flooring is in a low-foot traffic area of your home, if it is showing signs of major damage it may need to be replaced. If you notice any signs of significant damage to your carpeting, tile flooring, wood flooring, or vinyl or laminate flooring, you may need to start budgeting for new flooring.
How Much Do Flooring Repairs Cost?
You should also consider your budget for flooring repairs. The cost of your flooring repairs will depend on your region and market, who you choose for the repairs, the material of your flooring, the availability of repair materials, and the extent of the damage. Flooring repair costs can range from $2-$30 per square foot and will cost more if you need to replace the underlayment or subfloor. New flooring installation also depends on the same factors and can range between $5-$25 per square foot.
What is Your Flooring Material?
Some flooring materials are more durable, low-maintenance, and easy to repair than others. In some cases, an experienced flooring contractor can repair certain sections of your flooring easily without needing to rip out and replace your entire floor. Small areas of damage on luxury vinyl plank, vinyl tiles, engineered or solid hardwood flooring, and natural stone or ceramic tile flooring can be easily repaired. Major damage, like wood rot, flooding, termite or pest damage, or animal damage to natural hardwood floors may require flooring replacement because hardwood flooring repairs may be just as expensive and time consuming.
How Well Was Your Flooring Installed?
How well your original flooring was installed will also play a role in whether you should invest in flooring repair or new flooring installation. If your original flooring was poorly installed or used sub-quality materials, it may be in your best interests to consider new flooring installation. If you notice warping, shrinking, bowing, cupping, or buckling of your floor, you should consider installing new flooring.
What if You Need Flooring Repair and Replacement?
In some situations, you may need both flooring repair and replacement. Depending on your flooring materials, their age, and the extent and cause of the flooring damage, your flooring contractor may need to repair your subfloor before they can begin a new flooring installation. Some types of flooring require a specific underlayment or subfloor to be installed before the flooring can be installed.
Request an Estimate for Flooring Repair or Installation
At Abatiello Design Center we have a team of expert flooring contractors who specialize in flooring repairs and new flooring installation. We can install quality new luxury vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring, carpet flooring, tile flooring, natural stone flooring, or laminate flooring. We also offer professional flooring repairs for water damage, severe structural issues, and minor problems like scratches, scuffs, and tears. We can handle floor joist and subfloor repair as well. Our flooring repair and flooring installation services can restore the beauty, comfort, and value of your home and increase its resale value. To schedule a flooring consultation or flooring installation in Vermont, Upstate New York, or New Hampshire, call us today at (802) 773-6300 or contact us online.
