7 Signs You Need To Replace Your Flooring

Replacing flooring can be a hassle. But sometimes it can be necessary to keep your home comfortable and safe. Below are 7 signs that it could be time to invest in new flooring.

1.It’s cracked or torn

Cracks and tears in flooring don’t just look bad - they can also let in dirt and moisture, and become a trip hazard. If you find cracks in hardwood flooring or stone flooring, it could even be a sign that the structural integrity is at risk. Replacing the entire flooring may be necessary, unless the cracks or tears only affect a single tile or board.

2.There are stains that won’t shift

Some stains can be covered up with rugs and furniture. But if flooring has multiple stains or large stains that can’t be scrubbed away, it could be time to get rid of your flooring. Just make sure that you have tried every method to get rid of the stains - a carpet cleaning machine may be able to remove stubborn carpet stains, while sanding a hardwood floor could get rid of wood stains.

3.There’s water damage

If you’ve recently had a flood, it’s possible that flooring could be heavily damaged and unsafe to continue using. Carpets can become a breeding ground for mold, while hardwood may develop rot. It could be worth organizing a flood damage cleanup and then seeing if flooring replacement is recommended. Minor damage may not necessarily demand a replacement.

4.Your flooring is too noisy

Noisy floorboards can be a nuisance at night when you don’t want to wake others up. They can also be a sign of floorboard damage - boards could be loose or deformed, causing them to rub against other boards. Get a flooring expert to take a look at the condition of your floorboards to decide the best course of action.

5. There’s visible sun damage

Wood and laminate flooring can discolor over time if exposed regularly to sunlight. Some flooring will fade, while others will darken (it depends on the type of wood). This sun damage rarely affects the whole floor, so there will be parts that are the original tone and other parts that are discolored. Replacing your flooring could be worthwhile so that your flooring doesn’t look odd. There are several ways to protect flooring from sun damage.

6. It’s started to smell bad

Is your flooring giving off a bad smell? While you may be able to get rid of certain odors using cleaning products, certain bad smells could be a sign of permanent damage. Musty carpets could be full of mold, while a mushroom-like smell coming from hardwood could be a sign of rot.

7. They’re infested with bugs

A bug infestation could be another good reason to get rid of your current flooring. Carpets can become infested with beetles or fleas - while it may be possible to fumigate the carpet without getting rid of it, replacing it could guarantee the bugs are gone. Hardwood can meanwhile get infested by termites and other wood-boring insects. This can affect the structural integrity of your flooring - new flooring may be necessary if floors have started to sound thin or have lots of visible holes.