Can You Refinish Engineered Hardwood Floors?
Engineered hardwood is a popular flooring choice these days, and for good reasons. It looks great and brings that solid wood look, but with more stability when humidity shifts, temperatures fluctuate, or spills happen. That makes it one of the best flooring options for families with kids and pets. Even so, once they start showing wear, the main question becomes: can you actually refinish engineered hardwood floors? Most people know you can refinish solid hardwood, but it’s less clear if engineered holds up the same way. If your floors aren’t looking as fresh as they used to, you’ve probably wondered the same thing. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Makes Engineered Hardwood Different
In most cases, yes, you can refinish engineered hardwood floors, but there are some limitations to keep in mind. The big difference between engineered and solid hardwood is the top layer. With solid wood, the entire plank is the same material, so it can be sanded and refinished several times over its lifespan. Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, has a real wood veneer on top, but that layer is much thinner.
How many times you can refinish it (if at all) really comes down to how thick that veneer is. Some higher-end engineered floors have a wear layer thick enough to handle one or even two rounds of sanding and refinishing. Other types might not be able to handle sanding at all without risking damage to the core underneath, which is usually made of plywood or fiberboard. If the veneer’s too thin and you sand too deep, you could go right through the top layer, and at that point, there’s no saving it.
Figuring Out If Refinishing Is an Option for You
So, you need to understand the makeup of your engineered hardwood before attempting to refinish it. The easiest and most accurate way is to check with the manufacturer. If you know the brand or product name, you can usually look it up online or contact the company to find out how thick the top layer is and whether refinishing is recommended.
If you don’t have that information, you can check by looking along the edge of a floorboard near a vent, threshold, or any exposed spot to try to see a cross-section of the plank. The top layer of real wood will usually look different from the plywood or fiberboard core beneath it. If it’s thinner than 2mm, you’re probably out of luck. But if you can see a solid layer that’s closer to 3mm or more, you might have enough to work with.
If you’re unsure, consult with a flooring professional. They’ll know what to look for and can usually tell you pretty quickly if refinishing is even an option.
When It’s Time to Replace Your Floors
If your floors are too worn or the veneer’s too thin to refinish, replacement might be your only option. Just know that tearing out old flooring can get messy, and fast. You’ll be dealing with scraps of wood, loose nails, and a whole lot of dust.
Renting a dumpster from a company like Temporary Dumpster can help keep all that mess contained and make the space safer by stopping debris from piling up everywhere. That way, you’ll have a clean work area ready when it’s time to install the new floors. Temporary Dumpster
Conclusion
All in all, you can usually refinish engineered hardwood floors, but how many times depends mostly on the thickness of that top wood layer and how beat-up your floors are. When you need a bit of extra insight, it’s best to have a professional take a look before you start sanding. If you’re smart about it, you’ll avoid surprises and keep your floors looking good for the long haul.
