You've lived with those hardwood floors for years. Maybe they're looking a little tired, or perhaps you're remodeling your kitchen and wondering how to make the new flooring match what's already there.
Then someone tells you the existing hardwood is too old to match.
Not so fast!
One of the most common misconceptions we encounter is that older hardwood floors can't be matched or extended into other rooms.
The reality? We do it regularly, and some projects with floors that are more than 60 years old.
The secret is understanding what's underneath the finish.
Many homeowners associate older hardwood with that familiar orange or amber color. But much of that coloration can come from decades of aging polyurethane, not the wood itself.
When we sand away that old finish, we often reveal beautiful hardwood that's been hiding underneath all along.
And that's where the possibilities begin.
Matching Old and New
Matching existing hardwood takes more than finding a similar color at a flooring showroom.
We look at the home's age, the species and grade of lumber, plank dimensions, and grain patterns. Those details help us identify compatible materials.
When extending hardwood into another room, we can often use a technique called lacing in.
Rather than creating an obvious transition between the old flooring and the new, we carefully weave new boards into the existing installation. Then, when conditions allow, we sand and finish the connected areas together.
The result can be remarkably seamless.
We recently worked with a homeowner whose original hardwood floors were more than 60 years old. After installing new hardwood in the kitchen and refinishing the connected areas, she told us it was impossible to tell where the old floor ended and the new one began.
That's the goal.
Before You Replace, Explore Your Options
Not every hardwood floor can be matched perfectly, and some floors aren't suitable for another refinishing.
But age alone doesn't mean your hardwood has reached the end of its useful life.
Whether you're remodeling, removing carpet, or simply tired of that orange finish, your existing floors might have more potential than you realize.
Before you tear them out, find out what's possible.
Marc Mandell is the owner of Select Flooring Design, serving Centennial and surrounding Denver communities. Learn more at selectflooringdesign.com.
TL;DR: Older hardwood floors may be worth refinishing rather than replacing. In many cases, new hardwood can also be laced into existing flooring for a beautifully cohesive result. Have your floors evaluated before deciding to tear them out.