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Categories Hardwood Refinshes

Seasonal Care for Hardwood Floors in Colorado’s Dry Climate

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Wood moves with the seasons—that’s normal. In our dry climate, indoor air can swing from very dry in winter to more moderate in summer. A few simple habits keep floors stable and looking sharp all year.

Humidity basics

Very dry air can lead to small seasonal gaps; overly damp air can cause cupping. Aim for a steady, comfortable range indoors. Whole-home systems or room humidifiers/dehumidifiers can help. If you’re not sure what you’re seeing, we’re happy to take a look.

Expect some seasonal change

Hairline gaps in winter that relax in summer are part of living with real wood. Consistent indoor conditions usually keep that movement within a comfortable range.

Everyday care that works

  • Stop grit at the door: Use mats at exterior entries.
  • Protect legs and feet: Felt pads on chairs and tables.
  • Clean the right way: Dust or vacuum with a soft-floor setting; use a cleaner made for finished wood.
  • Mind the water: Wipe spills promptly; skip wet mopping.
  • Sun management: Area rugs and window coverings help reduce long-term fading in bright rooms.

Pets, parties, and real life

Trim nails, sweep after busy weekends, and move felt-padded furniture instead of dragging it. Little habits prevent little scratches from becoming big ones.

When to call us

If wear is building up in high-traffic areas, if you want a different color or sheen, or if something changes suddenly (a leak, a major temperature swing), it’s a good time to talk. We can tell you whether a light touch, a refinish, or a different approach makes sense.

See our work, then get in touch

Portfolio shows recent projects across finishes, colors, and layouts. When you’re ready, Contact makes it easy to start the conversation.

 

Categories Hardwood, Hardwood Refinshes

Refinish or Replace? How to Decide for Your Home

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Your floors work hard. When they start to look tired, you’ve got two good options: refinish what you have or install new. Both can look fantastic. The right choice comes down to your goals, the floor’s condition, and your timeline. Here’s how we help homeowners think it through.

Start with the end in mind

  • Look: Keep the same character with a fresh finish, or change the color and sheen.
  • Design changes: Staying with the same footprint, or adding wood to new rooms?
  • Timing: Working around a move-in, a renovation phase, or a big date on the calendar?
  • Budget: Will a high-impact refresh do it, or is this the moment for a full redesign?

When refinishing is usually the win

Refinishing sands the existing surface and applies new stain and protective finish. It’s a great fit when the layout works and the wood is in decent shape. You can go lighter, darker, or natural, and choose a sheen from matte to gloss. It’s efficient, cost-effective, and keeps material in place.

When replacement makes more sense

New floors open the door to different species, wider planks, patterns like herringbone, and subfloor upgrades if needed. We talk about replacement when boards are heavily damaged, when moisture has compromised sections, or when you want a bigger design change than refinishing can deliver.

Project planning that respects daily life

  • Timeline: Refinishing is typically faster if the layout stays the same. Replacement adds demo, subfloor work, install, then finishing.
  • Dust & ventilation: We use modern dust-control practices and talk through what to expect in your home.
  • Sequencing: If other trades are on site, we’ll map the order so everyone stays out of each other’s way.

Care and longevity, kept simple

Mats at entries. Felt pads on furniture. Clean with products made for wood floors. Wipe spills promptly. Keep indoor humidity in a comfortable range. Small habits go a long way.

See what’s possible

Browse our recent projects to get ideas, then reach out and we’ll take a look at your floors together.

Explore: Portfolio  |  Contact

 

Categories Hardwood Refinshes

How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Hardwood Floors

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Hardwood floors are a timeless upgrade that add warmth, character, and value to your home. With the right care, they can last for decades. This article shares general, homeowner-friendly guidelines—no step-by-step instructions—to help you protect your floors’ appearance and longevity while keeping maintenance simple and practical.

Control Moisture & Indoor Climate

Wood reacts to changing humidity by expanding and contracting. Try to maintain indoor relative humidity in a steady, moderate range throughout the year (often cited around 30–50%). Use a simple hygrometer to keep an eye on seasonal changes, and consider humidifiers or dehumidifiers as needed. Stable conditions help reduce cupping, gapping, and seasonal movement that can stress finishes and fasteners.

Pay extra attention near entryways, kitchens, and areas where moisture can accumulate. Wipe up spills promptly and avoid wet mopping. A lightly damp microfiber pad is often sufficient for day-to-day cleaning.

Protect High-Traffic Areas

Fine grit behaves like sandpaper underfoot. Place walk-off mats at doors to catch dirt and moisture, and consider runner rugs in hallways. Under furniture, use felt pads and check them periodically for embedded grit that could scratch the finish. Rotating rugs and furniture also helps prevent uneven fading from sunlight exposure.

Clean with a Gentle Touch

Keep it simple: frequent, gentle cleaning is better than infrequent, aggressive cleaning. A soft broom or vacuum with a hard-floor setting helps remove abrasive particles. For routine soil, use a manufacturer-approved cleaner applied to a cloth or mop (not directly to the floor), and avoid products that leave residues or excessive shine that can attract dirt over time.

Refinishing & Professional Care

Even well-maintained floors experience surface wear over time. Refinishing refreshes both appearance and protection before wear reaches the bare wood. If you notice widespread dullness, deep scratches, gray areas, or uneven sheen, it’s a good time to consult a professional. The team at Colorado Hardwood Floors can evaluate finish wear and recommend the appropriate service—whether a fresh coat or a full sand and refinish.

If you’re considering additional services or want to plan ahead, visit the hardwood maintenance page to see how professional maintenance can extend the life of your investment.

When to Call a Pro

  • Persistent squeaks, loose boards, or movement underfoot
  • Visible cupping, crowning, or gaps that don’t improve with seasonal changes
  • Deep scratches, gray wear patterns, or water stains
  • Areas of finish that stay dull despite cleaning

Additional Guidelines & Resources

For broad, industry-level guidance, these organizations offer helpful general resources:

These references provide high-level best practices that complement professional advice and routine care.

Consistent, gentle maintenance and smart protection strategies go a long way. By stabilizing indoor humidity, preventing grit buildup, cleaning with appropriate products, and refinishing before heavy wear sets in, you can help your hardwood floors stay beautiful for the long haul. When you’re ready for expert help, Colorado Hardwood Floors is here to support you.
Categories Hardwood, Hardwood Refinshes

Six Important Facts about Hardwood Refinishing

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Refinishing hardwood floors gives them a much needed facelift and can make the floors look brand new again. The process of refinishing is cheaper than replacing the floor and is better for the environment. Woods natural variations can be highlighted and revealed during a refinishing and the ability to repair and refinish is part of the appeal of having hardwood flooring. Modern manufacturing has come a long way but still cannot replicate the beauty and feel of solid wood flooring. If you have considered refinishing your hardwood floors there are some things you need to know. 

#1 – Cleaning and restoring hardwood floors to their original beauty takes a lot of work. While the process may seem simple and straightforward there are factors you may not have considered. Repairs are a big factor that can impact the final outcome of your floor. Repairs often require a contractor to replace a few boards. Wood is a natural project and can be hard to match perfectly. Deep scratches and stains for pet accidents and other factors can be hard to remove without impacting the integrity of the floor. Every floor is unique and each refinishing requires unique steps to tackle the specific needs of your floor. 

#2– Preparing the floor takes a lot of work. It may seem that your flooring project is moving slowly in the beginning but preparing the space is labor and time intensive. Everything needs to be removed from the floor and all remaining decor will be exposed to dust and debris related to sanding the floor. Door ways, hall ways, and vents are often covered to cut down on dust in rooms that are not being refinished. The floor itself needs preparation as well, mopping and sweeping the floor are needed to ensure the floor is ready for sanding. 

#3– Gaps are not repaired during refinishing. Sanding your floor will not fill existing gaps, it can improve them some but these are part of the structure of the floor and cannot be fixed with refinishing alone. Most gaps in a floor are seasonal and filling them can cause issues when the seasonal gapping disappears. Gapping is not always a bad thing and is often just a part of normal seasonal shifts in humidity. 

#4– Refinishies are a great time to change the color of your floor. When your floor has been sanded down to raw wood you can stain the floor a new color. Stains are a great way to change the look of your floor without replacing the floors. Stain comes in a variety of different colors which allows you to choose the perfect option for your home. Stain doesn’t mean you have to darken the floor, you can also make the floor lighter during this process.Many homeowners find that they didn’t know the true color of their wood until it was sanded down because of the aged finish on top. 

#5– Plan to touch up your base after a refinish. Sanding and refinishing hardwood required heavy duty machines and even the most careful customer is likely to ding a baseboard or get a spot of stain or finish on the base. Contractors should be cautious in your home but it’s a good idea to have your base painted after refinishing. If you are planning to replace your base let your contractor know, they can remove the base during the sanding to allow them to work closer to the walls. Many homeowners find that their base looks dingy after a refinish because it no longer matches the refinished floors. 

#6 Finish makes a huge difference. Choosing a finish for your floor is an important part of the process and different finishes can create a different look. Oil based finish often looks more traditional but can amber and cause your floor to look dated over time. Water based may look thin to many home owners because it doesn’t have the thick look oil based finishes do but still offers the same protection. The sheen level also makes a huge impact on the look of your floor. Contractors are a wealth of knowledge on flooring finishes and can help choose the right finish for your floor. 

Refinishing hardwood floors is a great way to make your floors look beautiful again without breaking the bank. Colorado Hardwood would love to meet with you and discuss refinishing your floor. Call us today to set up a free in-home consultation. 

Categories Hardwood Refinshes

Should You Replace Your Floors Or Refinish?

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Flooring can be a great way to improve the look of your home. Flooring is a permanent part of your home and maintaining it properly is crucial to keeping it functional and beautiful. Wood flooring can go years without major maintenance but eventually it will be time to decide if your floors need to be refinished or replaced. We can help you determine if it’s time to replace or refinish your floors. 

Benefits of Refinishing a floor

Refinishing hardwood flooring is a great way to change the look of your floor including the texture and color of the floor. If there are damaged or warped areas in the floor you may opt to replace the heavily damaged boards and refinish the rest of the flooring. 

Refinishing floors is a more affordable option over replacing the floors entirely. Working with a flooring professional is an important part of the refinishing process and they can advise you on the need to replace versus refinish the existing flooring. 

Drawbacks of Refinishing Floors

Refinishing hardwood flooring can be a time-consuming process. The sanding process can be messy and if your contractor does not have good dust containment your home can turn into a snowglobe. Trained professionals know how to handle the chemicals used in the refinishing process. When these flammable chemicals are put in the wrong hands the results can be catastrophic. Additionally these chemicals can be finicky and if used by an amature the results can be less than ideal. 

If you are looking for a budget friendly option for refreshing your flooring, refinishing may be the ticket. The refinishing process can be intrusive into your space but often takes less time than a full install. Our team is happy to help inspect your floor and advise if refinishing is an option for your flooring. 

Benefits of New Hardwood Floors

There are many advantages to having hardwood flooring installed in your home, wood flooring is a timeless flooring option and can be incredibly elegant. Wood works in any design style including contemporary, rustic and even modern designs. There are so many different wood types you can choose from including oak, hickory, cherry, beech and even exotic wood species. Some homeowners choose softer species like pine or bamboo, these floors need to be cared for properly to ensure they can last a lifetime. 

Hardwood flooring is durable and when properly maintained can go years without being refinished. Many experts recommend having your floors refinished every 10 years to ensure they look beautiful and are well protected. When hardwood floors are cared for and properly maintained they can last well over 100 years. 

One of the big advantages of wood flooring is the reduction in allergens. If anyone in your family has respiratory issues or allergies you may want to consider wood flooring, hardwood doesn’t collect dust and allergens the way carpet does. Hardwood is versatile and can lend itself to any design style. Hardwood is a great option to add value to your home. If you are planning to sell your home you will find that hardwood floors add to the value of your home. 

Drawbacks of New Hardwood Floors

While the beauty of hardwood floors is undeniable the cost is not in everyone’s budget. Hardwood flooring can be expensive to install. Additionally hardwood is susceptible to scratching and if you have pets you may find that your floor scratches more quickly than you would like. Refinishing can remove these scratches but that adds to the cost of the floor. 

Another disadvantage of hardwood is the susceptibility to moisture damage. Hardwood can cup or crown if moisture is allowed to soak into the floor. Spills should be wiped up quickly to prevent damage. Creaks are another issue some people find with hardwood flooring. Gaps can be filled and joists can be shimmed to reduce creaks but they may not be entirely eliminated. 

When considering the options of installing hardwood floors it can be easy to get caught up in the cons but it’s important to remember all flooring options have drawbacks. When hardwood is cared for properly it can last years to come. 

We would love to chat with you about the options for your existing floor or a new floor. Many homeowners are unaware that a refinish allows them to change the color and sheen of the floor making refinishing even more appealing. Contact Colorado Hardwood today for your free in-home estimate. 

 

Categories Hardwood Refinshes

5 Reasons to Refinish Your Hardwood Floors in 2022

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Hardwood flooring is a beautiful and durable flooring option but that does not mean it does not require some maintenance and care. Sanding and refinishing your floors periodically is the ideal way to protect your investment. It can be hard to know when it’s time to sand and refinish your floors. There are five signs to look for to know it’s time to refinish your floors in 2022. Some of the signs are easy to spot while others are less obvious.

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Categories Hardwood Refinshes

Choosing the Right Sheen for Your Hardwood Floor

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When choosing materials for a new hardwood floor, don’t let sheen levels go unnoticed. Sheen is the level of gloss or luster in the flooring finish and has a big impact on the overall look of a hardwood floor. The amount of light that reflects off a hardwood floor makes up different sheen levels. Colorado Hardwood Floors works with a few different sheen levels, educating customers so they can choose a sheen that works best for their lifestyle. When floors absorb and diffuse light it can show imperfections and dirt, the lower the sheen level the more the floor can hide. Glossy floors can snow every imperfection while a matte floor will hide a lot of dirt and scratches. 

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Categories Hardwood, Hardwood Refinshes

Hardwood Flooring Offers Versatility, Durability and Value

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It is time to change out that old, tired flooring. What do you pick? New carpet? What about tile? The options for floor coverings are broad and getting larger by the day as new material becomes available. Hardwood floors offer the best of all worlds. They are versatile, durable and offer extreme value for the money.

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Pet Friendly Hardwood Floors
Categories Hardwood, Hardwood Refinshes

Which Hardwood Flooring Is the Most Pet-Friendly?

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Just about every homeowner loves hardwood flooring. There is one group that often finds they don’t care for it: pets. There are two main concerns with pets and hardwood flooring. First, the pet’s claws have a tendency to scratch the hardwood flooring. Secondly, pets sometimes have a hard time if the hardwood is slippery. The slippery, hard floor can be painful on the joints of old animals. There are some things you can do to alleviate those concerns. If you’re committed to hardwood flooring, here are the things you should look for.

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Categories Hardwood Refinshes

Should I Replace my Hardwood Floors or Refinish them?

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Hardwood flooring is a beautiful option but it is prone to a lot of abuse and over time will start to show signs of the constant use. The floor may get dented, scratched, have stains, chip or even warp. If your flooring is looking lackluster and missing the shine it once had you may be wondering if its time to replace it or if you can refinish it.

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