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Refinishing a wooden floor is one type of repair. For example, pros will often refinish the hardwood floor to repair scratches. They’ll remove the top layer, often with a sander, then put a new layer of stain and sealant on it. But for wooden floor issues such as water damage, cupping, or unevenness, you're likely looking at a different repair method.

How you repair damaged wood floors will depend on what caused the damage. Typically, damaged wood floors are either refinished or replaced, depending on the extent of the specific issue and the recommendation of a local hardwood floor installer. Some common ways to repair are through sanding, refinishing, or completely replacing the damaged wood floors.

The best way to find out if you need to replace your floors is to talk to a wood flooring professional. A pro can tell you if you can refinish what you have or if you need to replace it. Remember that hardwood floor prices are costly, but they can last for generations if properly maintained. So you may opt to repair rather than completely replace your wooden floors.

The best way to protect your hardwood floors from water damage is to keep water away from them. Remember that prevention is better than action. You can proactively keep moisture away from your floors by inspecting your pipes annually and monitoring the humidity levels in your home. In addition, consider using rugs to protect your wooden floors and clean up spills as soon as they happen.

Most engineered hardwood floors have a wear layer, which means you can sand it down once or twice. Otherwise, repairs mean replacement, with engineered wood floors costing around $2,000 to $7,000. Reaching out to a pro specializing in engineered wood can help determine whether your engineered wood flooring should be repaired or replaced.