How to Match Existing Hardwood Floors

Unfortunately, it’s inevitable that your hardwood floors will get damaged. Whether that’s by an overactive dog, your favorite vase falling on the floor or furniture sliding and scraping across the living room, you can expect dents, scratches and even planks breaking. When that happens, sometimes you can repair the damage, but more likely than not you will have to replace pieces or sections of your hardwood floors. When it comes time to replace a section of your hardwood floors, it can be tricky to match the new pieces to the existing ones. So when you start looking for replacement hardwood floors to match your current hardwood flooring, there are three things you need to check and double check before making your final selection: profile, species and grade, and width.

Hardwood profile, or thickness, is an important feature to double check when matching old hardwood flooring. If you select a replacement hardwood floor that is the same thickness as your current flooring, you can expect a smooth and consistent look across the room. Although not specifically hardwood related, it’s important to take note if your subfloor is level throughout the room. If its not, you should add or remove a layer of plywood to ensure that when you install your new hardwood the entire space is flat, with no awkward slopes or peaks.

Do you know the exact type and style of your current hardwood floors? Oak hardwood flooring is a classic choice for many homes. Besides oak, there are a variety of woods to choose from, including maple, Douglas fir, and yellow pine. Even within the oak family, you’ll find two options: red and white. And if your home was built in the early twentieth century, consider maple, Douglas fir, or yellow pine, which were all the rage back then. Whether you have a historic home or a modern design, different hardwoods have been used. It’s important to remember that even the same wood species can have different cuts, so determining the wood grade is critical in finding a perfect match for your flooring needs. Even if you do know the exact type of hardwood flooring you have, that specific flooring might not be manufactured anymore. A flooring professional will be able to tell you what species and grade your current floors are and recommend a style that will perfectly match.

What might seem like the most simple step is often overlooked. Although you might be able to say if your hardwood planks are narrow or wide off the top of your head, you will need to know their exact width when you’re looking to match existing hardwood floors. Knowing what width your floors are will make the selection pool slimmer, and make the entire process less overwhelming.

Maximizing the durability and aesthetics of hardwood floors requires precise installation, including the placement of the wood perpendicular to the joists or in a diagonal arrangement. However, there are times when homeowners opt to take a strategic approach by switching up the direction of the wood altogether. This adds unique character to your space and can also elongate or widen a room or make a color variation less noticeable. And let’s not forget the practicality factor – adjusting the direction of your hardwood could prevent unwanted weaving.

When installing new flooring, it’s essential to perfectly match the faded hues of the existing floor. Collecting samples of the same color with varying intensities and pairing them with the faded floor. While the match may not be exact, the slight discrepancy will be barely noticeable once furniture, area rugs, and accessories are added.

Although a professional can recommend a flooring replacement that will closely match your current floors, for a perfect match, it’s best to strip your current hardwood floors and refinish both, or stain the new boards to exactly match the existing floors. Both refinishing and staining should be done by a professional to ensure a seamless transition and a perfect custom color. You might not need to refinish or stain your floors, but in certain situations it will be your best option.

Finding the perfect match for your flooring is only sometimes the answer. Sometimes, a transition strip can provide the necessary adjustments as you move from one area to another. Not only do they help with height differences and changes in direction, but these strips can also be a design element to transition between different colors and spaces seamlessly. Although the steps to perfectly matched floors might seem overwhelming, our team of flooring professionals will be able to guide you through the process and recommend the best solution for your situation. If you’re looking for flooring in Austin, Millennium Flooring is available for all your flooring needs. Give us a call for a consultation today!

Millennium Hardwood Flooring 9705 Research Blvd Suite C1 Austin, TX 78759 512-351-2258