Hardwood is one of the most popular types of flooring in the United States, with many homeowners preferring it to alternatives like plywood and carpeting. There are many benefits to having hardwood floors, aside from the fact that their popularity means that they add value to your home on an overall level. Hardwood floors are often easier to clean, as it's less likely for dust and debris to cling to them. They're also less allergenic than carpeting, which holds on to dust, pet hair, and dander. But there are some responsibilities that come with having hardwood floors. Among them is keeping them sanded. Not only should hardwood floors be sanded when they're initially installed, they also need to be sanded continuously.

When Should I Sand My Hardwood Floors?

There are technically a few different factors that affect how often you should sand your hardwood floors. For one thing, every set of hardwood floors come with a recommendation from a manufacturer regarding sanding. Generally speaking, unless some type of damage occurs, you can follow your manufacturer's recommendations.

Of course, their recommendations will likely depend heavily on the type of hardwood flooring that you have. There are two main types of hardwood flooring: engineered hardwood flooring, which a usually a thin hardwood layer atop a plywood base. The type of hardwood you have will dictate how often you need to have your floors sanded. The actual thickness of the hardwood planks will matter as well. Planks come in a variety of different widths, which will affect their thickness as well.

With all of that in mind, according to DIY Network, floors first need to be sanded 10 to 20 years after their initial installation. Following that initial sanding, the floors can be sanded every 10 years.

How Much Is It to Sand My Floors?

The amount of money it costs for you to sand your floors will again depend in part on your manufacturer and the materials from which the floors are made, among other things. Keep in mind that you may also want to add in a veneerer finishing, which a typical floor can take 10 to 20 times in its lifetime. Keep in mind that this may affect the cost. Typically, sanding will take .50 to $3 per square foot.

Keep in mind that hardwood floor sanding will help maintain the value of your house. It's well worth it.