Restoring and Installing Beautiful Floors for Over 25 Years
Your floors take more abuse than almost any other surface in your home—shoes, pets, kids, furniture, spills, water, winter salt, and decades of everyday traffic. But when a floor starts looking worn, replacement isn't always the answer.
This month, The Shiny Bubble sat down with Tom Bennett of Floor & Restore, a 25-year flooring contractor specializing in hardwood restoration and refinishing, flooring repairs, and new floor installations, to learn when a floor can be saved, when it should be replaced, and how homeowners can make their floors last longer.
Q: Tom, what's the biggest mistake homeowners make when it comes to their floors?
Tom: Replacing a floor before finding out whether it can be restored.
We walk into homes with hardwood floors that are scratched, dull, discolored, or just look old, and the homeowner assumes the entire floor needs to come out.
A quality hardwood floor can potentially be sanded, repaired, stained, and refinished rather than replaced. Sometimes we'll replace damaged boards, repair a problem area, and refinish the entire floor. When we're finished, people can't believe it's the same floor.
Before you tear out an existing floor—especially hardwood—have someone who understands restoration as well as installation look at it.
Q: What's something homeowners think they need…but actually don't?
Tom: The most expensive flooring product in the showroom.
People sometimes believe that spending more automatically means they're getting the best floor for their home. That's not necessarily true.
The right flooring depends on where it's going, how the room is used, whether you have pets or children, moisture exposure, and how much maintenance you're willing to do.
I'd rather install the right $6 product for a particular application than sell somebody a $12 product that isn't right for their lifestyle.
Q: What's a small flooring issue that can turn into a big, expensive problem?
Tom: Water. No question.
A small refrigerator leak, dishwasher leak, toilet seal problem, wet entryway, or moisture coming up through a basement floor can cause much more damage than homeowners realize.
With wood, you'll sometimes notice boards beginning to cup, buckle, separate, or discolor. Don't cover it with a rug and hope it goes away.
You need to identify where the moisture is coming from first. Fix the source, allow the area to dry properly, and then determine whether the floor can be repaired.
Q: How often should homeowners realistically be maintaining their floors?
Tom: Routine cleaning should obviously happen all the time, but I tell homeowners to really inspect their floors at least once a year.
Look at the high-traffic areas, entrances, kitchen, areas around exterior doors, and anywhere water might be present.
Hardwood doesn't automatically need to be completely sanded and refinished every few years. Depending on the condition, a professional cleaning and maintenance coat may help extend the life of the existing finish.
The goal is to maintain the protective surface before you wear completely through it and start damaging the wood itself.
Q: What's one quick thing homeowners can do themselves to extend the life of their floors?
Tom: Stop dirt at the door.
It sounds too simple, but dirt and grit act like sandpaper underneath your shoes. Put quality walk-off mats at your entrances and vacuum or clean those areas regularly.
Here in DuPage County, winter is especially tough because you're bringing in moisture, grit, and road salt. Don't allow that mixture to sit on hardwood or other finished flooring.
A five-dollar habit can protect a very expensive floor.
Q: What are the early warning signs homeowners should watch for?
Tom: Pay attention to changes.
If boards begin separating, cupping, buckling, squeaking excessively, or changing color, something is happening.
With hardwood, look for areas where the finish has completely worn away and you're walking directly on exposed wood.
With tile, watch for loose or cracked tiles and deteriorating grout.
And with any flooring, unexplained discoloration or a musty smell can indicate moisture underneath the surface.
Small changes are much easier to repair than widespread damage.
Q: What types of homes or situations require extra attention?
Tom: Older homes are interesting because they can have some fantastic original hardwood hidden underneath carpeting or other flooring.
We've pulled up carpet in older DuPage County homes and found beautiful hardwood that hasn't seen daylight in decades. It may look terrible initially, but after repairs, sanding, staining, and refinishing, it can become one of the nicest features in the house.
On the other end, busy households with children, large dogs, and heavy traffic need to think about durability when selecting new flooring.
There isn't one "best floor." There's a best floor for that particular home.
Q: What's changed in the flooring industry over the last few years?
Tom: Homeowners have many more good options.
Luxury vinyl plank has become extremely popular because of its durability and water resistance. Engineered hardwood has improved tremendously. And with traditional hardwood, today's finishes provide excellent durability while offering different sheen levels and appearances.
We're also seeing homeowners move toward more natural-looking floors and finishes.
But one thing hasn't changed: installation matters.
You can buy a great product and still end up with a bad floor if the subfloor isn't prepared correctly, moisture isn't considered, or installation shortcuts are taken.
Q: If you could give a homeowner one "do this today" tip, what would it be?
Tom: Take a slow walk through your house and look at your floors in natural daylight.
Look around the dishwasher and refrigerator. Check exterior doors. Move a couple of rugs. Look underneath furniture that hasn't moved in years.
You're looking for changes—water stains, scratches, worn finish, gaps, loose boards, cracked grout, or discoloration.
You don't need to become a flooring expert. You just need to notice when something looks different.
Q: What's the craziest thing you've discovered on a flooring job?
Tom: The surprises are usually what's underneath.
We've removed multiple layers of flooring from older homes—carpet over vinyl, vinyl over plywood—and eventually discovered beautiful original hardwood underneath everything.
One homeowner was preparing to spend thousands of dollars installing an entirely new floor. Instead, we restored the hardwood that had probably been in the house for generations.
That's one reason we always investigate before recommending replacement.
Q: When do homeowners typically call you too late?
Tom: Usually after they've lived with a problem for several years.
A small worn area becomes exposed wood. A minor leak becomes several damaged boards. A loose tile becomes five broken tiles. A small flooring transition becomes a trip hazard.
The other mistake is ignoring what's happening outside the house.
Water entering around doors, poorly draining gutters, snow and ice at entrances, or moisture against the foundation can eventually become an interior flooring problem. Protecting your floors sometimes starts well before you reach the front door.
Q: What's one final tip you'd give Shiny Bubble readers?
Tom: Don't assume old means worn out.
Some of the best floors we've worked on are decades old.
Before replacing a floor, ask three questions:
Can it be repaired?
Can it be restored?
Can its life be extended?
If the answer is no, then let's talk about replacement.
But if the answer is yes, you may be able to keep something that's better built, has more character, and costs considerably less to restore than starting over.
A good flooring contractor shouldn't just know how to install a new floor. They should know when you don't need one.
The Shiny Bubble Takeaway
Before replacing a worn or damaged floor, find out whether it can be repaired, restored, or maintained. Regular inspections, quick attention to water issues, and simple habits like using entrance mats can extend the life of your floors and prevent costly damage. And when replacement is necessary, choosing the right flooring for your home matters more than simply choosing the most expensive option.
Get your instant quote in minutes.
Rolling Suds of Naperville–Elmhurst makes it easy. No phone calls, no waiting — just plug in your home details and get a real estimate for exterior cleaning services right away.
Services include house siding, driveways, windows, gutters, roofs, and more.
Questions? We're still here. 📞 (630) 448-7069
