Tiles are loose or the wood finish is cloudy after a water leak
Water damage that stayed on the surface is a covering job, not a new floor. Tiles that sound hollow but sit over a solid floor come up, get cleaned, and go back down. A white, cloudy haze in a wood finish is trapped moisture, and sanding and refinishing clears it. Replace the floor only when it feels soft or spongy underfoot, because that is the subfloor, not the covering.
Read the full guideHardwood floor looks cloudy and dull but the wood is solid
A hardwood floor that looks cloudy and dull with no soft spots has a finish problem, not a wood problem. Clean a hazy patch and watch it dry. Haze that clears while the floor is wet and returns as it dries is built-up floor polish, and that strips off without touching the finish underneath. Haze that stays, sitting in the walking path, is a worn finish, and that takes a screen and recoat rather than a full sand.
Read the full guideBathroom floor is soft and spongy underfoot
A floor that gives underfoot has a wet subfloor, and new vinyl laid over it changes nothing. Find the water first. The usual sources are a failed toilet seal, a leaking tub or shower joint, or damp air rising from a crawlspace or from under a mobile home. Once the source is fixed, a contractor cuts out the soft sheets and screws new ones down, and the finished floor goes back on top.
Read the full guideA few vinyl or laminate floor planks are damaged
A few damaged planks get swapped, not the whole floor. A floating click floor sounds hollow underfoot and unclicks back from the nearest wall, so the swap is quick. A glued-down plank has to be cut out and the adhesive scraped, which costs more labour but still beats re-flooring. What forces a full replacement is having no matching planks, so find your leftovers before you call anyone.
Read the full guide
Ready to hire? Find your city to see what flooring repairs cost there and how Runhome calls local contractors for you.