Most floor problems in New Orleans come back to moisture or termites, and a repair only lasts once the cause is fixed. HomeGuide's national figures put most hardwood floor repairs at $500 to $1,500.
Every dollar figure on this page is a national figure published by HomeGuide, not a quote from us. HomeGuide publishes no New Orleans or Louisiana figure. The slab or subfloor, moisture, old flooring that has to come out and the size of the job change what a New Orleans floor costs. Figures read on HomeGuide in October 2026.
My hardwood floor is cupping: is it ruined?
A cupped floor is usually not ruined. Cupping means the board edges rise above the centers because the bottom of the wood took on more moisture than the top. Under a raised house, the cause is often a damp crawl space; on a slab, moisture rising through the concrete. Fix the moisture and let the floor dry for weeks, and many floors flatten back. HomeGuide lists cupping repair at $2 to $6 per square foot, for floors that still need sanding flat afterward.
Why is my wood floor buckling and lifting?
A floor buckles when the boards swell so much that they push against each other and lift off the subfloor. It is a sign of serious water: a long leak, a flood, or very damp air with no room left at the walls for movement. Buckled boards usually have to come out, and the subfloor needs to dry before new boards go in.
Gaps between floorboards: are they normal?
Small gaps that open and close with the seasons are normal in solid wood. New Orleans floors are swollen most of the year, so a few gaps may show in a short cool, dry spell when the heat runs, then close again. Gaps that stay wide year-round point to a floor that was installed too wet, or to old, worn boards. HomeGuide publishes no figure for gap repair.
How do I fix squeaky floors without tearing them up?
Most squeaks can be fixed from below in a raised house, by shimming or screwing the subfloor tight to the joists from the crawl space. From above, special screws that snap off below the surface, or a trim nail set into the gap, can stop a squeak without lifting boards. HomeGuide lists squeaky floor repair at $200 to $1,000 per room.
Can you replace just a few damaged boards and match them?
Yes, damaged boards can be cut out and replaced one at a time, then woven into the floor around them. The new boards must match the width, thickness and species. For heart pine, reclaimed boards match best. HomeGuide lists replacing boards or sections at $5 to $20 per square foot in its table.
Our dishwasher leaked and the kitchen floor buckled. Repair or replace?
Here is a common case: a dishwasher line leaks for weeks before anyone notices, and the oak in front of it cups and lifts. First the leak is fixed and the floor and subfloor are dried with fans and dehumidifiers, which can take a week or more. If only the boards near the dishwasher are damaged and the rest are flat, those boards are cut out, new ones woven in, and the kitchen sanded and refinished to blend. If the water spread under cabinets and across the room, or the subfloor is soft, replacing that section of floor is the better repair. Call your homeowner's insurance early: a sudden leak may be covered, a slow one may not.
Can water-damaged hardwood be repaired?
Water-damaged hardwood can often be repaired if it dries fast and the boards were not soaked for long. Stains can sometimes be sanded out, and cupping may settle after drying. Boards soaked by flood water, or black with mold, usually have to go. HomeGuide lists water damage repair at $10 to $80 per square foot on its hardwood floor repair page.
Can deep scratches be fixed without refinishing?
Some deep scratches can be fixed without a full refinish, using wood filler, a color-matched stain marker and a touch of finish. That works for a few scratches. A room full of deep scratches usually needs a sand and refinish. HomeGuide lists scratch repair at $25 to $100 per scratch, or $2 to $6 per square foot for larger areas.
Can scratches or damage in LVP be fixed?
Light scratches on vinyl plank can be hidden with a repair kit, but a deep gouge or a lifted plank is fixed by replacing the plank. On click-together floors, the planks are unlocked back to the damaged one and a new one goes in. Keep a box of spare planks from your install for this reason.
When is a full replacement the better choice?
A full replacement is the better choice when damage covers most of the room, the subfloor is soft in many places, or the floor has been sanded so often there is nothing left to sand. Termite damage spread across a whole raised floor is another case. HomeGuide lists complete floor replacement at $6 to $15 per square foot on its hardwood floor repair page.
Want a price for your own rooms? We measure, check the slab or subfloor, and put the material, prep and price in a written quote. Call or text (504) 977-2662.