Scratches on wood floors can ruin the look of a beautiful hardwood floor. Oftentimes, a sanding and refinishing job is needed to remove them. However, if the scratch is superficial or minor, you can repair it yourself.
Start with a stain marker that is a color match to the floor. Be sure to test the marker on some scrap wood or an inconspicuous area of the floor first.
Steel Wool
While hardwood is more durable than softwood flooring or laminate, it can still suffer from scratches and dents. This damage can detract from your home’s aesthetics and lower its value, but they’re not always permanent. With a bit of ingenuity, you can repair most minor scratches and dents on your floor without refinishing it completely.
Start by removing the dirt from the scratched area with a clean cloth dipped in wood floor cleaner. Next, buff the affected surface with steel wool until it is smooth. Make sure to rub with the grain of the wood. Rubbing across the grain will increase the mark and make it more noticeable. Finally, use sandpaper to sand down the jagged edges of the scratched area to help it blend in with the rest of the wood.
You may need to hire a professional to fix more severe damage like a gouge. A gouge is a deep indentation that destroys the wood fibers and leaves a hole in the floor’s surface. It is often caused by heavy furniture movement, especially when the furniture does not have protective pads. It can also be the result of dropping heavy items such as pans, pots, or wheeled toys.
Remove any dirt and dust with mineral spirits and a scouring pad if your floors have a polyurethane coating. Then sand the affected area with 180-grit sandpaper to level it and make it look natural with the rest of your floor. Once the area is sanded, apply a colored wood filler to the gouge. It should be one that closely matches the color of your floor. After the wood filler dries, apply a new coat of your preferred protective coating to seal it in.
If your floors have a shellac or water-based finish, you can usually get away with using a wax wood repair stick to fill in small scratches. These products contain melted wax that can be blended to match your floors’ original color. After the wax sticks dry, you can buff the affected area with a clean cloth to improve its appearance.
Wax Stick
If your wood floors have only superficial scratches or scuff marks that aren’t going into the actual wood, you can use a wax stick to cover them up. This type of repair is a quick and easy option that can make your floors look new again without having to call in a professional. You can find a wide range of these products at home department stores, paint shops, and even some hardware stores. If you can’t find a product to match your floor’s color, you might be able to use a DIY solution of vinegar and olive oil instead.
Deeper scratches, gouges, and dents in hardwood floors require more precision and attention to repair. First, you’ll need to clean the area and remove any dust and dirt. Once the surface is clean, you can use a scouring pad to lightly rub away the scratched area. You’ll also need to apply mineral spirits, which will help to remove any remaining coatings on the wood.
Once you’ve done this, you can proceed with the repair. If you have a wood wax stick in the same shade as your floor, apply it to the scuffed area and allow it to dry. If you don’t have a wax stick, you can use wood filler to fill the damaged area and sand it down once it’s set. You’ll then buff the area and add a coat of finish or sealer to prevent any future damage.
Another way to reduce the severity of scuff marks and scratches on your hardwood floors is by using furniture pads. These stick-on felt pads will go on the legs of your tables and chairs, helping them glide over your flooring and preventing any scuffs or scratches. You can find these at most hardware stores, and they’re very inexpensive. Taking time to protect your hardwood floors can greatly reduce the maintenance and repairs you’ll need to do in the future. Protecting your hardwood floors with these simple solutions will allow you to enjoy them for years to come.
Wood Filler
Hardwood floors are gorgeous additions to any home but are not impervious to damage. Small scratches are often not an issue, but larger gouges can be a real eyesore. In many cases, these can be fixed quite easily.
Whether your hardwood is scratched by pets, furniture, or other causes, you can usually find a quick, inexpensive solution for the problem that will restore the beauty of your floors. The first thing to do is examine the scratched area and determine how severe it is. From there, you can choose the appropriate method of repair.
If the scratches are shallow and confined to the surface, a blending pencil or wax stick should be able to cover them up easily. If the scratched area is a little deeper but no more than 18 inches deep, rub in a floor marker with resin to fill the hole and quickly wipe clean. These markers are available in a wide variety of colors and can be matched to the existing flooring to help blend the repair in. Testing a small amount of the marker on an inconspicuous section of the floor is a good idea to ensure it will look seamless when complete.
For deeper, wider holes or gouges in your hardwood, use wood putty to fill the damaged areas and color-blend them. Apply the putty with a plastic putty knife and smooth down while still wet to prevent unevenness and allow it to set. Once dry, sand the area and apply a protective coating like polyurethane to seal and protect the repaired area from future damage.
Deep scratches or gouges that penetrate the base of your hardwood can lead to rot or other structural problems for your home. If this is the case, you’ll likely need to resand the entire floorboard and refinish it. This is a more involved project than the other methods described here, but it can also yield stunning results that leave your home with floorboards that look brand new.
Keeping your hardwood in excellent condition will increase its value and longevity while adding to the aesthetic of your home. The best way to do this is to regularly sand and refinish your floors. This is normally done every 7-10 years, but if the damage to your floorboards is extreme, it may be worth considering sooner than that. If you have any questions about how to care for your hardwood, don’t hesitate to contact a professional flooring specialist.
Wood Stain
The beauty of hardwood floors is undeniable, but they aren’t impervious to damage. It’s normal for kids to drag wheeled toys across the floor, and even the gentlest of dogs can leave a gouge in the wood next to the doormat. Most light scratches are cosmetic, and you can often fix them without calling in a professional. The trick is to use a technique that will conceal the scratch without touching up the base of your wood floors.
You can use a wood stain to hide surface-level scuff marks and thin scratches, especially if your floors have a recent finish. Before applying the stain, you’ll want to thoroughly clean and sweep your floors. It’s also a good idea to wear protective equipment like rubber gloves and safety glasses, depending on what you’re using.
If you don’t have any wood stain on hand, you can try using a piece of ordinary wax crayon instead. This can work well if the color of your crayon matches the shade of your floor, and it’s simple enough to do at home.
Another option is to use a wood filler on deeper scratches and gouges. Many types of wood fillers are available on the market, and they can be sanded and colored to match your floor. If you’re going this route, it’s best to work in a well-ventilated area and wear a respirator mask (or dust mask) if necessary.
One final option is to hire a pro to refinish and restain your floors. This is normally done every 7-10 years, but if you have heavy damage, this may need to happen sooner. This process is the most involved, but it can make your floors look brand new.
For more serious problems, you’ll need to sand and refinish your entire floor, which can be expensive and complicated. However, this is a good solution for severe damage and extensive scratching. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, calling in a local professional is a good idea. They’ll have the right tools and experience to get your floors looking like they did when you first installed them.
