Hardwood floors take a beating over time. Scratches from furniture moving, hyper pets, and everyday wear and tear are inevitable. When wood gouges appear, use a filler such as finish putty that matches the floor gloss to conceal them. Using wood filler rather than stain is preferred since it blends in with the grain and doesn’t look like a blob.
Consider replacing the damaged planks or refinishing the entire room for severe gouges or those in the corners of rooms. For the most stubborn stains and scratches, it is recommended that you consult with a professional. This way, you can be certain that the issue will be dealt with in a way that will prevent future problems and keep your hardwood flooring in excellent condition for years to come. In the meantime, always cover the floor with a rug or use floor mats to help prevent damage. This will also help to keep dirt and debris from tracking into your home. Ultimately, the best way to prevent dents and gouges in your hardwood floor is by placing floor mats under heavy furniture.
Hardwood floors add an elegant touch to any home. But over time, scratches and gouges can mar the beauty of this natural material. Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can repair your hardwood and keep it looking great. The key to restoring the look of your hardwood is to sand down the boards and apply a new finish. Refinishing is a more permanent option than simply resurfacing the wood, so it may be better if your floors show warping or water damage. Typically, refinishing will take longer than resurfacing, and it is more expensive.
Before refinishing, you should clear the room of all furniture and any other objects that may get in the way while the sanding process takes place. You should also hang on to any extra planks if you need to fill a hole or a gouge. Depending on the state of your floorboards, you should sand the entire surface to remove any old finish and bring up the bare wood. You should begin with a medium-grit sandpaper and move up to finer grades until the surface is smooth. After sanding, you should vacuum and wipe the floor with a tack cloth to eliminate any dust particles.
When the sanding is complete, you can then apply a polyurethane finish. You can choose from water- or oil-based finishes, though following the manufacturer’s instructions for proper application is important. Once the finish is applied, the floor must cure overnight before you can return to the room.
Refinishing can be messy, so it’s best to do it when the weather is warm and dry. This will make the process safer and ensure that your home is free from any moisture or chemical residues that could interfere with the quality of the finish.
If you’re uncomfortable tackling this project yourself, hiring a professional flooring company like Gordon James is a good idea. They’ll be able to use dust-free sanding equipment and Bona stains, sealers and finishes for less mess and faster results. They can also repair damaged areas with wood putty, and replace any boards that are too far gone.
Scratches are a common and frustrating problem on hardwood floors. Fortunately, scratches that don’t penetrate the wood can often be repaired by re-applying the protective coating that keeps your floors shiny and new. Before proceeding with any scratch repair, clean the entire area with a microfiber cloth and specific floor cleaner until it is dirt-free. Once that is done, wipe the scratch and surrounding areas with another clean, soft cloth until they are also dry.
You can use a marker or blending pencil to camouflage the mark for scratches that have damaged the top finish but not the wood underneath. A little steel wool rubbed over the scratch can also help, but always rub with the grain and not against it to prevent further damage. If the marks are really deep, a bit of wood filler may be needed to hide them. This can be purchased at your local hardware store and typically comes pre-colored to match your flooring. Use a plastic putty knife to apply the filler, making it less likely to scratch your flooring further. Once the filler dries, it can be sanded down and stained to match your floor’s color.
If you have old hardwood floors beginning to separate, try using a color-matched wood filler to fill the gap. If you cannot find or purchase the right filler color, sand down the old wood and add a fresh coat of polyurethane, varnish, or sealer. Be sure to use a lambs-wool applicator or brush to avoid air bubbles in the new coating and let it dry completely before traffic can be used on the area. Family Handyman reports that you can also rip a narrow band of wood from the side of your planks and glue it into the gap.
To minimize scratches, the place felt pads on the legs of any moveable furniture and use soft-tipped protectors on your furniture’s bottoms if it’s not attached to the frame. You can also protect your floors from further scratches by encouraging guests to remove shoes in the entryway and by regularly removing heavy items from the home. By taking these measures and following these simple tips for preventing floor damage, you can extend the life of your hardwood floors and avoid the hassle and expense of hiring a professional to refinish them.
Even with the best floor care, there is a good chance that your hardwood floors will develop gouges or dents at some point. This is especially true if you have kids or pets, or if you move large pieces of furniture often. In addition to lowering the overall beauty of the room, dents and gouges can cause the floor to squeak and can even affect its structural integrity.
Fortunately, there are several options for fixing these issues. Surface-level scratches and dents that haven’t pierced the wood can usually be removed using an orbital or power sander with a fine steel wool pad. Alternatively, you can also try rubbing the scratched area with a stain or color match. Be sure to test the color of your stain in an inconspicuous spot before applying it to the floor.
For deep dents and scratches in the surface of your wood flooring, you will need to use an oil-based wood filler. This can be purchased at a local hardware store or home improvement center and is available in several different colors. Be sure to choose a color that is similar to your floors and that will blend in with the rest of the surface. When you have applied the wood putty, sand it until it is flush and smooth with the surrounding area and then apply a finish.
Hardwood floors are beautiful and add warmth and character to your home. But over time, they can become worn and damaged. Refinishing or resurfacing your hardwood floors is an excellent way to breathe new life into them. However, it is important to understand that refinishing or resurfacing your hardwood floors may not be enough to fix deep scratches, dents, gouges, or other damage. In these cases, it is probably best to replace your hardwood floors completely.
When refinishing your hardwood floors, you will need to use a large drum sander to sand down the boards and remove the existing finish. This is an extensive and labor-intensive process that will require a lot of work on your part. You will also need to stain and seal the wood after sanding. This is an ideal option for homeowners who are looking to refresh their flooring and add a bit of modern style to their home.
You should only try to refinish your hardwood floors if they are made from solid planks of wood or if you can refinish them yourself using an at-home refinishing kit. You can also refinish engineered hardwood floors, but you must make sure that the layer of real wood bonded to the plywood is thick enough to be sanded down without touching it.
If you have wood floors with a glossy surface, you should use a revitalizer gloss regularly to keep them shiny and protected. This product is available at most home improvement stores and will not only restore shine but fill in shallow scratches, dings, and dents.
In high-traffic areas, the finish and stain on your hardwood floors can wear away, leaving the bare wood exposed. You can resurface your wood floors by sanding them down to the bare wood and then applying a coat of polyurethane.
There are several types of polyurethane finishes, including gloss, semi-gloss, and matte. The type of finish you choose should depend on the amount of foot traffic in your home and what color and design elements you are aiming for. For example, you should choose a semi-gloss or matte finish if you have children and pets who can easily scratch the wood.
