Table of contents:
How To Repair Hardwood Floor Deep Scratches – Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious people. It only takes a minute to sign up.
I notice deep cracks all over hardwood floors like below. We really like the house and we buy it. Is this a major problem or a common problem
How To Repair Hardwood Floor Deep Scratches
Scratches in your photo aren’t a problem – they’re a feature. Yes, I’m serious.
How To Repair Normal Wear And Tear On Your Rental’s Hardwood Floors
It is common to find hardwood floors these days that have been deliberately ‘distressed’ by creating these scratches & grooves before finishing – and you can see in your picture that the finish extends to this floor down to the eels, and it is not scratched. .
Sometimes the features are meant to look like a well-worn old floor, and other times they are meant to look like the floor was ‘crafted’ by hand. Often the features look like the remains of being roughly cut by a circular saw blade.
Take a trip to any flooring store in your neighborhood and look in the section with ‘handwritten’ and ‘felt’ options – you’ll find plenty of examples of what you see here.
Those are really deep scratches, you can’t fix those completely. You could get rid of filling the small ones and the big ones, you would have to sand the whole floor down and refinish it though or it would look worse. In the end it may not look so good, the only option is to replace the entire floor.
Scratch Repair Sticks
If it were me I’d invest in a rug that would cover that area, or I’d live with it.
By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you agree that Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. With the endless variety of wood styles and finishes available today, you can transform your home into a sophisticated living space.
As durable as hardwood is, this flooring material can be prone to nicks and scratches. This can be aggravating for the homeowner, as there is nothing worse than watching your floors suffer wear and tear. The caveat to this, however, is that you can easily repair even the largest scratch on a hardwood floor.
Like any porous material, hardwood can be subjected to a variety of abrasives that damage the exterior. In most cases, small scratches will not affect the integrity of your hardwood floors and are only cosmetic. Although these can be an eyesore, you won’t have to worry about compound damage.
How To Fix Scratches On Hardwood Floors
Deep scratches that go into the base of the hardwood are a concern. Your floorboards are protected by a manufacturer’s finish, and breaching this can allow water intrusion. Water will damage your floors, so it’s best to tackle these types of scratches right away.
Many homeowners take an aggressive approach to cleaning, and while this may make things more sanitary, it can also damage your floors. Hardwood is quite delicate and can be easily scratched by a variety of typical cleaning supplies. In general, avoid cleaning your hardwood floors with:
Instead of these products, choose a gentle microfiber mop or a vacuum with a hardwood attachment. Your floor will thank you.
Furniture is the main cause of large scratches. Pieces like tables and couches have significant weight behind them and being slid across the floor is guaranteed to cause damage. Even residential furniture can cause scratches, as they often change slightly with use.
Diy Oil And Vinegar Furniture Scratch Removal Trick
Rolling office chairs and dining room chairs are especially damaging to your floor. Constant movement and adjustments can result in a variety of scratches, large and small.
Your pets may hold a special place in your heart, but there’s no denying that they can scratch your floors. Constant friction between nails and hardwood will eventually lead to defects, but in most cases, it is minimal.
It is difficult to prevent this type of damage, but by keeping your pet’s paws groomed, you can reduce the issue. Buying pet beds is also a great way to help prevent claw scratches.
It may seem irrelevant, but certain types of footwear can definitely affect the quality of your flooring. High heels can be particularly harmful, as the sharp edges can puncture the hardwood.
Wood Floor Scratch Repairezy™
Other footwear can also have an effect, as wearing shoes indoors will attract dirt and rocks from outside, which can contribute to scratching. To stop this cause of floor scratching, simply leave your shoes at the door.
The best scratch repair is prevention. While avoiding the occasional scratch may feel like a losing battle, there are several actions you can take to reduce the frequency of damage. Most of these options are extremely affordable and will go a long way toward protecting the investment you made in your hardwood.
Cleaning is an inherent responsibility of having hardwood floors. Keeping up with a regular cleaning schedule will not only keep your floor looking brand new, but it will also prevent harmful scratches in the first place. By removing small stones and dirt, you will eliminate the cause of scratching in the first place.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but cleaning the foot areas outside your home is also beneficial, as it will stop abrasive materials from entering the home in the first place.
How Can I Fix These Scratches On Wood Flooring?
One of the cheapest and easiest things you can do to prevent scratching furniture is to buy furniture pads. These felt pads fit into the legs of your beds, tables, and chairs and glide smoothly over the hardware, preventing any wear.
For high traffic areas you can also purchase area rugs, which will greatly reduce wear and tear.
Most hardwood flooring experts recommend that you maintain an internal humidity of 35%-55% in your home. This keeps your hardwood in good condition. If it is too dry or damp, it can easily shrink and expand, affecting the integrity of the floorboards and making them more susceptible to scratches.
No matter how well you take care of your floor, you will eventually get some light scratches. As previously stated, these scratches are only cosmetic, but they are worth correcting if you value the interior appearance of your home.
How To Fix Scratches On Hardwood Flooring
If your scratch is very minor and does not affect the bottom of your hardwood, applying a wood stain that cannot be seen by the untrained eye is a simple home repair. Most hardware and home improvement stores sell small sample sizes of stains that are perfect for cosmetic solutions.
If you’re in doubt about what stain to get, consider taking a spare piece of flooring to the store so you can find an exact match to the wood grain.
Occasionally, surface scratches can be removed with a little elbow grease. A high quality hardwood wax is excellent for sealing areas of your floor that have suffered normal wear and tear. Simply apply this wax to a cloth and rub it vigorously on the floor.
Another smart trick is to rub raw walnut on the affected area. Walnuts contain many natural dyes that work very well to hide blemishes.
Tips To Help Prevent Scratches On Wood Floors
If your hardwood has been hit with more severe scratches, you’ll be happy to know that these can also be easily fixed. As long as the gouge does not go down into the core of the wood, or into the sub-floor, you are safe to make a permanent repair. For large scratches, follow these three simple steps.
Before repairing a scratch, clean the area thoroughly with a cleaning product intended for hardwood floors. Be sure to remove any extra floor that may be splintering because of the scratch. Your goal is to create a smooth, rough-free surface that you can patch.
With a putty knife, add wet wood filler into the gouge, being sure to fill it completely. It’s okay if there’s a little extra spillage. Allow this to dry and cure completely (usually about an hour). Once the filler has set, sand it down so that it sits flush with the rest of the floor plan.
Once the wood filler has been sanded and sits flush against the floor, brush on the appropriate wood stain. Your floors are now as good as new, and you will hardly know there was ever a scratch.
Fixing Dents, Scratches, And Gouges On Hardwood Floors
Refinishing your hardwood is a process that is usually done every 7-10 years, but if your scratch damage is really bad you may want to consider doing it sooner. Refinishing and resurfacing involves removing the top layer of your hardwood and resealing it to finish. If you have multiple deep gouges, this may be a good repair option for you.
Keep in mind that this type of flooring can only be renewed 4-6 times, so use this repair sparingly.
Your hardwood floors are a beautiful part of your home, and taking care of their appearance is essential. If your floor has suffered its fair share of scratches, repairing it is a simple process that many homeowners can do on their own.
Whether you want to repair your floor yourself or prefer a professional to take on the job, the hardwood installer is your best bet. Browse our comprehensive flooring collection and get started today. Stephen
