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Hardwood floors are both attractive and functional. There are four main reasons for scratching dust and dirt, heavy traffic, furniture and pets. All Rights Reserved. Thats never an easy task; it involves powerful cleaning agents (for example, mineral spirits and ammonia) and no small quantity of elbow grease. Take a damp cloth soaked with professional floor cleaner and use it on the damaged area. 8 Ways to Fix a Floor: Tried-and-True Solutions to the Most Commo Bob Vila Radio: 4 Ways to Fix Scratched Wood Flooring, 8 Easy and Affordable Garage Floor Options, Just Floored! Scratches are generally removed by filling in the scratch or sanding the wood floor down to remove the scratch. Ah scratching on hardwood floors. These range from a scrape to a deep gouge. Monday - Friday 07:30 - 17:30, Saturday 07:30 - 16:00. Alternatively, coat floors with a product specially formulated to renew the woodBona Pro Series Hardwood Floor Refresher (view on Amazon), for example, or Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver (view on Amazon). Varnishes are a type of surface finish that comes in the form of a coating sitting on top of your wooden floor. But it would be better to prevent scratches before they happen. To view this page, please select a location below or enter your zip/postal code. It is vital that those issues are identified and dealt with and swiftly. Brush the marker over a few scratches, continuing if successful. Dents happen when something heavy or blunt strikes the wood hard, such as a baseball, or even dishes that are dropped and broken. Wood filler comes in many colors and is generally easier to match to the color of the hardwood floor. Home dcor inspiration and professional interior design insight. Bob Vila, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day. As durable as hardwood floors are, accidents still happen and its important to take care of even the most minor scratches or dents in order to preserve the look and longevity of your the hardwood floors. Fill the scratch with wood filler. They have hands-on experience with all flooring types and bring inside industry know-how to homeowners in the Southeast. Scratched and dented hardwood floors can spoil the appearance of a beautiful floor. Regardless of size and severity, even minor scratches should not be left unattended because a small problem can easily become a big one given the opportunity. This will stop people bringing in dirt and grit from the outside (the number one cause of shallow scratches on hardwood floors). Not wood putty. Smooth down the wet filler and dry for two hours. Already have an idea but need a little help? Failure to vacuum or clean between sandings can result in a gritty feeling finish. There are four types of scratches that your hardwood floor may suffer. A: Additionally, it would be wise to also clean outside of your home. Are you sure you want to leave without saving? 2022 Todays Homeowner Media. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Sweep the area with a soft broom and dustpan and clean it with a gentle soap and water solution. A hardwood floor will last for years, even decades it really is possible to keep hardwood and laminate floors looking like new. Weve analyzed products in every flooring category to introduce our 10 trending products for 2022. If the dent is too deep, it may be necessary to wood filler and treat it like a scratch. However, isnt it even better to find the potential sources of scratching and prevent that damage from even occurring? A:You have several options at your disposal. When the wax has dried, wipe off the excess with a clean, soft cloth and buff to a shine. How you remove them is a little different in each case. Keep your floor looking like new with these tips on how to remove scratches from hardwood floors. Apply it with a small brush or even a cotton swabjust be sure to wipe away any excess before it has the chance to dry. Wood floor scratch repairs will often involve the use of wax to polish the surface, hardwood floor cleaner, wire brush for some more serious scratches and of course - a few pieces of cloth to clean. Chico Carpet One is the premier provider of carpet, hardwood floors, vinyl, and other flooring options; providing all major brands of flooring complete with professional installation at affordable prices. Pequannock Township, NJ 07440, 2016 Porters Cleaning, LLC All Rights Reserved. Your guests, your pets or even a strong gust of wind can bring a whole lot of dirt on your floor. When it has dried, sand flush to the surrounding wood floor and varnish the repair. In this post, Ill show you how to remove scratches from hardwood floors, and Ill give you my top five tips to keep hardwood floors scratch free. If you dont want to purchase a complete repair kit, you can also purchase individual floor markers in the shade you need to match the stain or finish on the floor. You want to sand the area until the wood is smooth. Pets. Scratches can be small and only barely damage the protective coat in which case they are just a minor annoyance. Small finish penetrating scratches. Minor surface scratches. These tips will help you keep your hardwood floor in perfect condition from the day it is first laid: If you have gouges in a wooden floor that cannot be removed, contact Porter's. Encourage friends and family to remove their shoes upon entering the houseespecially women in high heels! A hardwood floor is a beautiful addition to any home. This is especially bad if you have a big dog with appropriately big nails. You must enter the text exactly as it appears in the image above. Try the SelectAFloor Finder. There are parts of your floor placed in key areas like, for example, around doors. Fill the scratch and wipe off the excess before it dries. They clean easily and add resale value to your home. Touch up kits are available for repairing minor damage to wood floors. Also, allow ample time for the finish to dry. Visit our showroom or click to set up a FREE estimate today >. Take care not to sand too hard. Shoes and heavy traffic. Learn how to fix scratches on hardwood floors with these steps for each. A small scrape can be removed by using a little paste wax, and rubbing it gently along and cross the direction of the scrape. Why not remove this threat preemptively? Apply with a plastic putty knife and make sure the putty is dry before grabbing fine, high-grade sandpaper to level the surface. Now use wire wool to smooth the scratch and be careful to always move with the direction of the grain to prevent damaging it. For deeper scratches or gouges in your hardwood floor, youll need some additional materials. Once you can no longer see the scratch and the wood is smooth, follow by rubbing with mineral spirits. Sign into your account to keep track of all your favorite items and create boards by room or project. For deeper or wider scratches, take a putty knife and apply wood filler into the crack, wiping off excess while still wet. Click on a rating star to rate this page! We have two major types of floor finish penetrating oils and lacquers (varnishes). Furniture. Furniture can leave marks and scratches on the surface of your floor. Never slide furniture across a wooden floor without first placing carpeting or pads underneath the furniture (this will make it easier to slide, too). The simplest solution is to use furniture pads and glides to prevent such issues from ever happening. You are about to leave this site and will ose your current information. Choose a floor marker that matches your existing floor and test in an inconspicuous area. Whether from pets or children, boots or rolling furniture, unprotected wood floors are virtually certain to get scratched. To remove light scratches, youll need mineral spirits and a fine steel wool pad. Apply the wood filler with a plastic putty knife, which is the tool least likely to cause any further damage to the floor. Refinish the board to match the rest of the floor. Stain markers and blending pencils are commonly available in a range of tones (view on The Home Depot), but traditional wood stain works equally well. Sand down dried wood filler with 180-grit sandpaper, avoiding the surrounding floor. After the wax hardens, you can buff the wax with a cloth. Please re-enter your email address. Removing dents from hardwood floors is a different process from removing scratches. Our professional restoration services may be able to help return your floor to its former glory. 6 Industrial Road Clean thoroughly to make sure there is no dust left and apply the finish. Or should we say, what kind of shoes is causing it? Whether you have light hairline scratches or heavy gouges from large furniture or dog claws, its good for homeowners to know how to fix scratches on hardwood floors. Use a putty knife to push the putty into the gouge, so that it is well packed and slightly raised from the surrounding wood. Minimize Scratches & Dents on Hardwood Flooring Tips Tricks. By Bob Vila | Updated Mar 24, 2021 9:51 AM. Heres how to go about repairing your floor: Subscribe today for exclusive content & tips in your inbox! How to Repair a Scratch or Gouge in a Hardwood Floor, 5 Things to Know When Building a Staircase, Chelseas Picks: 3 Paint Colors That Work for Any Accent Wall, This Side Up: Installing Insulation Correctly, Changing the Mortar Color on the Fireplace, This GE Profile Dishwasher Gives You a Smarter Clean, Todays Homeowner Radio Podcast | July 23, 2022, Nexgrills Smart Grill Makes Grilling Easier Than Ever. For minor scratches or dents in your hardwood floors, Chico Carpet One is providing the following tips on how to repair and conceal them. Many dents can be removed by using a combination of heat and moisture to raise the wood back to its original form. Twenty & Oak Flooring Experts are a team of flooring professionals with over 150 years of combined experience in the industry. With a few simple tools and supplies, dents and scratches can be filled and the surface blended to match the surrounding wood color and grain. After the wood filler has dried, sand the wood filler down until it is smooth with the rest of the floor. You may even find that shoe polish of the same color will do the job. Q: I have various scratches on my wood floors. If the scratch or gouge is deep and runs across the grain, you probably wont be able to make it disappear completely, but you should be able to fix it so its hard to notice. These kits are available at most hardware stores or through the hardwood floor manufacturer. Allow about 24 hours to complete the removal process. Plan to reapply the product every several months and always refrain from using any such treatment on wood laminate or factory-finished floors. A touch-up pen matching the color of your hardwood floor is what is required to remove a shallow scratch. Keep in mind those are just general tips and if you are unsure how to proceed, it is always better to consult with professionals. The treatment is similar to that of minor scratches use a cleaner to make sure the area is clean, wipe the leftovers and allow it some time to dry. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Place doormats next to all exterior doors. Contact the team at Twenty & Oak we can connect you with local professionals and dealers that can help with any of your flooring needs. Rugs and Mats. Ask anyone who enters the room to remove their shoes supply slippers at the entrance to the room. Looking for expert advice on floor care? Areas like the kitchen where chairs and tables can be moved frequently are in particular danger. Finally, use varnish (thinned with 10 or 20 percent turpentine) as a coating over the repair. As you can see, removing scratches from hardwood floor is not a difficult job. This traffic will eventually lead to the surface becoming worn and distressed. Learn how this new GE profile dishwasher can eliminate extra steps. Trimming them frequently definitely will save you a bit of trouble and keep your floor in good condition. Rub with the grain along the length of the scratch; rubbing against the grain can cause more scratches that you will have to fix later on. We will never spam or share your email with 3rd parties, promise! Light scratches and deep scratches require different repair approaches. Lightly rub fine steel wool over the scratch along the grain. Click here to view more Flooring Tips & Tricks >, Visit our showroom or click to set up a FREE estimate today >. Keep pets nails trimmed, and dont let larger dogs into the room. Gently rub with fine grade steel wool and clean with a tack cloth. Give it some to dry completely and cover the place with a protective finish again. If a scratch has penetrated deep enough to expose bare wood, theres a low-effort way to conceal the imperfection: Simply fill it in with a stain that matches the floor color. You can also combine placing a damp towel on the dent and alternate with a hot iron. Lets take a look at what we can do about each of them. For excessive scratches, try rubbing wood stain over the area to penetrate raw wood and then quickly wipe clean. Because of this, lacquers are more vulnerable to scratching compared to other floor finishes. (Avoid waxes or pastes and cleaners that leave protective coats and shines.). Some scratches, though, are more difficult to deal with and require some additional work. Rub walnut meal mixture with olive oil or vinegar into light colored floors for a natural alternative. 15 Totally Unexpected DIY Flooring Alternatives. There are also many wood floor repair kits that you can purchase that contain touch up markers and sticks in multiple stain and finish colors. What To Do When Your Wood Floor Is Gouged, keep hardwood and laminate floors looking like new. After the wood has been raised, be sure to sand it in order to smooth it into place with the surrounding boards. Twenty & Oak 2022 | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy. Rub into the gouge until it is filled, before using a clean, soft cloth to buff away any excess. If youre sure that there is no missing or splintered wood in the dent, you can start steaming the wood to swell it back into place or you can place a dampened towel over the dent to raise the wood. This will allow you to rub a wax stick on top of the scratched place. As time goes by, your floor will experience traffic. Click here to view more Flooring Tips & Tricks >, Chico Carpet One is the premier provider of carpet, hardwood floors, vinyl, and other flooring options; providing all major brands of flooring complete with professional installation at affordable prices. Those places suffer more traffic than others and are the first to get dirty when someone steps in. Smart technology makes kitchen clean-up easier. They can also be penetrating the finish and exposing the wood below, at which point they turn into a serious issue that cannot be ignored. Deep scratches. Once the filler has dried completely, use fine-grit sandpaper to level the surface so that no difference in elevation exists between the patch and its surrounding area. Some add character, but some are just too big and need to go away. Inspect the dent carefully to be sure that no wood is missing. Cleaning outside. Sweep the floor regularly with a soft brush to remove dirt and grit. Fixing scratched hardwood floors is essential for any homeowner lucky enough to have wood floors. Use lightweight sandpaper to sand along the grain. Restrict medium- and large-size dogs from all rooms with hardwood flooring, or be sure to always keep their nails neatly trimmed. For large scratches or deep, wide gouges, we always recommend you call in a professional for the repair. 2022 Carpet One Floor & Home. A good idea is to offer your guests a pair of slippers and ask them to put the high heels away while in your home. To repair a deep gouge in a hardwood floor the sort of damage that might be caused when moving a heavy fridge in the kitchen youll need to visit your local hardware store and buy some colored wood putty. It is done! If gouge is 1/16-inch to -inch deep, fill with a resin floor marker, being careful to stay within the scratch. Dust and dirt particles can enter your home from the outside and damage your floors finish. If youre committed to keeping your hardwoods in tip-top shape, consider the following tried-and-true methods of safeguarding wood against the most common threats to its flawlessness: Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Backed by his 40-year remodeling career, Danny served as the home improvement expert for CBSs The Early Show and The Weather Channel for more than a decade. The question is what kind of traffic is your floor enduring? Position fiber doormats near all exterior doors, as tracked-in dirt and grit are the enemy of beautiful, pristine hardwood floors. The best method to use depends on the type of scratches you are dealing with. To address a deep, wide gouge, opt for a precolored latex wood filler, one that closely matches the color of your hardwood. For this youll need a wax filer stick in a matching color. These are relatively easy to deal with. A deep scratch or shallow gouge is a little more difficult to conceal. All rights reserved. They have claws and while not intentional, they can ruin the finish of your hardwood floors. Mix and test the colorants in inconspicuous areas to find a wood match. Apply matching colorant to wood filler, also. Afterwards, remove what is left of the cleaner with a rag. People use wood fillers to cover such damage because if properly mixed with sawdust they can hide the scratch pretty well. Sweep often in order to contain any dirt or grit that manages to sneak in despite your best attempts at barring its entry. However, no matter how well you protect it, over time it will get scratched or gouged: its unlikely that youll never move furniture across a hardwood floor, or that your children keep all their toys off the floor. A rug or mat is not only easy to clean but it will preserve your floor for a whole lot longer. What is the easiest way to fix scratches on hardwood floors without causing any lasting damage? The scratch should disappear. High heels, in particular, can be very damaging because they concentrate a lot of weight in a single pressure point. However, dings, dents and scratches can mar their beauty. Its easy to clean, strong and durable, and doesnt go out of fashion as a patterned carpet does. Note: During the removal process, dont forget to vacuum after each sanding, so that when you fill the scratch and refinish the floor, you arent including any dust from the sanding. If you have a leftover scrap of finished flooring, practice on it before trying the repair on your floor. Apply wax or acrylic floor polish over light scratches in hardwood floors, but take caution: Over time, such polishes can dull and darken the floor, eventually requiring removal. Not all methods are easyparticularly when it comes to repairing deep, wide gougesbut all are within the power of do-it-yourselfers with even intermediate skills and a modest level of experience with such projects. It is obvious that a frequent cleaning regime will help keep the surface safe. His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons. Sanding isnt required, but to achieve best results, you must thoroughly clean the floor prior to application. Email Address provided does not match the email address in our records for your user account. If you are going to slide furniture across a wood floor, always place felt protective pads under its legs (or use a piece of leftover carpeting, soft side down). Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved.