How to Repair Your Hardwood Floors

Are your hardwood floors damaged? Thinking of renovating them? RenoQuotes.com has got you covered, detailing solutions for repairing hardwood floors, including various ways to refinish your wood floors for effectively shielding newly buffed surfaces.

Wood floors are one of the most elegant and long-lasting household floorings. Yet, given that wood is a living thing, it has to be maintained regularly to preserve its aesthetic appeal and longevity. 

How to Repair Old, Damaged Hardwood Floors

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There’s an unlimited amount of ways one can damage hardwood floors. Although some problems, such as sagging floorboards, call for a professional intervention, others can be undertaken as a weekend DIY project if you put in the right amount of time and effort. This article is an in-depth overview of four common floor repairs you can do with the confidence of a well-seasoned expert. 

Can You Replace One Plank? How to Fix Damaged Floorboards

Before jumpstarting any renovation, inspect your wood floors. If you spot some damaged floorboards, plan on replacing them. To do so, start by chiselling both ends of the deteriorated board. Then, drill relief holes that are wide enough to insert a saw blade.

Once done, saw the length of the damaged floorboard. You can also gently break the plank down using a hammer or screwdriver. Remember to check the state of the floor joists or subfloor before moving forward. 

Once the above-mentioned is completed, install the new board. Make sure it's secured to the subflooring or joists with nails. 

How to Fix Scratches on Hardwood Floors

Below are guidelines for repairing superficial or deep scratches on your flooring. 

Superficial Scratches

There are several effective ways to repair minor scratches on wood floors. Store-bought options such as stain markers, wax sticks, and touch-up markers can fill in scratches with a floor colour match, concealing the flaws as best as possible.

When choosing a floor repair marker, opt for a colour that matches your wood, testing it on a small, inconspicuous section first. Start with a lighter colour than the floor; you can always darken it with a second coat later. Gently draw over the scratch and wipe off any excess with a clean towel. Work in small sections at a time as these markers tend to dry quickly.

Moreover, there are also plant-based solutions, such as using nuts, coconut oil, and a baking soda and olive oil mixture to help conceal scratches as best as possible.

When using olive oil and baking soda on scratches, mix equal parts to create a paste and apply it to the area in question. Otherwise, rub a raw nut over the scratch to fill in the grooves with its natural oils, then buff the area with a soft tack cloth for a flawless finish. 

Deep Scratches

To repair deep gouges and scratches in hardwood flooring, using wood filler or putty, sanding the surface, and applying a floor finish is the best course of action. Start by vacuuming the area with a shop vacuum or meticulously wiping down the area with a microfibre mop to remove all debris. Apply a colour-match wood floor filler using a plastic putty knife or the back of a credit card to fill in the scratch and remove any excess product. Once dry, sand the surface and apply a protective finish if need be.

To apply wood filler over a scratch or gouge, use a putty knife to fill the scuff mark and even it out. Wipe off any excess product while it’s still soft for a flawless and level finish. Choosing a colour that matches the surrounding flooring is essential. Opt for a wood filler that was specifically made for wood floors for the best results. 

Sanding and adding a hardwood flooring finish is essential for repairing deep gouges on hardwood floors. Once the putty has cured, sand the surface to even it out with the floor. Test the stain with a matching product and polyurethane varnish to ensure a uniform finish. If you plan on using a polyurethane floor finish, use a water-based option for new flooring and an oil-based product for old or worn-out flooring. To save time and resources, test the product on an inconspicuous part of the floor prior to repairing.

Can Hardwood Floors Be Patched?

Ultimately, the method used to repair a hole in your floor depends on the gravity of the situation. Fixing a small-, medium-, or large-sized hole mandates a situation-specific approach. 

Small Holes

Wood repair markers are made for filling in small, differently shaped, holes. They’re retailed in an array of colours, simply choose the one that best suits the look of your flooring.

Medium-Sized Holes

If a hole is too big to fix using a floor repair marker, use wood filler or putty. Such easy-to-use products can be moulded to fill cracks and grooves, and any excess product can be removed thereafter, hassle-free. Make sure to choose a shade of putty or wood filler that suits your flooring’s colour.

Big Holes

For larger holes or more visible ones, wood putty is the ideal solution. This sort of product sticks to the wooden surface as it dries and can be stained to match the shade of your flooring. However, applying it can be a bit trickier.

Start by stripping the finish from the area around the hole to ensure the putty adheres properly. After applying the putty, allow it to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once cured, sand the putty until it’s level with the floor. Lastly, stain and refinish the repaired area. If you want flawless results, you might want to consider hiring a professional floor repairer. 

How to Repair a Creaking Hardwood Floor

There are a whole lot of reasons for floor creaking. Below are some of the most common root causes and quick fixes to help solve the issue.

Installing Shims

To pinpoint the source of creaking or squeaking floorboards, look below the subflooring while someone else walks on the floor above. Pay close attention to the sounds emitted; all squeaking can be indicative of gaps between the subflooring and the floor joists.

To fix this little annoyance, get some shims and wood glue. Carefully wedge the shims in the gaps without nailing them in place, but rather use glue. Repeat the process if necessary to eliminate all noises and restore your floor’s stability.

Insert Wooden Blocks Between the Joists

If your floor joists are positioned too far apart, have aged, or are showing signs that they may be prone to shifting when under strain, reinforcing them can definitely improve stability.

To do so, add backers between the subflooring and the joists, using the same wood size as that of the existing structure. Add backers and filler blocks between the joists as makeshift struts. Apply construction glue on the side that will sit against the subflooring, then secure both ends of the filler blocks to each joist with a screw, ensuring the connection is strong and minimizing potential shifting.

Lubricate the Floorboards

Lubricating hardwood floors is a simple and effective way to eliminate squeaking. This process involves applying a substance—known as a lubricant—to minimize friction.

To give this a try, spread a generous amount of powdered graphite over the squeaking area, then cover the powder with paper towels. Next, put on your shoes and work the powder into the gaps between the floorboards using your feet, moving them back and forth and in a circular motion for a few minutes. Doing so can significantly minimize friction and help silence annoying squeaking.

How to Refinish Hardwood Floors: Different Floor Finishes

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After sanding your floors—if you’ve done so—pick out a floor finish. There are three types of floor finishes, each with unique upsides and drawbacks. 

Sealant (Varnish)

This is the most commonly used floor finish. It provides a long-lasting protective film, coating the floorboards against potential damage, such as stains, shocks, etc. It comes in several finishes: glossy, satin, and matte. There’s a little something for all tastes and aesthetics. This type of floor finish is also relatively affordable. However, it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as the other two floor finishes detailed.

Find more information about floor varnish in this article: Choosing a Varnish for Your Wood Floor.

Oil

An oil-based finish will give your wooden floors a rather “traditional” look, while also rendering them more resilient and easy to upkeep. Due to its rich plant-based manufacturing, it further makes the floorboards look natural. In terms of downsides, this finish is irreversible, as it seeps deep within the wood grain. Furthermore, it requires regular maintenance—every six months or so.

Wax

Wax makes for a natural-looking finish, yet less resilient than varnish. It’s relatively easy to apply, nourishing and protecting your wood floors. Wax gives wood flooring a patina-like aspect. However, it’s not as durable as varnish and does require more upkeep. For example, should your flooring stain, you’ll have to sand it again and apply a new coat of wax.

Floor Refinishing: Sanding and Varnishing Price Ranges

Check out these articles for more information about hardwood flooring:

• How to Install Hardwood Floors

• Hardwood Floor Maintenance Techniques

• Choosing Your Hardwood Floors: Characteristics