Hardwood flooring is durable, but it can sustain minor damage as it ages. Your floor may accumulate scratches or gouges. A plank might crack, warp, or need to be replaced due to pet stains. When your floor has widespread damage, your flooring contractor may recommend refinishing it. This involves sanding away the very top of the floor so imperfections are removed.
Other times, repairs can be done without having to refinish the floor. Here's a look at how minor hardwood flooring repairs can be done.
Scratches Can Be Stained
Surface scratches that don't need to be filled in can disappear by coloring the scratch with a stain stick. This is a small stick, like a marker, that has a colored stain that blends in with the color of the floor. The floor is cleaned first, and then the stain stick is used to color over the scratch. It's important to use a stain of a close color match so the repair isn't noticeable.
Gouges Can Be Filled In
Deep scratches, holes, and gouges can be repaired without sanding or replacing a plank by using wood filler. Plain filler can be added to the gouge and then colored with a stain stick, or colored filler can be used.
The filler makes the gouge even with the surface of the floor and the color allows the repairs to blend in. You or the flooring contractor may need to use a few colors to get the repair to blend in and look natural depending on where the gouges are. Since your floor may have dark grain and knot holes alongside lighter areas of wood, it can be challenging to choose the right color when it's time to make repairs.
You can buy hardwood flooring repair kits that contain fillers and stains of different colors so you'll always have what you need. You can even buy small bottles of polyurethane finish you can apply like fingernail polish to the repaired area so it has a glossy look like the rest of your floor.
Cracks May Require A Board Replacement
When a plank is damaged beyond the ability to repair it with filler or stain, it may be necessary to replace the board. The flooring contractor will assess the situation since a chipped area might be glued back on if you happen to have the chipped piece. Raised boards can be screwed back down, and sometimes, boards with pet odors can be treated to neutralize the odors.
If none of those hardwood flooring repair options are suitable, the contractor can cut out the damaged area of the flooring and insert a section of new flooring. The contractor has to be careful not to damage nearby boards while working. The steps sound easy, but cutting out a section of flooring and then fitting in a new patch is hard to do.
You might be able to repair a scratch or gouge, but when it comes to patching a plank or replacing a few boards, you may want to call a flooring contractor who has the tools and experience needed to do a good job.
Contact a local hardwood flooring repair service to learn more.