How To Repair Wooden Floors

The great news about wooden floors, unlike many other types of flooring is that most of the damage you are likely to throw at them can be repaired.  The method of repair you choose will depend largely on the severity of the damage your floor has suffered, and in some instances can be carried out by even the most inexperienced DIY-er, albeit others might require specialist intervention.  Either way, the old adage “prevention is better than cure” should not be ignored when it comes to wooden floors.

You can prevent damage to your wooden floor by always lifting, rather than dragging furniture across the floor; by cleaning and treating it regularly and by mopping up any spills as soon as practically possible.  All of that said, with the best will in the world, accidents do happen and repairs need to be done, so what should you do if your floor does get damaged?

If you find that your floor is damaged by an all over covering of light scratches, the solution is usually simple, straightforward and can by carried out by even an inexperienced person.  It is very easy to hide or remove light scratches on a wooden floor by adding a new coating of sealer to your floor or if your floor is oiled, simply applying more oil; if it is lacquered, you can buy a lacquer repair pen to do the job.  What’s more, you can also buy wax filler sticks from many DIY shops or flooring specialist suppliers, which are the ideal solution to camouflage light to medium scratch damage.  When it comes to deep scratches and dents, there are special resin fillers available, which can be applied to even out any problem areas.

In our experience, it’s really only when damage to your floor starts to get quite extensive should you need to think about specialist repairs.  The worst-case scenario is usually where scratching has become so extensive that the floor requires a complete re-sand and re-seal to get it back to looking its best.  While such instances may not be what you hope for, the good news is that a complete re-sand and re-seal, if done well, will have your floor looking like new again and prepare it for a good few years of wear and tear.  When choosing someone to re-sand and re-seal your floor, it’s a good idea to speak to the original supplier of your floor to ask if they offer this service, because, if they don’t do it themselves, they’re more than certain to know someone good who does.