Flooring takes a beating, especially in high-traffic areas. Scratches, stains, and damage from children and pets are all common problems.
You can fix these issues by using wood filler, sanding the filler to remove any damaged surface, and tinting the cured filler to match the floor color. For squeaky floors, you can use a hammer and scrap piece of wood to pound the joist area and reduce movement.
Scratches
Scratches are the primary source of damage to wood floors. They usually occur in high-traffic areas and can be a result of dragging furniture or other abrasive materials across the floor surface. Most scratches can be fixed with a wax stick or a commercial scratch restorer. For large or deep gouges, you can use a wood filler that is tinted to match the flooring color. It should be pressed into the damaged area using a plastic putty knife. Once it dries, use fine-grain sandpaper to smooth the filler and clean up any dust particles. Then, stain the area with a color-matched wood stain.
A good tip for dealing with scratch marks is to prevent them from happening in the first place. This can be done by encouraging guests to take off their shoes, placing rugs in key areas of the home, and by purchasing furniture pads that adhere to the bottoms of furniture pieces. It is also a good idea to keep pet claws trimmed as they can also cause damage to hardwood floors.
In some cases, scratches can become permanent and may require refinishing the entire room. In this case, the best course of action would be to consult a professional flooring service for assistance. It is always better to invest in a professional service rather than trying to fix the problem yourself and potentially doing further damage.
Stains
Dark water stains can detract from the beauty of wood floors. If caught early, these stains are fairly easy to repair.
First, try using a non-toxic enzyme cleaner. This natural cleaner is effective in removing pet urine, ink, and other staining from hardwood floors.
Do not scrub the stain with anything abrasive, as this will ruin the finish and/or top coat of your floor. Use a soft brush or mop to remove as much of the stain as possible. Be sure to overlap into surrounding boards generously. Then, vacuum and sweep the floor. After sweeping, if necessary, sand the affected area with an extra fine grit sander (typically 180 or 240) on your floor sander. This is done by hand and it’s important to follow the grain, overlapping into surrounding boards as you work.
If this does not completely remove the stain, try a stronger abrasive, like a tack cloth or steel wool. Be sure to wear a dust mask and eye protection during this process. Finally, if this does not fully remove the stain, you may be able to bleach it out with hydrogen peroxide. Soak a rag or cloth in peroxide and apply to the stained area. Allow it to set for about an hour and then check the rag/cloth. If the stain is still there, lightly sand the spot with a very fine grit sander and then clean it with a specialized wood floor cleaner. Be sure to thoroughly sand, wax, and buff the entire floor afterward.
Cracks
The emergence of large cracks in your concrete slab floors is a red flag that demands swift intervention. Ignoring the problem puts your home’s structural integrity at risk and creates a conducive environment for groundwater seepage. Fortunately, these issues can be rectified with a few easy steps.
While the occurrence of minor surface-level cracks should be treated with concern, they do not indicate that there is a serious problem with the foundation of your structure. However, even these minor fractures must be sealed to prevent water and moisture from seeping through the concrete, which may lead to severe damage.
To repair concrete floor cracks, start by chiseling away high materials that may prevent the fresh concrete repair mix from bonding firmly. Next, clean the surface of the area and prepare it for patching. Once the preparation process is complete, apply a concrete repair mix with a trowel. This can be a standard epoxy sand mixture or a polymer-modified cement patching mix.
If your house is built on a clay soil type, fluctuations in the moisture content of the earth below your home can cause recurrent floor cracking. This phenomenon is due to the fact that certain soil varieties expand when wet and contract when dry. This shifting of the ground exerts pressure beneath your home, which causes floor cracks and other irregularities.
Gaps
Gaps between the floor and wall aren’t only unsightly, they can be dirt magnets and even create a tripping hazard. The most common cause of gapping is seasonal changes in indoor humidity levels.
When the wood swells during periods of higher humidity, gaps can often close back up. However, if the gaps are wide enough that you can fit a dime in them, it’s time to call a flooring specialist.
Luckily, there are ways to fix these gaps without replacing the entire board or using a caulk that can easily crack. If you’re able to fill the gap with a face-grain wood plug that matches the color and species of your floor, it can disappear into the gap completely and look as natural as the rest of your floorboards.
For wider gaps, you can cut strips of a spare flooring board that’s the same size as the gap and then apply wood glue to each end of the strip. You can then hammer the strips into the gaps, making sure not to disturb any surrounding floorboards. Another popular method is to use a piece of cotton rope or jute and dip it in wood stain. When the strained rope dries, it can help to seal and stabilize the gap. It’s important to carefully measure the width and length of each gap before trimming the rope to ensure a perfect fit.