Lifting Scratches on Wood Floors

Camouflaging

• One of the simplest ways to hide scratches in your wood flooring is by blending the color of small surface scratches with the surrounding piece of wood. You can find several brands of camouflaging products on the market. These products contain a blend of wood stain, wax and urethane in the form of a crayon or stick. The combination of ingredients helps to fill in small scratches and protect the finish. Although these products come in a range of colors, you may need to blend two or more shades to match the color of your existing floor.

Sanding

• Sanding helps bring the surrounding floor surface level with the scratch. Floors with numerous scratches often require sanding to help blend the scratched area with the undamaged sections of flooring. A drum sander is specifically designed to cover large surfaces, such as wooden floors. Tool rental centers usually carry this large item. Improper use of power sanders pose the risk of further damaging a wooden floor. Read all the instructions and safety precautions before turning on a drum sander. Drum sanders remove the surface wood very quickly, making it important to check your progress frequently. When sanding a wood floor, work in the same direction of the grain and finish off with fine-grit sandpaper.

Filling

• Deep scratches and gauges are unsuitable for sanding. These deep areas of damage often require a filler to lift the scratched section to the level of the surrounding surface. Some wood fillers contain synthetic ingredients while others contain a blend of wood fibers and glue. Match the color of your wood filler as close as possible to your existing floor. Test the product in a hidden area of your flooring to check for color compatibility and avoid obvious patch marks.

Considerations

• Badly scratched or rotted wood flooring requires replacement. Depending on the extent of damage, you may need to remove a small section of wood or the entire floor. Extensive repairs and replacements are best left to a flooring contractor.