Even if you are careful, you will inevitably accumulate scratches on your hardwood floors.The majority of scratches are caused by moving furniture, pets, and small rocks outside.Depending on the severity of the scratch, it can be relatively easy to restore the hardwood floor.To get the longest life out of your flooring, you can repair and hide nicks and scratches with a few simple steps.
Step 1: If you scratched the area, wipe it down.
Use a soft rag with water to gently clean the surface of the hardwood floor.There should be no dirt or debris in the scratch.
Step 2: Take a spot test.
If you want to see how well the marker matches the wood, you have to apply the stain to the scratch.You can use it on your scratch if it is a good match.Home departments, hardware stores, and paint stores carry stain markers in many colors.
Step 3: The marker should be applied to the stain.
If you think the marker is a good match, you can stain it with the tip of it.If the stained area looks a little light, don't worry.After you rub off the excess, you can go over it again.
Step 4: The stain needs to be rubbed into the scratch.
To focus on the scratched area, lightly press a clean rag soaked in a bit of mineral spirits onto the wood.Rub the area where you applied the stain to remove any leftover stain.The method works best because it allows for a gradual addition of stain.If you use the marker to draw and fill in the stain directly, you can saturate the scratch with stain and make it darker than the surrounding wood.The scratch mark can be even more obvious if you draw straight onto it.
Step 5: The scratched area should be cleaned.
If the protective coating of the hardwood floor is scratched, use a soft rag and a small amount of hardwood cleaner to remove any contaminants from the scratched area.The small dust particles have to be removed from the scratched area so they don't get preserved in the floor.
Step 6: Get rid of the cleaner.
After cleaning the scratched area of the floor, use a rag with water and wipe down the area to remove the cleanser.Let the scratched area dry.
Step 7: A top coating can be applied.
When the floor is completely dry, apply a thin layer of protective finish to the scratched area with a small tipped brush.A protective finish could be a sealant, shellac, or some other kind of varnish.The same type of finish is used on the hardwood floor.You can get advice from an employee at your local hardware store on what finish to use on the floor.If you are an inexperienced wood worker, or if your hardwood floor has a specialty finish, you should consider hiring a professional to finish the floor.Since hiring a professional will cost more money, it might be more cost-effective to let scratches accumulate, rather than hire a company to fix a small scratch.
Step 8: The scratched area needs to be cleaned.
To clean the scratched area of the floor, use a soft rag and a small amount of hardwood floor cleaner.This will make sure that you are working with a clean surface.
Step 9: It's a good idea to wash the scratched area.
The scratched area should be wiped down with a damp rag.The cleanser will be removed further sanitizing the workspace.The area should be completely dry before moving on.
Step 10: Place wood wax in the scratch.
You can choose between clear wood wax or a wax that matches the color of your wood flooring.Rub the wax stick over the scratched area.To force the wax down into the scratch, use a plastic tipped knife.Home departments, paint stores, and local hardware stores have wood wax sticks.
Step 11: Allow the wax to dry.
If you want to buff the wax, leave it alone for a day or two.
Step 12: Take the scratch and rub it.
To buff the wax, rub a clean cloth over the scratched area.buffing the wax will smooth the scratched area, remove excess wax, and restore shine to the floor.
Step 13: The scratched area should be cleaned.
To clean the scratched area of the wood, use a soft rag and a small amount of hardwood floor cleaner.
Step 14: Remove the hardwood cleaner.
Rub the scratched area of the floor with a new rag.With will make sure that your workspace is completely clean and free of debris.Before proceeding, allow the scratched area to dry.
Step 15: Rub mineral spirits on the scratch.
Before you can fix a scratch on your hardwood floors, the layer must be removed.You don't need to worry about removing the top finish of the floor if your floors do not have that coating.Rub the scratched area of the floor with mineral spirits.Let the area dry completely by wiping it over with a clean cloth.It is advisable to hire a professional to repair the flooring if you are inexperienced.
Step 16: The scratch should be filled in.
It's a good idea to apply a small amount of wood filler that is similar to the color of your hardwood floor to your pointer finger.To remove air bubbles from wood, use your finger to spread the wood filler into all directions.Excess woodfiller will be removed later, so you can be generous with it.It's a good idea to apply wood filler rather than wood putty.The two substances are different and using wood putty to fill a scratch can affect the effectiveness of matching the filling to the color of the floor.After applying it, give it a day to dry.
Step 17: Excess filling should be wiped off.
After the wood is allowed to dry for a day, drag a knife over it to smooth it out and help push it into the scratch.The edges of the scratch and filler should be flat and even if you drag the putty knife over it.
Step 18: There was excess filling around the scratch.
If you want to gently sand the area surrounding the scratch, use a small pad of fine grit sandpaper.You can either sand in circles or follow the direction of the wood's grain.You should sand lightly whichever way you choose.
Step 19: Remove excess filling.
Put the cloth in the water and wring it out.The cloth needs to be moist but not dry.To wipe away the excess filler, use your finger.To avoid wiping over the filled scratch, be sure to wipe the areas where filler has been spread.
Step 20: The patched area should be sealed.
The patched area should be applied with a thin layer of the same sealer that is used on the rest.You can use a small bristle brush or a lamb's wool roller.Before traffic can be allowed on the surface, it is advisable to allow a complete 24 hours of dry time.You run the risk of leaving air bubbles in the sealer if you use a foam roller.You will need at least two coats of finish to get the best results.