Scratches can be caused by moving and dragging heavy furniture or appliances, or even by your pets’ toenails. However, light scratches require a different repair approach than deep scratches. See below what professionals advise.

Inspect the scratched area of the floor to determine the depth of the scratch.

Fixing surface scratches (if only the protective coating is scratched)

These are the easiest to fix because only the top protective coating has to be repaired.

First, clean the affected area using hardwood floor cleaner and a soft cloth.

Rinse with plain water and allow the area to dry.

Finally, refinish the board.

Removing light scratches (if the scratch penetrates the surface of the wood under the protective coating)

For removing light scratches you will need fine steel wool.

First, clean the surface using the above mentioned procedure.

Use the steel wool to gently rub the scratch. Be sure to follow the grain of the wood or you’ll leave more scratches on the floor.

To smooth out the damaged area after rubbing, rub with mineral spirits.

Finally, refinish the board.

Repairing deeper scratches

Deeper scratches require some sanding. Use lightweight sandpaper to sand along the grain of the wood.

To smooth out the damaged area after rubbing, rub with mineral spirits.

Then you’ll need wood filler that matches the color of the wood. Use a plastic putty knife to apply the filler onto the scratches. After filling the scratches let the filler dry.

Once again, sand to remove the excess filler and wipe up the dust.

Once the area is clean and dry, apply a new layer of the protective coating. Refinish the board with varnish, polyurethane, or a similar product to match the rest of your floor.

Sanding and refinishing is a smart method for repairing scratches, dents and gouges that are less than 1/8 inch deep. For deeper scratches consider replacing the boards and sanding and refinishing the whole floor.

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Sometimes holes in a wood floor can appear due to warn out finish underneath your dining room chairs or where knots and screws used to be. Whatever the reason is, those unsightly holes can totally ruin the entire feeling about the floor. Here’s how to go about patching a wood floor in your home.

There are commercial wood fillers on the market. Those can successfully repair small cracks, holes and gauges. They dry fast and can be sanded and stained easily. In most cases minor blemishes, scratches and cuts in the wood can be easily hidden with the right blend of colored putties, fill sticks and graining pencils.

To determine the color of the putty to use, try it on a test piece first. On light color woods, start with a medium to dark tone color first and build the lighter color by adding successive lighter colors to the pallet.

For repairing big holes, use a round plug larger in diameter than the hole to drill out the hole until you hit the sub-floor. Then, cut a piece of timber the correct thickness and size to fill the opening, so it’s flush with the bottom of the flooring, and bond into hole with good quality bonding agent, such as wood glue.

The other way for repairing big holes includes replacing the entire damaged floor board with matching wood flooring of the same species and width, such as that found in a closet or flooring that may have been removed during renovation.

Make sure the grain lines up. Then,sand the area down to bare wood, to prevent any inconsistencies in color, and refinish the floor for the boards to match. Use a wood filler to fill small gaps.

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Liming is like a white wash and the procedure of applying is similar to staining:

1. Repair the defects.

Use timber putty or filter to fill out all the cracks and gouges on your floor.

2. Sand floor in the direction of grains.

If you are not a professional and you do not have a sanding machine, you can sand the floor by hand using different grits of sandpaper to create a smooth, even surface. Sand to bare timber, as sealers prevent the colour from absorbing into the wood.

3. Clean the floor.

Vacuum and wipe using a soft, cotton cloth soaked in mineral spirit to remove any dust and dirt.

4. Apply liming solution.

Apply liming solution directly to sanded floor using a brush or rag, working in the direction of the floor boards and wood grain and doing a few boards at a time

5. Wipe off.

After several minutes, wipe off with a clean, soft rag to expose the grain evenly,again working in the direction of the boards and the wood grain. You will need several changes of rag to achieve a uniform finish.

6. Allow the floor to dry overnight.

7. Coat with a polyurethane finish.

Once the floor is dry, apply top coat with a polyurethane finish to protect the wood and give it a shining look. If necessary, apply more coats of sealer to the floor, letting each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next.

Care for the newly-finished floor with regular sweeping and mopping, and use furniture leg sliders or protective pads to prevent scratching or scarring the finish.

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Before staining your timber floor, consider the following issues:

Be sure to select the most appropriate method suiting your needs. To colour your timber floor there are two options. If you wish to have the effect of a strong colour, a stain can be applied directly to the timber. If you want a lighter appearance, consider liming or use a varnish stain.

If your floor is patched from different species of timber, staining will not make the varying timbers match completely.

Some timbers have uneven porosity which may result in different depth of colour.

Older timber will result in a darker stain.

Choose either water based or oil based system but do not mix them.

If you have decided to do the floor staining yourself, follow our step-by-step tutorial to easily do it.

1. Repair the defects.

Use timber putty or filter to seal holes and imperfections on your floor.

2. Sand floor in the direction of grains.

Sand timber using different grits of sandpaper to create a smooth, even surface.

3. Tape up the skirtings.

This way the stain will not affect other surfaces.

4. Clean the floor.

Vacuum and wipe using a soft, cotton cloth soaked in mineral spirit to remove any dust and dirt.

5. Apply the stain along the length of the boards.

Apply the first coat of your chosen stain or varnish mix evenly with a brush or rag in accordance with the supplier’s recommendation. Work a few boards at a time. Do not forget to wear gloves.

6. Wait for the stain to penetrate.

Let stain penetrate for a few minutes, then wipe off excess with a rag and let stain dry.

7. Final touches

If you want a darker colour, apply second coat of stain.

Once dry, apply top coat of water-based polyurethane with a clean paintbrush and floor finish applicator. This helps to protect and preserve the wood. Allow to dry two hours and apply second coat.

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