About Hardwood Floor Repair

Repairing hardwood floors can be a costly expense, but it is necessary if you want to preserve the quality and the life of the floor. General contractors who specialize in repairing hardwood floors are a good choice if severe structural damage beneath the floor has occurred. Repairing minor hardwood floor damage, however, can be a relatively inexpensive day project for a homeowner.

Significance

Hardwood floors are a beautiful addition to any home or building and greatly increase the value of a structure. Keeping hardwood floors in pristine condition is valuable, especially for homes getting ready to go onto the real estate market. Before repairing hardwood floors, you first needs to identify the repair as well as what type of wood and finish is being used on the surrounding floor to make sure that the finished solution blends in properly. Most repairs are minor--such as deep scratchrs, dents or stains--and can easily be fixed for under $100.00. Other repairs such as water damage or infestation by powder post beetles and termites may require an exterminator and contractor to finish the job properly. The repair---no matter how minor or major--should be completed swiftly to prevent further structural damage.

Types

There are many different types of hardwood floors on the market today. The easiest way to determine a perfect match would be to take a small piece of finished damaged wood to a contractor or hardwood floor supplier to assure the right color match-up. Some of the most popular hardwood floors both new and old consist of various tones and shades of oak, cherry, mahogany, ash, hickory, maple, pine, walnut and cedar. Some hardwood floors in older homes are composed of more rare woods such as basswood and juniper, and if a close match cannot be found, a substitution or having the entire floor re-stained or replaced may be the only solution.

Prevention/Solution

Repairing hardwood floors will eliminate the eye sore and prevent further damage. A repair involving insect infestation should be dealt with immediately, and the first step would be to call a pest control specialist to spray and remove the insects from the floors and structure. Using tools such as a circular saw, chisel and pry bar, the damaged floor plank should be removed and discarded immediately. Repairing hardwood floors as soon as the damage is noticed will help keep the unaffected surrounding planks tightly in place and prevent them from warping or shifting.

Considerations

Hardwood floors in many homes can be anywhere from 5 to 200 years old in some cases, making match-up an intricate process. Many times an exact match cannot be found and provisions have to be made such as tearing out the floor, replacing the floor or combining an area of tile with the surrounding wood. Hardwood flooring repair can be costly and it is recommended that large projects be completed by a professional installer or contractor to prevent further damage to the floors and assure both safety and longevity of the hardwood.

Effects

Once the floor area or plank has been replaced, depending on the age and stain of the surrounding floor, the entire floor may need to be resurfaced and re-stained. All furniture and wall items should be removed from the room and placed in storage during the refinishing and staining process. A buffer and sander will be run across the floors, and the floor will be dusted before the stain or finish can be applied. The area must be worked on from the corners inward to the exit area. No physical contact should be made with the finished floor for 24 hours or longer depending on the moisture content in the air and the how much stain was applied. The result will be a newly finished floor free of scratches, dents and blemishes.

Resources

• About repairing hardwood floors
• Hardwood Repair