How to Fix Scratch Marks on a Wood Wall

Wooden walls look as good as new with simple scratch repair.

Moving furniture, horseplay and botched do-it-yourself home improvement projects are all ways interior wooden walls of a house can become damaged and scratched. If this occurs in your home, the damage must be assessed to determine the proper treatment. While severe damage needs the assistance of a professional to ensure proper repair, moderate damage often is repairable using simple tools and products available in hardware stores.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Wood polish
• Putty stick
• Putty knife
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Sand the scratch with sandpaper to smooth away rough edges and the uneven surface of the wood paneling.

2. Oil the sanded area to restore the finish. Wood or floor polish are acceptable products for wood paneling, although petroleum jelly and cooking oil are household items that work well in a pinch.

3. Conceal the scratch with a putty stick. Choose a stick in a shade close to or matching your wood paneling, and rub it over the scratch until the scratch is filled.

4. Run the edge of a putty knife over the filled scratch to smooth out the putty in the scratch. Wipe away excess putty with a clean, soft cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• If the scratch in your wall is severe, it most likely cannot be repaired using a do-it-yourself method. Contact a furniture repair specialist to repair severely scratched wood walls. If the wall is made of wood paneling, you can replace that sheet of paneling with a new piece.