How to Repair a Scatched Hard Wood Floor

Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular finish options available to homeowners. Wood floors are durable, long-lasting and add a sense of warmth and character to the home. While hardwood floors require little maintenance, they are susceptible to scratches from falling objects or from moving furniture. While some scratches can be simply buffed away or covered over, others may require the entire floor to be refinished, leaving the surface looking smooth and new.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steel wool
• Paint brush
• Wood stain or clearcoat
• Floor sander
• Broom
• Vacuum
• Mop

1. Repair surface scratches by gently buffing them with a piece of steel wool. This works best on unfinished, unstained floors.

2. Attempt to touch-up stained or sealed floors by painting the scratched area with a matching stain or clearcoat finish. Use a small paintbrush to apply the stain, then pat away any excess using a damp rag.

3. Repair severe scratches by refinishing the entire surface. Before beginning, remove any furniture from the room and thoroughly clean the floor using a damp mop.

4. Sand the wood using a floor sander to strip away the surface layers. If the floor is finished or stained, simply sand away the finish. If unfinished, sand until the scratches have been removed.

5. Vacuum or sweep the floor to remove all sanding dust, then follow up with a damp mop.

6. Stain the floor using a paint brush or rag. The floor can be covered with a urethane based stain, a clear polyurethane or a simple wax paste.