How to Remove Scratches From a Wooden Tile Floor

Wood Tile Floor

The installation of a wooden tile floor in your home can breathe new life into a tired, old room. Not only is wooden tile flooring easy to care for, it can also add value to your home. Wooden tile flooring is often manufactured with a durable polyurethane finish that makes cleaning a breeze, but even though the surface of a wooden tile floor can withstand a lot of traffic, it is not scratch-resistant. Fortunately, there are products on the market that can help to fill the scratches and render them almost undetectable.

Things You'll Need

• Fine grit sandpaper
• Microfiber cloth
• Clear, water-based polyurethane
• Paint brush
• Wax touch-up stick
• Clean rag
• Liquid scratch cover
• Wood scratch marker
• Paste wax

Instructions

1. Sand the area of the wooden tile floor that has been noticeably scratched. Using fine grit sandpaper, gently sand the area enough to remove the polyurethane and the scratch. Wipe the scratched area with a microfiber cloth to remove any sanding residue. Apply a thin coat of clear and water-based polyurethane. Keep the area free of traffic for at least 24 hours so that the polyurethane can set.

2. Use a wax touch-up stick to hide the scratches. Wax touch-up sticks can be purchased in hardware stores and do-it-yourself centers, and come in quite a few different shades. Once you find one that matches, drag the wax stick over the scratches and gently rub the area with a dry sponge.

3. Apply a liquid scratch cover. The liquid scratch cover comes in varying shades for different types of wood. Simply, apply the liquid liberally to a dry rag and wipe it over the scratched surface of your wood tile floor. The liquid will stain the scratch to match the color of the wood. Use a clean area of the cloth to remove any excess liquid scratch cover.

4. Try a wood scratch marker. A wood scratch marker works about the same as the liquid scratch cover, but application is made easier with the marker like tip. Running the marker along the scratch will help to conceal it.

5. Rub on a paste wax. For scratches that are very minor, and appear to be nothing more than surface damage, a small amount of paste wax on a clean rag can do the job. Apply the paste wax to the scratch with the rag and vigorously rub the area. The wax will fill the scratch and make it shine like the rest of the wood floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Attaching felt sliders to the bottom of your furniture legs will help keep scratching to a minimum. Refraining from wearing heels and wiping your feet well before coming indoors, is also a good idea. Small rocks and debris that are brought in on your shoes, can scratch your wood tile floor. It is also a good idea to keep your pets nails trimmed, as long nails add extra wear and tear to wood flooring.

• When you are sanding the scratch out of the wood floor tile, sand in the direction of the wood grain, and refrain from using a circular motion. Otherwise, you may damage more of the tile by accident.

Resources

• Source to purchase a touch-up marker
• Wax stick available for purchase
• Source for floor paste wax