How to Hide or Cover Scratches on Wood Floors

Wood floor scratches, gouges or holes ruin the look of the floor. They can also cause rotting, as they allow moisture to get into the wood. If the scratches are very light, you can sometimes cover them with a layer of varnish or polyurethane, but if the scratches go into the wood, you’ll need to build them out first with wood filler that’s the same shade as your current floor.

Things You'll Need

• Extra fine sandpaper
• Wood filler
• Plastic putty knife
• Polyurethane floor gloss
• Small paint brush

Instructions

1. Lightly sand the scratch with a piece of fine sandpaper, folding it and using the edge to get inside the scratch. Buff around the edge of the scratch on the surface of the floor as well. Blow off the dust.

2. Press a wood filler into the scratch with a plastic putty knife, scraping the edge of the knife over the scratch in a perpendicular direction. The filler should mound slightly out of the scratch.

3. Let the filler set for a few hours, until it’s dry to the touch. Flatten and smooth the surface with your sandpaper. Wipe off the dust.

4. Apply a thin layer of polyurethane over the scratch, covering the whole area that’s been sanded. Let the gloss dry to the touch (two or three hours).

5. Lightly sand the new gloss to dull the surface, so the next layer will stick. Apply a second layer in the same manner as the first. Let it dry for a day before walking on it.

References

• HandyOwner.com: Floor Repair.