How to Seal Cracks in Barn Wood Floors

Wood from an old barn can be recycled into flooring.

With its rich texture and character, barn wood flooring, reclaimed from old farm buildings, provides a rustic look and feel to a home. Like any type of wood flooring, barn wood can be marred by cracks. Repairing and sealing small cracks is a simple task, but if the crack is more than several centimeters thick, it's best to consult with the person who installed your flooring.

Things You'll Need

• Latex wood floor filler
• Putty knife
• Damp cloth
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Stain that matches the flooring
• Paintbrush
• Polyurethane wood floor sealer

Instructions

1. Clean the crack as thoroughly as possible, removing any debris from the interior.

2. Squeeze latex wood floor filler into the crack and smooth it out to the same level as the floor with a putty knife. Latex filler is easy to apply and is stainable to match the color of your barn wood floor.

3. Wipe away any excess floor filler from the area around the crack with a damp cloth.

4. Let the wood floor filler dry according to the specific instructions on the package.

5. Sand the filler with a fine-grit sandpaper until smooth.

6. Apply a coat of wood stain over the crack, matching the stain color to the color of the barn wood floor. Let the stain dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. This step is only necessary if the latex filler does not already match the color of your floor.

7. Paint over the filled crack with a polyurethane wood floor sealer.

Tips & Warnings

• There are two types of polyurethane floor finishes: water-based and oil-based. Water-based sealers require more coats but put out less odor during application. Use the same type of sealer that was used for the rest of the barn wood floor.

References

• The Family Handyman: Water-Based vs. Oil-Based Polyurethane Floor Finish
• Grand Rental Station: Restore Wood Flooring