How to Repair Wood Floor Under Carpet
Carpeting provides a softer surface to walk on than wood, but it also hides cracks in the wood that should be repaired to prevent further damage to a floor. You can repair the wood by eliminating the crack. A few supplies acquired from a hardware store will be needed as will a few tools from around the house. No special precautions or protective head, eye or hand gear needs to be used. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Metal putty knife
- Wood cleaner spray
- Cloths
- Steel wool pad
- Compressed air
- Wood filler paste
- Plastic putty knife
- Oil-based stain
- Finishing oil
- Model brush
- Stapler
Instructions
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1
Insert the edge of a metal putty knife beneath the edge of the carpet where it butts up against a wall. Slide the putty knife back and forth beneath the carpet to loosen the staples holding it to the floor. Pull the carpet back until you can see the crack in the wood floor.
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2
Spray wood cleaner on the crack. Wipe the crack and the surrounding area with a clean cloth to remove loose dirt and grime. Let the crack and surrounding area air-dry for an hour.
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3
Place the edge of a steel wood pad against an end of the crack. Press down on the pad as you drag it across the length of the crack. Remove the pad and repeat the procedure two more times. Inspect the crack to see if the inside edges are now smooth -- if not, repeat the procedure with the steel wool until the inside edges are smooth. Blow loose wood dust off the crack with a burst of compressed air.
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4
Apply wood filler paste the same color as the wood floor to the edge of a plastic putty knife. Place the edge against the crack on one end. Press down on the putty knife as you drag it across the crack. Remove the putty knife, reapply wood filler paste and fill the crack again. Inspect the crack to see if the wood filler paste is now even with the surface of the wood surrounding the crack -- if not, repeat the procedure until the crack is filled.
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5
Wipe excess wood paste filler from the area surrounding the wood with a soft cloth. Let the wood filler paste set overnight.
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6
Place the edge of a steel wood pad against an end of the crack. Press down on the pad as you drag it across the length of the crack. Remove the pad and repeat the procedure two more times. Inspect the crack to see if the wood filler paste now has a highly roughened texture -- if not, repeat the procedure with the steel wool until it does.
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7
Apply oil-based stain that is a shade lighter than the wood floor to the edge of a soft cloth. Wipe the surface of the cracked area with the edge of the cloth, using slow circular motions, for a half minute. Wipe excess stain from the area surrounding the cracked area with a dry edge of the cloth. Let the stain dry overnight.
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8
Apply finishing oil to a model brush. Brush the area where the crack was with long, even strokes. Let the finishing oil dry for the amount of time specified on the oil's can before applying another coat with the brush. Repeat this procedure an additional two times. Let the finishing oil dry.
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9
Vacuum the area where the crack was. Unroll the carpet back over the wood floor. Staple the edges of the carpet to the floor.
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