How to Repair a Damaged Wood Floor?

Wooden floors are valued for their beauty and durability. Given proper and timely care, they can last a lifetime and longer. A good thing about these floors is that most of the time damages can be repaired without the need for replacing the floor in the entire room. This privilege is not available with most other alternatives, where even small damages require complete replacements. There are different types of damages that require professional wood floor repair. This can include scratches, scrapes, gouges, the floor buckling up or cupping, or corners getting curled in.

Before you get your wood floor repaired, it is important to know how a professional hardwood floor repair professional will handle the job.

Scrapes, Scratches & Gouges

If your wooden floor has scratches covering the entire surface, you may consider the addition of a new coat of finish. Different types of damages should be handled differently. The type of repair chosen will mainly depend on the type of floors you have.

Prefinished Floors

If you have prefinished floors, scrapes, scratches, and gouges can usually be fixed quickly. Chances are that you may have some boards remaining from your floor installation. In that case, your floor repair professional can swap out the damaged boards and create a seamless look and feel.

When it comes to touching-up prefinished floors, the process is more complicated. While you may consider using touch-up markers, it is far better to seek professional wood floor repair.

Sand-on-Site Floors

Spot repairs are not usually recommended on sand-on-site floors. Based on the situation and managed expectations, it may be possible to improve some damaged areas with spot touch-ups. However, there is still a good chance that some damages will continue to stand out.

If you have surface scratches, you may consider buffing and recoating your entire floor. This can give your floor a new-like look.
If you have deep scratches on the floor, touch-up markers may work at times.
If there is major damage to the floor, especially from water, it is recommended to dry it out before sanding. When dry a professional will consider replacing the boards that may be excessively warped with new hardwood. This is followed by full sanding and re-staining or refinishing of the floor. The repaired floor is then matched to your existing floor.

Wood floor repair for Water Damage

If your floor has been damaged by water and has suffered mild cupping or surface staining, it should be sanded, re-stained, and re-coated. This is a more complex task than it sounds and should be best handled by experts.

Wooden flooring can change color over time, as the wood can become darker or lighter under sunlight. The degree of changes over time will vary from one species to another. When the floor is sanded, it reveals the wood’s original color. Even when you apply the same stain, it can appear slightly different.
Hiding the lap and cut lines during the application of the new finish can be a difficult job. So, it is best to leave the job to the professionals to achieve a flawless result.

Replacing Damaged Flooring with New Planks

Many times, the best wood floor repair solution for water-damaged floors is to replace the affected boards before refinishing the floor. Properly replacing planks requires the expertise and experience of a certified craftsman.

This will require:

Finding the planks that match the existing floor’s species, grain, and texture.
You should expect the new planks to have a slightly different hue compared to your current, sun-soaked wood. The stain will require careful matching.
Each plank weaved into the existing floor requires that they are of the right size to create a seamless result.

Sanding & Refinishing

Once the floor has been repaired or the planks have been replaced, it will be required to sand and refinish the room. As already mentioned, the natural color of the wood will change with time, species, and sunlight. With the help of professional sanding, staining, and refinishing, it becomes possible to minimize the effects of these factors.

So, when it comes to wood floor repair, the type of process used will depend on the type of damage. At International Floors, our craftsmen are licensed and experienced to handle all types of wooden floor repair and replacement jobs. Feel free to contact us at 514 791-5641 for more information or write to us using this Contact Form and we will call you back.