You’d been dreaming about it for years. You’ve stressed for days over which precise wood and colour you wanted, but finally, your new floor is installed and perfect. You’re admiring it with a fondness most people reserve for their pets when you realize there’s a long scratch right down your floor. Oh no! What happened?! What can you do?!
There are many things that can damage or scratch a new floor. Some of these are easily fixed; other are more difficult.
Surface Scratches.
Surface scratches never actually touch the wood. These are scratches in the protective coating. They are most often caused by people walking over the hardwood in shoes. Dirt and sand caught between the floor and the shoe (especially shoes with hard soles) will scratch the protective coating. These are some of the most common scratches on a hardwood floor, fortunately, they’re also the easiest to fix. Just clean the area completely with a little hardwood cleaner (you don’t want sand or dust to get sealed in permanently) and, once the wood is clean and dry, apply a little new finish.
Minor Scratches.
These scratches pierce through the protective coating and penetrate through the the surface of the actual wood beneath. This sort of damage is typical of a home with a medium sized pet that runs over the hardwood. These are scratches that will require a bit more work. You’ll need some fine-grade sandpaper (or clean steel wool) and a hardwood-repair wax-stick of the correct colour. As with surface scratches, you’ll want to completely clean the area. Once it’s clean, you’ll use the sandpaper and carefully sand over the scratch until it is no longer visible. Remember to sand with the grain of the wood. If you go against the wood’s grain, you’ll just make the problem worse. Once the scratch is buffed away, you may want to “feather” out a little to help the fixed area blend in a little better. Don’t over do the feathering though! You only draw more attention to the area than necessary. Finally, follow the instructions of your hardwood-repairing wax. You’ll want to fill in the scratched area and help it blend in as best you can.
Major Scratches or Gauges.
These deep injuries go far beyond a minor scratch. They may be caused by dropping furniture, knives, and anything else with a hefty weight and a sharp point or corner. When it comes to major scratches or gauges, the time for DIY floor repair is over. You’ll want to call in a hardwood flooring expert in your area to strip, repair, and refinish the floor.
Hardwood floors are beautiful and durable. In Europe (and parts of Eastern Canada), it’s not unusual to find a hardwood floor that’s over a century old. But you do need to take care of your floor if you want it to stay in good shape for a lifetime. Try to limit surface scratches as much as possible, and avoid minor scratches if you can. As for major scratches, it’s best not to put your floor in a situation where gauges are likely to occur in the first place, so place furniture and art accordingly.
Are you interested in updating your home’s look? Thinking that hardwood floor may be the answer? The professionals at TimberTown have the expert advice you need. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions about the pros and cons of hardwood. We can even help you choose the right floor for your family, and we have experts ready to install your choice into your home. Come into the TimberTown location closest to you today!
