As sturdy as hardwood floors are, there are things that can cause serious damage. Dropping something heavy and hard, or stabbing the floor with the heel of a stiletto. Depending on the severity, there are a few solutions to repairing the damage to your hardwood floors.
Matching the tones and the texture will be the hardest part of repairing damaged wood floors.
Types of damage
Just like the human body, there are different levels of “injury” that your hardwood floor can suffer. A hard blow by a solid object may only cause a bruise, but it can also be more severe and cause a split/crack or a deep hole. Either way, there is a solution to the damage.
Fixing a bruised hardwood floor
When a hardwood floor is bruised, the damage appears more like a dent than a complete crack in the wood. A dent means that the fibers holding the wood board together have been stretched and damaged, but have not split. In this case, you may be able to fix the problem using the moisture. Normally, moisture is something you want to avoid, but in this case, a little moisture can go a long way. We’re not saying you need to fill the dent with water. Using a hot towel and an iron, you can fill the dent with steam, allowing the moisture to plump up the fibers and repair the dent.
Fixing a split hardwood floor
Get a professional to fix damaged wood floors and perfectly match the existing flooring.
If the damage to your hardwood floors have caused the fibers to break, creating a hole or crack in your floors, you will need to take more serious action. There are several DIY methods that include filling the area with wood filler. Filling the hole with filler is the easy part. The hard part is sanding it smooth, matching the surrounding wood in color and texture, and adding new finish. To match the filler to the characteristics of your wood floors will require a bit of skill and artistry, which is why we recommend using a professional wood flooring refinishing service.
Professional wood flooring refinishing services
For severe damage to your wood floors, you may need to replace the board altogether for the best results. Replacing a board, matching it to the existing flooring, and refinishing to make it all look like nothing ever happened, requires a professional hardwood flooring installation expert.
If you have a damaged hardwood floor and you’re uncertain about how to proceed, schedule a free consultation with the T&G experts. We’ll give you unbiased advice about the best methods for fixing your damaged floor.