How to Repair Surface Damage on Wood Flooring

Those individuals who have never resided in a home with wood flooring are apprehensive in purchasing a home with the beauty of wood floors, mainly due to the horror stories of costly repairs we have all heard. To a certain extent this is true, a total refinishing of a wood floor performed by a professional contractor can be extremely costly in terms of both money and inconvenience. However not all repairs to the finish of wood flooring are the enormous task our imaginations would lead us to believe, in fact, some repairs can be completed quite well by your average "weekend warrior" with a little knowledge.

Surface damage on wood flooring is just that - it is a minor set of blemishes, scratches or stains that have not penetrated the wood surface. Deep gouges that go 1/4 inch deep are not surface damage, they are major repairs and are best left to someone with the skills to repair them. The first step in repairing a wood floor is to assess the damage honestly, and at the same time assess your personal knowledge and skill in home repairs. If the damage is only to the surface as described earlier, it is very possible for a homeowner to repair the damage inexpensively and without great knowledge or skill.

Begin to repair the surface of the area with wood flooring by removing all furniture, and then sweep and mop the floor and let it dry. Take a very fine grit steel wool and gently rub the damaged area, frequently wiping the dust away with a damp cloth to see the effect. With each rubbing assess your progress - don't go crazy with this, the idea is just to remove and blend any blemishes, not to get down to bare wood. When you are satisfied you have progressed far enough in the removal of blemishes, wipe the entire surface with a damp cloth and let it dry thoroughly. Repeat this step as many times as necessary until the floor is spotless. Remember, any dirt or dust will make a blemish when you apply the wood floor finish.

Next it is time to decide what type of wood floor finish to utilize, and there are several different kinds. Polyurethane floor finish lasts the longest, and should you decide to use this make certain that it is "Self-leveling" this means it will dry without lap lines. Polyurethane is best applied with a lamb's wool applicator, going left to right across the floor in 3 foot sections at a fairly quick pace, and then starting at the left again on the next pass. It is usually important to complete the entire floor without stopping to avoid lap lines, and this should not be difficult for the average person.

Another common wood floor finish is a wood wax, usually describes as a Urethane Emulsion. This is a liquid that can be mopped onto the wood floor in several coats and left to dry between them. This finish requires occasional re-waxing, or it can be polished with the use of a floor buffer. The advantage to this finish is that it is less frightening to those with little skill, and there is no smell as compared to regular Polyurethane. Whatever wood floor finish you choose, repairing surface damage on wood flooring is well within the scope of abilities of most people.

If you want you self to be save of all the worries of repairing such damages on wood flooring on your home or your private homes for rent property, do consult a specialist to do the job.