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Simple Hardwood Flooring Repair

July 21st, 2009 | by real |

Even the most expensive floors can have problems. Woods are prone to scratches more than any other flooring. Problems can range from minor problems on the surface or to major ones which damage the structure. Atlas Flooring San Antonio recommends you seek a professional who will repair the damage before trying to do it yourself. However, if you do attempt to make the repairs, here is a list of steps to take to get the job done right.

Hardwood surface scratches are very hard to avoid due to natural wear and tear on the wood surface. If scratches on the floor are not noticable, color sticks or urethane touch-up kits available at most floor retailer stores can be used. If scratches are deep, you will need to change the damaged boards.

Another problem can be buckled hardwood which is when boards rise up from the sub floor due to humidity. This should be repaired immediately to avoid greater damage. Expert help is sometimes required since the problem is beneath the floor. Fixing a screw into the flooring and the sub floor pulls down the buckled portion of the floor.

Hardwood plank gaps or separations caused naturally by climate or by dryness can also creat issues. Woods will shrink or expand when wet or dry. This problem can be seasonal.

Loose planks can be fixed with a nail and hammer. Loose boards can be corrected through replacement of the damaged wood strips.

Broken or split woods on the floor can also be repaired using a hammer and special angled nails; larger splits may also need replacements.

Stained hardwood floors can be the most devastating problem since stains can change the beauty of a floor having dark colors. Refinishing the whole floor can be the only way to deal with stains but for the DIYer try these steps:

- Sand out the stained wood

- Apply an acid mixture; this is a mixture of acid crystals (sold at retail flooring stores) and water on a clean white cloth. Let the mixture set on the floor for an hour.

- Check if the stain is gone; if not repeat the process again.

- Once the stain is washed out rinse the area with vinegar and let the area dry completely.

- Apply an oil based stain that can match the bleached portion. Additional coats would be necessary to level the color of the floor. Once you have arrived at the color that you want, let the floor dry overnight.

Atlas Floors recommends wearing protection for your eyes when doing the whole process of floor stain removal.

Cleanliness at home is still the best way to maintain the sturdiness of the hardwood floor. Vacuuming and mopping of the floor at least once a week is a good start. It has also been advice not to wax floors with polyurethane coatings because it will be very hard to recoat or refinish it again without sanding it wholly first.

If you feel the need to use experts to make minor repairs on your flooring problems, consider Atlas Floors San Antonio Texas. Hardwood floor repair takes a lot of time and patience. With appropriate techniques, tools and products, fixing of the floor will be as easy as 1 2 3.