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Repairing Your Hardwood Floors
by Mark Winchester
Description: Tips for repairing hardwood floors.
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It is very true that hardwood floors will increase the value of
your home. However, if your wood floors are damaged they could
actually detract from your home's overall value not to mention
aesthetic appeal. Scratches, scuffs and gouges are the most
common problems wood floor owners face. Squeaking can also be
an annoying issue. Before you can begin repairing, you need to
determine the extent of the damage. If the stain or scratch has
not penetrated the wood, you're dealing with a surface problem,
these are generally easier to deal with. If the stain or
scratch has penetrated into the wood the fix is bit more
involved but still not too difficult.
Surface scratches can usually be repaired with touch-up kit
made for urethane finishes, you can find these at just about
any wood flooring retailer or online. Removing surface stains
depends on the type of stain it is. Most commonly you'll be
dealing with water and pet stains. For these use a wood floor
cleaner developed specifically for urethane finishes to remove
the stain. More stubborn stains may require additional
scrubbing with the cleaner and a wood flooring scrub pad made
for urethane floors.
For scratches that have penetrated into the wood you should be
able simply wax the area until the scratch is no longer
visible. Scuff marks can be taken care by using steel wool to
rub in the wax and then hand buffing the area. Just be careful
when using something abrasive like steel wool on your wood
floors, if you rub too hard you could cause more damage to the
wood. For water stains rub the spot with fine steel wool and
then wax. If this doesn't get the stain out completely, lightly
sand the area with fine sandpaper, and clean it using steel wool
and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner . Once the floor is
dry, apply stain, wax it and then hand buff it.
For penetrated pet stains rub the spot with fine steel wool and
wax. If this doesn't get the stain out completely, lightly sand
the area with fine sandpaper, and clean it using steel wool and
mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner . Once the floor is dry,
apply stain, wax it and then hand buff it. If the stain is
really stubborn, apply a household bleach or vinegar and allow
it to soak for an hour. Rinse the floor with a damp cloth, wipe
dry and smooth with fine sandpaper. Once again apply stain, wax
it and hand buff it.
Regular maintenance can help prevent scratches and stains from
penetrating into the wood. Be sure to vacuum and/or dry mop
your wood flooring once a week. Be sure never to wax a floor
that has been coated with a polyurethane finish. That would
make it impossible to re-coat your wood floor in the future
without first sanding it.
Reprinted with permission.
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