Remove a Wood Floor Scratch with Ease

Removing a wood floor scratch with ease depends on the severity of the scratch based on what caused the scratch. Some scratches can be removed with a wood floor touch-up kit, while others will need to be removed by a professional wood floor installer.

The easiest way to remove light shallow scratches is to purchase a touch-up kit from a local hardware store. Touch-up kits are available in several different colors in order to match the particular stain of the floor.

Floor Scratch Touch-Up Kits

Touch-up kits contain touch-up markers, filler sticks, urethane, sanding pads, and a set of instructions.

If you know your wood floor stain is gunstock or a common stain, you can purchase individual touch-up markers. Exotic wood touch-up kits may need to be ordered online or at a specialty store. Touch-up kits are reasonably priced around at about 10 dollars and well worth the investment.

How to Use a Touch-Up Kit

Clean the area around the scratch by either sweeping or mopping the floor. The area should be dry and free of dust.

Depending on the severity of the scratch, you may or may not have to use filler sticks.

If a filler is used, you will need to lightly sand the area.

Apply the touch-up marker to the scratch.

Seal the scratch with urethane to match the surrounding area.

Conditions may vary, so follow the below instructions.

Severe Scratches May Require Contractor

If you have a severe scratch caused by heavy objects being dropped or dragged across your floor, a professional wood floor installer may need to be contracted. The installer will remove the scratched board and replace it with a new board. If the new board has to be laced in with the old boards, the charge could range from 100 to 150 dollars and more, depending on the extent of the damage and labor intensity.

Preventing Scratches

Wood floors add beauty and value to any home, but they will scratch. There are precautions you can do to prevent or minimize scratches.

Apply felt pads to furniture legs. Remove shoes. Use area rugs

Although you can minimize scratches, inevitably a wood floor is going to get scratched. The beauty of hardwood floors is their durability, warmth, and value. Solid hardwood floors can be sanded down several times, removing scratches. Engineered wood floors can also be sanded depending on the thickness of the wear layer or screened and finished (lightly sanded) and finished removing scratches.

Understanding that wood floors will scratch, and getting over the first scratch, will help you address all the subsequent scratches with ease. Wood is a natural product, and although wood floors scratch, there is something to be said about the character of a scratched wood floor.