DIY Guide: How to Repair Your Wooden Floors Like a Professional

Wooden floors are a common and lovely addition to any home, modern or old! Wood, however, can of course break down over time or become worn and tired. If you have trouble with your wooden floors and are unsure how to fix it, read on to find out some tips from professionals about how to repair wooden floors at home, DIY style!

Types Of Wooden Floors

Let’s firstly discuss the different types of wooden floors found in homes today. The experts over at Wood Floors Cleaner say that wooden floors can be timeless classic additions to any home. But which is the best for you? Below are some of the most common:

• Floorboards – a timeless classic. Cut from single pieces of soft or hardwood trees, and laid directly on joists in the floor. Floorboards are usually stained or treated to protect the wood and make them last longer, also meaning you can use a cleaner without damaging the wood. Some floorboards are made from reclaimed wood for a vintage look, which is often very nice but more expensive.
• Laminate – the modern alternative. Laminate flooring is made from compressed wood, designed to clip into each other. The wood is then treated and wrapped in laminate or a protective overlay, with an image of wood printed onto it. The benefit of this is that there are many more styles, and can be done very cheaply. It is also easy to clean but can scratch very easily.
• Engineered Wood – the laminate upgrade! Engineered wood flooring is made from multiple solid pieces of wood layered on top of one another, with a real wood finish on top – as opposed to laminates printed wood image. This makes it stronger, more realistic, and debatably better-looking. It has more benefits as well, as it is a proper wooden top it can be treated, sanded, and replaced easier than laminate. Though, it definitely comes in at a higher price!

Damage To Wooden Floors

As we previously mentioned, the problem with certain wooden floors is they can get scuffed, stained, or otherwise damaged quite easily. Over time the movement of furniture, people’s shoes, pets, and kids spills can scratch and stain wood. Below, we will discuss the most common damages caused to wooden floors and the best ways to swiftly fix them yourself!

Stains and Spills

Some wooden floors will stain, while others are easily wipeable. Most of the problems arise if you happen to not realize that a spill has taken place. If liquid has soaked into your hardwood floor over a long period of time it can cause the wood to swell and distort, especially if the liquid is especially acidic like a soft drink or wine.

If the area is still wet simply clean it with paper towels, and use a standard floor cleaner afterward to remove any smell. However, if the liquid has had time to soak into the wood, the task is slightly harder. Allow the area to dry completely and assess the stain or damage. If there is a permanent stain, you must first sand off the top layer of wood, (if the stain goes deeper than this you may need to replace!) Once you’ve sanded the top layer down, you can bleach clean the stain, refinish the wood with your desired stain color. Then varnish and treat to ensure the finish stays!

Paint Spills

Paint spills can happen whilst doing other DIY, or while recreationally painting with the family! Tackling spots of paint can be hard. If the paint is water-based you are in luck. Simply wet a cloth or towel with water and some simple soap.  A few gentle rubs of the spot should dissolve and lift the paint quickly and easily. If the paint is not water-based you may have a harder time. Try mixing a simple paint stripper and applying a very small amount, using a scraper to gently remove the paint spots. 

Chips or Splits

The biggest problem would be an actual chip or split on a wooden floor. It is still fixable but uses more steps. First, you need to source replacement wood, matching or otherwise. After this, you need to cut out the damaged part and cut the replacement wood to the same size. At this point,  you need to treat the new piece of wood with a matching stain or varnish. Once that has dried you can slot it into the gap, screwing or gluing it into place. If done slowly and deliberately you can keep it neat and tidy!

There we have it, the three most common floors, and the three most common damages done to the flooring. Hopefully, you will never need to use this guide, but if you do you should be fully equipped to maintain and look after damaged flooring in your home. Good luck keeping your wooden floors in tip-top shape!