July 2 2018 at 7 00 am edt.
How to fix a wood floor gouge.
Don t use a foam roller or brush to apply the polyurethane you ll end up with air bubbles in the finish go with a lambswool applicator or natural bristle brush instead.
Then sand and finish.
For small scratches try a diy solution.
When a heavy object is dropped on a hardwood floor part of the flooring can be removed.
For deep gouges or dents you can use a wood floor filler and wood stain to repair the damaged area.
A reader wants to repair a puncture wound in this parquet floor.
How to remove gouges from hardwood floors if you take a chunk out of the floor you ll have to fill the divot with wood putty then sand stain and finish with urethane making sure it blends.
If it s deep enough it can expose the raw part of the wood underneath the finish.
Apply the filler using a plastic putty knife which is the tool least likely to cause any further damage to the floor.
Seal the sanded area.
How to repair scratched wood.
To fix a deep wide gouge opt for a pre colored latex wood filler one that closely matches the color of your hardwood.
How to repair a gouged wood floor.
If the scratch or gouge is deep and runs across the grain you probably won t be able to make it disappear completely but you should be able to fix it so it s hard to notice.
If you have a small single scratch that s only noticeable when you get close like a scratch caused by an excited pet and your floor has a relatively new finish try a diy home solution first mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and olive oil in a small cup and dab the mixture into the scratch.
If you have a leftover scrap of finished flooring practice on it before trying the repair on your floor.
Refinish the board with varnish polyurethane or a similar product to match the rest of your floor.
Before applying the filler tape off the damaged area so you don t accidentally apply filler where it doesn t belong.