5 Easy Steps Of Fixing A Gouge In Engineered Hardwood Floor
Go through the below-mentioned step-by-step process in order to fix the scratch in the engineered hardwood floor & you can use the same process in the future whenever you come across the situation where you will need to fix the scratches. First of all, gather some of the items required for the process before going through the steps:
Items Needed
- Broom & Washcloth
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Cotton Swabs
- Plastic Putty Knife
- White Cotton Cloth
- Painter’s Tape (Optional)
Steps
- Clean The Area: Firstly, spread a little amount of rubbing alcohol to a washcloth. Wipe & clean the scratch as well as the area adjoining the scratch.
- Get Rid Of Dirt & Debris: Now, soak a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and then run the swab through the length of the scratch, which in turn will help get rid of any remaining dirt as well as debris.
- Prep Your Floor Wax: Before moving on, take hold of a sample of the wax contiguous and adjacent to the floor in order to compare the shade. It may be a necessity to mix different colors of wax so that you will get an exact match for your flooring. Make sure to prepare the floor wax as per the directions given in the wax repair kits.
- Fill The Scratch: With the help of the plastic putty knife, apply a small amount of wax onto the scratch. Press it down horizontally as long as the scratch is filled. Use the flat end of the knife in order to get rid of the excess wax so that the wax in the scratch is flat & uniform with the rest of the floor.
- Lightly Wipe The Floor Using A Cotton Cloth: Finally, get rid of the excess wax from the floor without eliminating any wax filling the scratch. If you need to even out the wax, you can buff the area very smoothly with the help of fine-grit sandpaper.
After repairing a number of scratches and still the results don’t blend in perfectly, then consider staining your engineered hardwood floors. The stain, in turn, will help to lock in the wax you have applied and create a more smooth and consistent color across the room so that the fixed scratches blend in.
Alternative Methods To Fix Scratches On Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood floors are designed to last for so many years & if the floors are from top-quality brands, then they may last up to a century. Having such a long lifespan and a house consisting of pets and children, some scratches are bound to happen on your floors. In order to get rid of the scratches and keep your floors looking beautiful for so many years to come, carefully apply one of the methods mentioned below:
- Steel Wool: Gentle or delicate scratches may be fixed with the help of steel wool instead of using sandpaper. Rub fine steel wool smoothly over the scratch in order to reduce its appearance. Always remember to go along the direction of the wood grain to prevent more scratches from appearing on the floor.
- Wood Filler: With the help of a plastic putty knife, put or spread premixed wood filler to a scratch. Always select a wood filler that exactly matches the color of your engineered hardwood flooring.
- Seal The Area: After applying wax, sandpaper, steel wool, as well as wood filler, now it is time to refinish and seal the area with the help of varnish or polyurethane. Spread the product with the help of a lamb’s wool applicator or natural bristle brush in order to avoid air bubbles from developing.