A hardwood floor is a magnificent decorative element that naturally ages over the years to acquire more and more charm. However, to fully enjoy its beauty for as long as possible, it must be treated with care, cleaned regularly with quality products, maintained by changing damaged boards or even filling holes if they appear . Here are 4 tips to follow for repairing a hardwood floor and obtaining a professional result.
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Repairing a hardwood floor by replacing a board
The first step in replacing a damaged hardwood floor board is of course to remove it carefully and skillfully! To do this, cut its central part using a saw to start by extracting this part of the board before continuing the same process flush with the joists. To properly remove the edges, then use a hammer and chisel. Indeed, place the chisel between the damaged board and another board then strike the chisel with the hammer to gradually separate the board from the others. The next step is to install the new board. To do this, plane the groove and tongue of the new board then glue the board. To replace a damaged board, you need to find the same model. If you haven’t kept any in stock, contact your supplier.
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Repairing a warped hardwood floor
Whether solid or engineered, hardwood floors tend to deform, creating wave-like patterns. This is called warping. Too much humidity or lack of space around the floor blocking its natural expansion can be causes of deformation. After identifying the cause and addressing the problem, you can intervene to repair the warped floor by sanding it. You can start by sanding your floor with coarse-grit sandpaper, then medium grit, and finally fine grit, to completely smooth the surface. Also remember to use a belt sander to sand the center of the surface and a rotary orbital sander (floor edger) to sand the edges. Once this step is completed, don’t forget to varnish your floor again.
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Repairing a hardwood floor by filling holes and cracks
To fill cracks and holes in your hardwood floor, use wood filler. Wood filler is applied directly into the holes and cracks. For this, you will need a spatula or a putty knife. However, be careful, it is not suggested to fill the spaces between the boards with wood filler, as this living material expands and contracts with seasonal changes. Be aware that depending on where it is placed, the wood filler will tend to come out of the floor sooner or later. After dealing with holes and cracks, also take care of damaged nails which you can remove using a nail puller or pliers. For nails that protrude from the floor, simply drive them in with a hammer.
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Sanding, varnishing and oiling a hardwood floor
For any kind of repair, whether it’s replacing a board, improving a deformation or filling a hole, for a perfect finish, you can sand your floor before varnishing or oiling it again. Sanding helps to refresh your floor, making it clean and healthy again. Regarding varnishing and oiling the floor after repairs, know that these tasks are always carried out in the direction of the slats and/or wood grain with professional, healthy and quality products. Finally, don’t hesitate to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your product!
Not all floor repairs require the intervention of a company, but it is nevertheless necessary to follow the right method and have the appropriate equipment to obtain a result worthy of a professional.
