So you’ve got some scratches on your hardwood floors, huh? Don’t worry; it happens to the best of us. Wood floors may look gorgeous, but they’re also prone to dings, dents, and scratches with normal wear and tear over time.
The good news is minor surface scratches are often easy to fix, but it is always advisable to call in a professional floor polishing Geelong expert for scratches that are hard to get rid of.
With a few simple supplies and techniques, a professional can polish out those scratches and have your floors looking like new again. We’ll walk you through the steps to fix scratches on wooden floors and bring back their shine using floor polishing products you can find at your local hardware store.
Your floors will be scratch-free and glowing again before you know it.
Assessing Scratches on Wood Floors: Types, Causes, and Severity
Assessing the scratches on your wood floors is the first step to fixing them. Are they surface scratches, dents, or deep gouges? Knowing the type and severity will determine the best approach for how to fix deep scratches on wood floor.
Surface scratches are light marks on the floor’s finish. Often caused by moving furniture or pet nails, they’re shallow and don’t penetrate the wood. These are the easiest to repair using a wood floor polish or scratch remover and touch up kit. With light buffing, they’ll become nearly invisible.
Dents or depressions are damage that press into the wood. Caused by heavy objects dropped on the floor, they require wood filler before polishing. Clean and fill the dent, then use a touch up kit to match the stain. Multiple applications and the help of professionals like us may be needed.
Deep scratches, gashes or holes penetrate through the finish and into the wood. Caused by pet damage, accidents or water damage, they expose the bare wood underneath. Clean and sand out splinters before filling and staining to match, then re-finish the area with polyurethane. For large damage, wood patches or plank replacements may be required.
Assessing the type of damage to your wood floors is key. Surface scratches are often an easy DIY fix, while deeper issues may require professional floor polishing Geelong and refinishing for the best results. But with patience and connecting with Timber Floor Sanding Melbourne, you can get your wood floors looking scratch-free and beautiful again.
Floor Polishing Wooden Floors Methods to Remove Light Scratches
Fixing light scratches on wood floors is easier than you might think. Here are a couple of methods using polishing wooden floors products to camouflage surface scratches and restore shine to your hardwoods.
Floor polish or wax
A simple floor polish or wax can do the trick for minor scratches. Clean and lightly sand the area to rough up the surface, then apply 2-3 coats of polish or wax with a soft cloth, waiting for each coat to dry between applications. The polish fills the scratches and creates an even sheen across the floor. Re-apply every 6-12 months to maintain protection.
Scratch remover sticks
For deeper scratches, use a scratch remover stick. These sticks contain wax and dye to match your floor’s colour and finish. Just rub the stick over the scratch, apply with a soft cloth, and buff until the scratch disappears. You may need to re-apply the stick several times to build up the colour. Scratch remover sticks provide a quick fix but may not perfectly match your floor’s tone. Bring a sample of your flooring to the hardware store for the closest match.
With some simple tools and techniques, you can practically vanish surface scratches and imperfections in hardwood floors. But it is better to seek the help of our floor polishers to protect your floors as fixing your floors like new is not an easy task to do.
And by protecting your floors with routine floor polishing Geelong, you’ll prevent future scratches from marring the beauty of your wood floors. Keeping them in like-new condition is worth the bit of elbow grease!
Repairing Deeper Scratches on Hardwood Before Polishing
Once you’ve assessed the deeper scratches in your hardwood floors, it’s time to repair them with professionals. Fixing scratches before polishing wooden floors and buffing will help ensure an even, smooth finish.
Professional Wood Inlay or Patch
Professional wood repairs may be needed for severe damage like gouges, dents or water stains. A wood inlay or patch can replace damaged boards or planks for an invisible fix. An expert will remove the damaged wood, cut a wood patch to fit, and then sand, stain and seal it to blend perfectly with your floor. Though expensive, inlays and patches provide a permanent solution.
Refinishing Damaged Areas
Another option for deep scratches and damage is to lightly re-sand and re-stain the affected areas. Clean, then sand scratches and marks to rough up the surface. Wipe away dust. Apply new stain with a small brush, blending out from the centre. Add a protective finish like polyurethane. This works best for floors not due for complete refinishing yet. With some elbow grease, you can revive your hardwood and erase the appearance of damage.
Consider Professional Refinishing
For extensive scratches, stains, water damage or worn areas, it may make sense to have your hardwood floors professionally refinished sooner rather than later. This will provide an even, smooth new surface and a fresh, protective finish. While pricier, professional refinishing and polishing is often the most comprehensive solution.
Professional Floor Polishing Services for Severe Damage
When scratches on wooden floors become severe, it’s best to call the professionals. Floor polishing services use heavy-duty equipment and products to sand out deep scratches, gouges and other damage before refinishing and protecting your floors.
Sanding and Refinishing
Sanding is required for deep scratches that penetrate through the floor’s finish into the wood itself. Floor polishing pros will use progressive grades of sandpaper, starting with coarser grit and moving to increasingly fine grits to sand out the damage while smoothing the wood. They then apply new layers of finish—typically polyurethane—to seal and protect the wood. This restores a smooth, durable surface and evens the sheen across the floor.
Stain Touch-Ups
If scratches have exposed raw wood, the floor may need spot-staining to blend in before refinishing. The pros can closely match your floor’s existing stain and re-stain only in areas where wood shows through before re-finishing the entire floor. This helps ensure an even tone and appearance across the whole floor.
Screening and Re-Coating
For minor surface scratches that haven’t penetrated the finish, floor polishing pros can use a fine abrasive pad to sand lightly or “screen” the floor before applying new finish coats. This smooths the surface and provides a fresh base for the new finish coats to adhere to. Fewer coats of finish are needed, so screening and re-coating typically take less time and are more affordable than sanding and refinishing.
Protecting Your Investment
Professional floor polishing Geelong services help protect your investment in high-quality wood floors by properly restoring and refinishing them. Their work also comes with guarantees or warranties in case any issues arise. Once restored, properly care for and maintain your wood floors to avoid severe scratches and damage in the future. Place protective pads under furniture, wipe up spills immediately, and damp mop or sweep regularly to remove grit and dirt.
How to Maintain Your Polished Wood Floors from Scratches
Once you’ve polished your wooden floors to fix any polish wood floor scratches or damage, it’s essential to properly care for them to avoid future scratching and keep them looking their best. Here are some tips to keep in mind to maintain your polished wooden floors for future:
Use furniture pads
Attach felt or fabric pads to the bottom of furniture like chairs, tables, and couches. This prevents the wood from getting scratched when moving furniture around. Felt pads are very inexpensive and can be found at any hardware store.
Vacuum and sweep regularly
Dirt and grit can scratch wooden floors, so vacuum, sweep and dust the floors frequently using the proper attachments. Vacuums with bare floor attachments and microfiber dusting pads work well for wood floors. Make sure any vacuum tools that contact the floor are non-abrasive.
Wipe up spills immediately
Clean up any spills like liquids, food crumbs or pet accidents right away to avoid water damage or stains in the wood. Use a slightly damp cloth or mop and blot at any spills. Never soak the wood with too much water. For stuck-on messes, you can make a DIY wood floor cleaner with equal parts white vinegar and water.
Use protective pads under furniture
Attach felt pads, sliders or protective covers under heavy furniture like pianos, china cabinets, refrigerators and stoves. This helps distribute the weight so as not to dent or scratch the wood flooring. Pads also make it easier to move heavy furniture when needed.
No abrasive cleaners
Never use abrasive cleaners, strong detergents, ammonia or abrasive pads to clean wood floors. Stick to pH-neutral wood floor cleaners and mops designed explicitly for polished wood floors. Harsh chemicals can dull the finish and damage the wood.
Following these simple tips, your polished wooden floors will stay scratch-free and beautiful for years. Be sure to also periodically re-polish or re-coat the floors based on the product recommendations to maintain protection. With some regular TLC, your wood floors will continue to be the focal point of your home.
Oh, are you already starting to fix your scratches? With some elbow grease and the right products, you can breathe new life into scuffed wood floors and make those unsightly scratches disappear. A little investment in Timber Floor Sanding Melbourne’s floor polishing Geelong, floor fixing service is all it takes to restore the natural beauty of your wood floors and make them look as good as new. Your floors are an investment, so buffing and polishing out scratches and imperfections pays off by protecting their longevity and keeping your home looking its best. Reach us and let us handle you floor fixing thing!
