Repairing Guides

how to repair hardwood floor planks

by Josefina Gaylord Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How to Repair Damaged Hardwood Floor Planks Without Replacing the Entire Floor

  • Identify the Problem. The whole process begins with a diagnosis of what's going on with your floors. ...
  • Get to Know Your Floor Boards. ...
  • Cover Your Space. ...
  • Prepare Your Saw and Cutting Area. ...
  • Remove the Old Board. ...
  • Dry-Fit the New Board. ...
  • Glue and Secure. ...
  • Let It Dry. ...

Full Answer

How to install a hardwood floor over an existing floor?

Why I Chose Floorté Hardwood Series Flooring

  • (Step 1). Lay first plank in a corner making sure it is positioned against 1/4” spacer blocks.
  • (Step 2). Attach second plank to butt end of first plank by overlapping exposed locking edge of first plank with the second plank edge.
  • (Step 3). Gently tap butt seam with a mallet to lock the planks together.
  • (Step 4). ...
  • (Step 5). ...
  • (Step 6). ...

How to level a floor before putting down hardwood flooring?

Raise Low Spots

  • Stir pre-mixed cementitious leveling compound with a trowel. ...
  • Sand any rough edges of the leveling compound after it dries overnight, using medium-grit sandpaper.
  • Vacuum away any dust.
  • Wet-dry vacuum
  • Hammer
  • Screwdriver
  • Long carpenter’s level or straight board
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Painter’s tape
  • Dust mask

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How to repair allure flooring by replacing planks?

Cutting Out a Single Plank

  1. Draw a rectangle with its sides about 2 inches from the edges of the plank, using a straightedge and a pencil.
  2. Set the cutting depth of a circular saw blade to slightly more than the thickness of a plank. ...
  3. Make a diagonal cut from each corner of the rectangle to the corner of the plank. ...
  4. Prepare a new plank for installation. ...

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How to fix wooden floor planks?

How to Repair a Hardwood Floor

  • Repair Hardwood Floor Water Damage. In general, water is an enemy to wood floors. ...
  • Repair Hardwood Floor Scratches. Minor scratches in wood floors often can be buffed away using steel wool or hand-sanding with progressively finer sandpaper grits.
  • Fix Hardwood Gouges and Dents. ...
  • Replace Damaged Wood Flooring. ...
  • Laminate Floor Replacement. ...

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Can you repair hardwood floor planks?

But try not to fret—you can replace individual wood planks on your own without having to replace the entire floor. Pulling off the project with care comes down to understanding your current hardwood flooring system, gathering the right tools, and protecting the rest of your undamaged boards.

What is the easiest way to repair hardwood floors?

1:525:01How to Patch Hardwood Flooring | Ask This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn drive it down so you can get down just so far you want to be careful you don't dimple the edge ofMoreIn drive it down so you can get down just so far you want to be careful you don't dimple the edge of the board then you would take another nail tip it on its side against the head of the nail.

How do you repair wooden planks?

1:433:06How to replace a plank in a hardwood floor| Tutorial by Pergo - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDon't overdo it more glue is definitely not better slide your new plank into the opening as close toMoreDon't overdo it more glue is definitely not better slide your new plank into the opening as close to the short end as possible and click in the long side use the tapping block to tap the plank closer.

How do you repair a damaged floor board?

The most effective way to repair a cracked floorboard without replacing it is to fill the crack with epoxy filler. Unlike latex- or solvent-based wood fillers, epoxy filler bonds to the wood, and it will prevent the crack from widening. It's important to choose the color carefully because you can't stain epoxy filler.

Can you refinish just part of a hardwood floor?

However, it is possible to refinish just a few boards if you are willing to accept that they might appear shinier or a slightly different color than the surrounding boards, at least until the new finish gets scuffed up enough to blend in.

How do you fix deep gouges in hardwood floors?

Deep Gouge: For a deep gouge, fill the hole with matching colored wood putty. You can also use epoxy glue mixed with sanding dust and/or universal colorant. When dry, lightly sand the spot flush and smooth with the floor then apply a thin coat of a compatible finish to the spot.

How do you repair tongue and groove hardwood flooring?

3:224:53How to Repair a Tongue-and-Groove Wood Floor | This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo hold the edge of the board down that's against the wall I'm just going to put a tack in it tillMoreTo hold the edge of the board down that's against the wall I'm just going to put a tack in it till the glue. Dries. All right our boards are in place now we're gonna hit it with a sander.

Can you replace one piece of tongue and groove flooring?

The process of replacing a single tongue and groove board requires several tools, including a circular saw and a wood chisel. With some tools and expertise, you can excise damaged floor boards to replace a single tongue and groove board or a small section of boards.

Can you touch up hardwood floors?

3:034:20How to quickly touch-up wood furniture and floors | MinwaxYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWorks best to use about a a three-foot. Section at one time working in the same direction as theMoreWorks best to use about a a three-foot. Section at one time working in the same direction as the grain of the wood and as you can see we're laying down an actual coat of finish.

How do you restore hardwood floors without sanding?

3 Approaches to Refinishing Hardwood Floors Without SandingUse a store-bought chemical abrasion kit.Buff and recoat floors with polyurethane.Use a revitalizer.

How do I make my hardwood floors look new without refinishing?

To make hardwood floors look like new without refinishing:Try buffing and polishing with a commercial-grade buffer.Use a hardwood floor polishing sealant.Clean markers with toothpaste and a clean cloth.Apply a wood floor cleaner or oil soap for a high-gloss clean.

Will polyurethane fill cracks in wood floor?

Sawdust and Unfinished Floors Mix the dust with some polyurethane and fill the cracks. Note that this method only works on an unfinished floor and will clash with pre-finished floors.

Solid wood flooring

Solid wood floors, however, use nails to hold the floor in place instead of tongue-and-groove planks.

Cost to replace a wood floorboard

Yeager charges $50 to $75 a plank to replace glued or nailed floorboards. If the job requires more work, he charges $75 an hour for labor.

Fixing floor dips

Floor dips often indicate an uneven spot in the subflooring, not a plank defect. Contractors typically use a floor-leveling product to even out the floor before reinstalling the planks.

Repairing a squeaky floor

While squeaky floorboards are replaceable, it may not solve the problem. The issue may not be the flooring at all, but a broken floor joist. Repairing a broken floor joist requires reinforcing the broken joist by attaching a second one to it. This repair typically costs about $250 to $300.

How do I replace baseboard molding?

Replace the baseboard and shoe molding by nailing it in place with finishing nails. Fill in the nail indentions with wood putty. Wait for it to dry, then sand the putty and touch up the paint on the molding, if necessary.

How do I keep shoe molding from breaking?

Lay a thin piece of cardboard between the pry bar and the wall to keep the wall from being damaged. Use the tool where the nails in the molding are located to keep the molding from breaking when removed.

How do I nail a wall row?

Nail the row in place using a hammer and finishing nails along the wall edge of the new row. Hold an unused nail or countersink between the hammer and the installed nails and tap it gently to countersink the installed nails. Arrange the planks so the seams don't line up with seams on the neighboring row.

When to check for gaps in wood flooring?

Check your flooring during the humid season, when the wood is most swollen and the boards are at their tightest. If you find that the gaps are large enough so that a nickel standing upright can slide into the gaps, then you have a problem that needs correction.

How to secure rope to wood?

String out the rope along the gap, then force it into the gap with the 5-in-1 tool or a putty knife, stopping when the rope is flush with (or slightly below) the wood surface. Trim the rope as needed with a sharp utility knife. To help secure the rope, apply a bead of wood glue in the crack prior to placing the rope.

Why does wood shrink when it dries out?

Another exacerbating condition is water damage. Water-logged wood will first swell then shrink as it dries out. Floors that are subjected to dry heat from below—such as when they are installed above a furnace room—are particularly prone to developing gaps.

Can you leave gaps in wood?

If you're bothered by gaps in the dry winter months but don' t seem to notice them much during the relatively humid seasons, it's probably best to leave the gaps alone, as filling them when they're at their widest will create problems when the wood expands again and the gaps naturally close up.

Can you stain rope?

Be sure to use natural rope, such as jute or cotton, because synthetic rope won' t accept a stain.

Can old wood flooring be a tripping hazard?

Wide gaps between boards can become dirt magnets, and the floor may even become a tripping hazard if the boards begin to cup or curl, a common occurrence with old wood flooring. Featured Video.

Can old floorboards buckle?

In extreme cases, floorboards can buckle if you have left no room for them to expand. On the other hand, old flooring can develop gaps that are more or less permanent, although they still may get slightly wider and narrower with humidity changes .

How long do wood floors last?

And, when you’re shopping for wood floors, be sure to look for quality products that offer an extended warranty—anywhere from 30 to 100 years—on finishes.

Is wood flooring durable?

Wood floors are durable and easy to maintain, but they're still subject to accidental gouges, scratches, and heavy wear. Before you call in a refinisher, consider trying some of the easy fixes outlined here. This article has been brought to you by Lumber Liquidators. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

Can you sand a gouge in a hardwood floor?

Gouges. If the damage to your hardwood floor goes beyond a simple scratch and moves into the category of a gouge, then you’ll need some type of filler to repair the nick before sanding, staining, and finishing, because it would simply be impractical to sand to the bottom of the blemish.

Can you urethane over a stain?

Know that the color you’ll wind up with after you’ve applied urethane over the stain will be most similar to the color you see when the stain is first applied and is still wet. Now that you’ve nailed down the stain and urethane, make sure the worn part of your floor has been sanded completely smooth.

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