Treating Minor Scratches In Polyurethane Hardwood Floor Finish

Floors that have been finished with polyurethane are resistant to moisture and stains but as with any surface finish they can be scratched.

Treating minor scratches in polyurethane hardwood floor finish.

Finish restorers are designed to help treat faded finishes or light scratches distributed across a wide area of your hardwood floors. Hardwood floor finishes have varying levels of ease durability even glossiness. Use a finish restorer for light scratches. Evaporative finishes such as lacquer and shellac aren t as common as reactive finishes such as alkyd varnish or polyurethane but you handle them differently.

Refinish the board with varnish polyurethane or a similar product to match the rest of your floor. Put a few drops of lacquer thinner on an inconspicuous part of the floor then feel the finish if it s sticky it s lacquer or shellac. Refinish the whole floor. Lightly press a clean rag soaked in a bit of mineral spirits onto the wood focusing on the scratched area.

Scratches conceal surface scratches with a simple stain filled marker minwax wood finish stain marker 8 49. Additionally once the protective finish has been broken by a scratch the wood underneath can be irreparably damaged by moisture or deepening of the scratch in the wood. It s a big job and one best left to hardwood floor pros who will charge about 1 50 to 4 per square foot to refinish the floor. Seal the sanded area.

How to repair scratched wood. Any wood surface with a polyurethane wood finish can develop scratches with normal wear and tear. Brush up on the basics of 8 popular options before choosing yours. Rub the stain into the scratch.

You commonly see these on floors or tabletops with heavy use. I would never suggest a homeowner rent a sander and do this. Rub the area where you applied the stain to remove any residual following the grain of the wood. This can be done in one of two ways.

Floors like these will need to be sanded repaired and refinished. These restorers can be effective treating minor scuffs especially if the wood itself has not been damaged. 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. A complete sanding removes scratches but keep in mind that this will only work on real wood floors.

This is a wise decision if your whole floor is covered in scratches and gouges.