Patch repairing a wooden floor
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Bare wooden floors are vulnerable to scratching and gouging, but there’s a simple solution at hand, as Helaine Clare shows in her simple guide to repairing wood boards without sanding back the whole floor.
My friend Ann had endured a cold and uncomfortable winter camping in a caravan on site while her long-abandoned barn was being transformed into an impressive home. The dream was realised but soon after she’d moved in someone decided that a heavy piece of furniture suited another part of the sitting room. To this end they dragged it across the newly laid wooden floor, leaving it scarred with ugly scratches – a constant niggle for Ann until it was repaired.
The moral of this tale is to always protect the floor before moving heavy furniture across it. Try to use what’s to hand: strong cardboard boxes should work effectively or lay down a sheet of plywood, or double up dustsheets to prevent any scratches. Alternatively you could use gaffer tape and wads of newspaper to pad the feet. The time spent devising a way of protecting the floor will be so much less than the time spent dealing with subsequent damage.
Fortunately, if the harm has already been done, there are several options to put the damage right. If the floor finish was applied some years ago and is showing signs of wear then it is best to thoroughly clean the floor, make good the gouges and scratches with a quality wood filler, then sand it back and apply another coat or two of your chosen finish over the entire floor.
But if there are no worn patches, it’s probably quicker to treat the affected areas only. Wax filler sticks and crayons will do the trick, although will need occasional retouching in areas of heavy use. Wood restoration experts Liberon include these products in their Retouch and Revive range. Find your nearest stockists by calling 01797 367555 or go to liberon.co.uk.
Step-by-step guide
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1. Clean floorboards with detergent: Thoroughly vacuum the floor to remove dust and dirt, then give it a clean with warm water and wooden floor detergent. When washing a wooden floor it’s important not to let water trickle down between the boards, which could cause them to buckle. Work in small areas and use a sponge to mop up the surplus water. |
2. Remove residues and surface water: Now take a bucket of clean water and a new cloth and go over the floor again to wipe away soapy residues and dirt. Change the face of the cloth frequently. Avoid getting too much water on the boards. Then go over the floor with a dry cloth to absorb the surface water. Wipe with a tack cloth to pick up dust. |
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3. Fill gouges using wax sticks: Wait until the floor is dry with no damp patches before starting remedial work. For deep gouges wax filling sticks are best and are available in a range of colours. Leave them in a warm place overnight to soften the wax and make it more malleable. Use a filling knife to press the wax firmly into the gouges. |
4. Perfect your technique: Getting the technique right takes quite a lot of practice but it’s worth persevering. Experiment with the wax filling sticks on an inconspicuous part of the floor first. Leave it to firm up a little, then take a piece of card and rub it vigorously across the damaged area, making sure you push the wax fully into the gouge. |
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5. Buff up waxed area to a sheen: Leave the area alone while the wax hardens – half an hour to an hour should be enough and the length of time will depend on the temperature in the room. It will dry faster if the room is warm, slower if it’s cold. Once toughened up, take a lint-free cotton cloth to the waxed area and buff to a sheen. |
6. Neaten up scratched edges: Next deal with the more superficial scratches on the wood where the furniture feet have been dragged across the floor, forcing up the finish along each side. Trim off the edges of the damaged areas carefully and in a controlled way using a sharp scraper, held quite flat to avoid digging into the wood. |
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7. Hide scratches with retouch crayons: Now comes the artistic bit. Retouch crayons are ideal for masking scratches and will expand and contract with the movement of the wood so shouldn’t shrink and fall out as wood filler tends to. Rub a crayon across the scratch until it is flush with the surface. It’s a good idea to experiment in a corner first. |
8. Mix & match crayons: Liberon Retouch crayons come in sets of three. I decided ‘Walnut’ was the best choice for Ann’s floor. Further along the damaged boards I used another shade to match the grain of the wood. Blend crayons together to achieve the desired effect. Allow the crayon to harden and buff with a cotton cloth for a seamless finish. |
Find out how to fix draughty floorboards...
FEATURE HELAINE CLAIR PHOTOGRAPHS COLIN LEFTLEY
Liberon woodcare products are all available from liberon.co.uk
Featured in the December 2010 issue of Period Living
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