Repairing the Surface

• 1). Use fine sandpaper to sand down the high-traffic areas. Do not rub against the grain of the wood; rub either with the grain or in circular motions. Sand until light-colored wood is exposed and the area is roughed up.
  
  
• 2). Clean the area with mineral spirits and a damp cloth. Make sure to remove all dust.
  
  
• 3). Fill in any deep scratches with a wood epoxy or wood putty. You can also use a scratch kit, found in any hardware store. Follow the package directions for drying, making sure the area is completely dry.
  
  
• 4). Use a narrow paintbrush to apply a floor finish that matches the type and color of your existing floor. Do not saturate the brush; keep it as dry as possible using small amounts of finish at a time. Let the finish dry completely (follow the package directions). Sand very lightly and then reapply.
  
  

Replacing Boards

• 1). Cut away the damaged wood. Using a circular saw set to a depth of 3/4 inch, make two cuts about 1 1/2 inches from the ends of each board you want to cut away (do not cut into the joints). Use the saw to make a third, diagonal cut from the outer edge of the first cut to the inner edge of the second cut. This cut will cut the board into two triangles.
  
  
• 2). Use the chisel to remove the two pieces of cut, damaged wood. Scrape out any remaining wood debris, and vacuum the area to clean it. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with any other boards in the high-traffic area that need to be removed.
  
  
• 3). Measure each space where a board was removed. Using the table or handsaw, cut new boards to fit those measurements. The boards should fit snugly.
  
  
• 4). Remove the bottom half of the groove under the new boards. Cut it with the circular saw or use a razor knife to scribe the bottom of the grooved piece, then hit it off with a hammer or mallet. Use a miter saw or a block plane to bevel the grooved side of the board.
  
  
• 5). Place the new board. Apply wood epoxy to the groove of the new board and on the tongues of the old, surrounding boards. Follow the package directions for drying. Repeat with any remaining boards. Follow Steps 1 and 2 in Section 1 to sand and clean the area. Stain the area by following Step 4 in Section 1.