DIY Wood Floor Repair
- 1). Sweep the floor to remove debris and dust. If the floor just has a single scratch, then wipe off the area.
- 2). Sand the floor with fine sandpaper to remove the clear coat and a thin layer of wood. Operate the sander by walking behind it and running it over the floor in rows, following the grain of the wood. Try not to go over a spot more than twice, and never linger in one location. Sand along the walls with a hand sander, since the large floor sander might damage the baseboards. If working on a single scratch, sand by hand with the grain of wood. Sand further out in all directions from the scratch itself, and taper the sanding up as you work away from the damaged area. This will keep you from creating a dip in the floor. Wipe the floor with a damp mop after sanding to remove dust.
- 3). Stain the floor your stain color of choice. Use a lambswool applicator to spread the stain over the bulk of the floor, and use a paintbrush along the walls for better control. If just staining a small area of the floor, use a stain that matches the existing floor. Stain a scrap of wood first and let it dry to check the coloring. Wipe the stain on with a brush or rag. Always follow the grain of the wood when staining. Let the stain dry overnight, then apply a second coat if needed to get the desired color.
- 4). Apply a clear polyurethane coat over the stain. Use the same type of applicator and paintbrush for the clear coat. Follow the grain of wood when applying, then let it dry for at least 24 hours. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to set up fans and give it two days to dry.
- 5). Lightly sand the surface of the clear coat with 280-grit or higher sandpaper to roughen the surface a bit and help the next coat bond. Make only one pass over the floor with the floor or hand power sander or a few quick strokes with sandpaper if you are fixing a single scratch. Wipe the floor with a damp mop to remove dust after sanding.
- 6). Apply a second clear coat the same as the first, and let it dry at least another 24 hours. You may then sand and apply a third if you want a truly durable finish.
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