How to Fill Gaps in Oak Flooring
- 1). Scrape any existing debris from between the oak flooring planks. Insert a putty knife or a painter's tool between the planks and dislodge the debris. Be careful not to damage the boards when scraping.
- 2). Vacuum or sweep up the debris that was dislodged from between the planks.
- 3). Assess the gaps between the oak flooring planks. Take a measurement of the widest part of the gap. This measurement will help you decide what size rope to purchase.
- 4). Purchase several different small sizes of natural-fiber rope from your local hardware or home improvement store. Here are some sizes and circumferences of rope:
Size of rope (Circumference)
4mm (1/2 inch)
5mm (5/8 inch)
6mm (3/4 inch)
7mm (7/8 inch)
8mm (1 inch)
10mm (1-1/4 inch)
12mm (1-1/2 inch)
14mm (1-3/4 inch)
16mm (2 inches) - 5). Check to see what size rope will fit in the gaps. Take a piece of rope and use the putty knife or painter's tool to push it down into each gap.
- 6). Stain the rope with wood stain that matches the color of the existing oak floor. Allow to dry for 24 hours.
- 7). Use the painter's tool or putty knife to insert the stained rope between the gaps in the oak flooring planks. Be prepared to force the rope into the gaps in order to get a snug fit.
Source...