QA

Question: How To Repair Floors

How do you repair a damaged floor?

For deep gouges or dents, you can use a wood floor filler and wood stain to repair the damaged area. Before applying the filler, tape off the damaged area so you don’t accidentally apply filler where it doesn’t belong. Mix equal parts of the epoxy-based filler and apply to the gouge with a putty knife. Allow to dry.

How do I know if my subfloor is water damaged?

How do I know if My Subfloor is Rotten? A water-damaged subfloor feels spongy underfoot. It might bounce or squeak when you walk across the room. Sagging boards, damp spots and unpleasant musty smells are also signs of a rotting subfloor.

How do you fix soft spots on the floor?

Just add a sheet of plywood over the soft spots on your laminate and then add some weight over it. This will help prevent the expanding foam from pushing up too much. The second method will require you to remove your laminate flooring partially, where there are dips or low point in your sub-floor.

Can wood floors be repaired?

The good news is that hardwood is durable—especially wood in historic homes, where planks were generally much thicker. Often, an original floor with some minor surface damages or imperfections—peeling, deep grooves, slight warping—may be refinished or repaired.

How do you restore old hardwood floors with gaps?

You can use putty, wood filler, caulk, or even long pieces of string or rope stained to match. These methods not only fix the gaps but can also prevent drafts from coming up through the floor. If done correctly, these fillers – made of putty or paste – can fill in gaps to give your floors their original smooth finish.

What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?

Applying a revitalizer gloss is the simplest and cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors. This approach works best on floors that only have surface-level scratches and other minor wear and tear issues. You can get the job done without the need for equipment rentals or hard-to-find materials.

How do you fix subfloor damage?

Start by completely removing the damaged materials. Use a circular saw set to 1” depth to cut the subflooring back beyond the damaged areas until you reach solid structural framing. Use a pry bar to remove any protruding nails and vacuum up the demolition debris.

Can water damaged wood floors be fixed?

For many water-damaged wood floors, the best way to repair the damage is to eliminate and replace the affected boards and then to refinish the entire floor. The proper way to replace planks in a wood floor takes time and the expertise of a craftsman.

How much does it cost to repair a water damaged wood floor?

Repairing water damaged floors costs $8 to $50 per square foot. That price repairs or replaces boards as necessary and blends them into your existing room.

Why does my floor feel spongy?

A spongy feel underfoot might indicate that the subfloor is not securely attached to the floor joists. This condition allows the floor to give slightly when you step. If the problem is under a linoleum floor, you can’t run screws into the flooring surface or you’ll damage the linoleum.

How do you fix a low spot in a subfloor?

In order to repair low spots in wood or concrete subfloor, you’ll need either a floor patch product or floor leveler specifically made for underlayment. Floor levels are cement-based products that either come premixed or as a dry substance that you mix with water.

What causes weak spots in floor?

Subfloor damage is typically caused by overexposure to moisture. This could be from excessive humidity, a leak in your plumbing or a crack in your home’s exterior.

How much does hardwood floor repair cost?

At approximately $30/m2, timber floor repairs in New South Wales is the most expensive across the country. Don’t risk further damage to your timber flooring by trying DIY fixes. Leave it to professional timber floor repairers — find a qualified business on ServiceSeeking.com.au today.

What is the best wood filler for floors?

Best Overall: DAP Plastic Wood All Purpose Wood Filler. Best Multi-Use: Minwax Color-Matched Wood Filler. Best Exterior: 3M Bondo Wood Filler. Best Interior: Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler Interior. Best for Flooring: Coconix Professional Floor and Furniture Repair Kit.

What is the difference between wood putty and wood filler?

So what is the difference between wood putty and wood filler? Wood filler is applied to repair the wood from the inside. Because it hardens, it helps the wood maintain its integrity. While wood putty is usually applied only after the finishings are done since it contains chemicals that may damage the wood.

How do you cover up scratches on hardwood floors?

#3 Spot-Sand Deep Scratches Sand with fine-gauge steel wool or lightweight sandpaper. Always sand with the grain. Use wood filler, which takes stain better than wood putty. Use a plastic putty knife to avoid more scratches. Seal the area with polyurethane, or whatever product was used on the floor originally.

Should I fill gaps in hardwood floors?

For normal gaps, no repairs are needed. Adding filler is not a good idea; it will get pushed out as the wood expands with moisture. For larger gaps that don’t close up, call in a professional contractor who can repair floors properly. The best times to repair hardwood floors are April and October.

Can you use wood filler on hardwood floors?

Plastic wood, or wood filler, can be used to fill the damaged spot. It dries fast, even faster if you use a hair dryer, and then can be sanded down. It comes in a variety of colors so you can try to match it up with the color of your hardwood floor.