Q: I lifted up the doormat to vacuum clean any dust and grit underneath to find a three-inch damage, looks like someone’s heels have been dragged across it and took a shaving off the solid oak floor.
We are not sure if it was there already or our fault, but how do you repair damage like that without having to replace the whole board/floor?
A: It depends how deep the gouge is. If you can hand scrape/sand just the one board and refinish it, then that is the way to go. If not, then the damaged board(s) can be replaced. Not a big deal for a professional.
Multiple deep gouges
Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: I have an older home with wide panel (pine) barn boards floors throughout the home which are amber colored shellacked. Due to the continuous dragging of furniture by tenants, there are scratches along with multiple deep gouges in several contained areas. And the boards have splintered.
I’ve sanded the old shellac off and have smoothed out the wood but the gouges are so deep in certain areas there very noticeable. I’m know seeking advice as what to do before proceeding.
Should I use some type of wood filler and try to fill in all these gouges and if so, what would you suggest to use on pine barn board? Also, I need to stay with the amber colored shellac which is fairly light in color for now.”
A: It is really a shame the neglect people can show to another’s property. You might try Timbermate wood filler. If you email them I am sure they will contact you back. Their product is quite robust, though expensive and comes in numerous tones that can also be tinted. I would give them a try. www.timbermate.com.
Original / moved link https://faceliftfloors.com/q-and-a/fillinggouges.php
Gouges in pine floor
Related Q: I just put a significant gouge in my newly finished wide pine floor, at the entranceway of the bedroom. I accidentally scraped the box spring on the floor. How do I get rid of or minimize the gouge? It’s about 2.5 feet long.
A: Ouch! That isn’t small and pine is so soft. Short of sanding it out, I don’t really know of an easy and sure fix. Changing the board is an option. Whatever you do, you want it confined to just the board which is involved. I knew a civil engineer who tried the damp cloth and hot iron trick on some dents and he said it worked. Basically, you place a damp or wet cloth on the dent and hopefully, the moisture will penetrate the wood and raise the fibers and the heat draws it up and dries it out. I’m not sure how this would work if there is finish on the floor. And then there is trying to reduce the gash with a small random orbit sander, using wood filler (there are color match fillers available) and then applying several thin coats of finish to just that board.