Hiding Hardwood Floor Scratches

Hardwood floors are durable and look great.  However, they aren’t indestructible and do need some upkeep, in particular, those pesky scratches that really make them look not too great.  You could always sand them down and re-stain the entire floor but that’s a messy, expensive, and time-consuming proposition.  In this video from our Fix It in 15:00 series, Lou shares some easy tips to address those hardwood floor scratches without breaking the bank.

In your journey to figure out how to fix scratches on hardwood floors, as with most DIY projects it’s a matter of having the right tool or tools for the job.

Depending on the severity of the scratch(es), hardwood floor scratch repair can come in a few different forms.  Three of the most useful tools are the wood crayon, wood repair marker, and wood filler putty – the latter being ideal for larger scratches.

Once you’ve identified the level of scratch, here are the steps to follow:

• Clean the surface of any debris or gunk
• Lightly apply the crayon, marker, or putty along the scratch itself
  • TIP: start with some lighter shades first to determine a color match (you can always go darker, but you can’t always go lighter)
• While applying the coverup, be sure to avoid any overage on the surrounding wood… if you do, be sure to wipe away any excess
• Let the surface dry fully before applying any other finish, i.e. polyurethane

And there you have it.  Restoring the luster of your scratched floor can be as easy as 1-2-3.