Hardwood Floors June/July 2019

AT THE SITE

Color &Finish Repairs forWood Flooring

disastrously failed attempt in another person’s eyes. This is why it’s so important to know the customer. The following steps highlight some of what we teach at theWood Floor Repair schools related to the removal of scratches, dents, or gouges in a wood floor. Removing the damage – You should have a good perspective of the overall color of the floor, the surrounding boards, and the finish sheen before attempting any repairs. First and foremost, identify and locate the repair area by confirming the specific issue with the owner. Isolation of the area needing repair is important. This step allows you to define the scope of work and set expectations with the owner. Place cardboard/protection at the repair area for your tools. This sends a clear message to customers that you respect their floors and their home. Once the area has been clearly identified and isolated, removing the damage is the next step. Dependent upon how severe the damage is, removal may be accomplished through the use of hand sandpaper, a scraper, or an electric sander (random orbital or edger). If the damage is too deep into the wood, it will require either board replacement, or when acceptable, use of fillers. When removing the damage, keep the repair flat with the flooring, not leaving a dip or divot where the damage was. Don’t make the repair larger than it needs to be. Keep it isolated, but blend it into the field.

Repairs to wood flooring may be performed at many levels, which may include replacement, resanding, or topical aesthetic repairs. Replacement of individual boards or sections within the floor is often necessary with severe damage such as a major water leak, pet stain, or other types of damage. Regardless of the extent of the damage to the floor, there are times when replacement may not be an option. For example, it may be very difficult to replace an individual board or area within a floor when you have no replacement material or when the replacement material doesn’t match. Other times replacing is simply not an option due to building occupants or time restraints. In many cases, isolation sanding or aesthetic repairs may be the best option. The goal with any repair is to have the target area blend into the surrounding area. The best part of repairing wood flooring is that wood is a natural product with irregular patterns and colors from board to board, and even within each piece of wood. One of the hardest obstacles to overcome when making repairs to any surface is overcoming the end user’s “memory of the damage.” Most owners will subconsciously remember where the damage was and when it happened, regardless of how good the repair is. Some repairs may be nearly flawless and acceptable to 95 percent of the general population, yet perceived as a

When a wood floor becomes damaged, it can be catastrophic to the end user. In order to determine the extent of the repair that will be necessary, you must first ask a few questions: • Who is the customer and what is their level of expectation? • What type of repair will be acceptable to them? The fact is that all wood floors will get scratched at some point during their service life. As I always told my customers, the worst scratch is the first one you put in your new floor. Fortunately, most wood floors are repairable. • How bad is the damage?

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