Hardwood Floor Care, Repair & Refinishing Tips

Professional Hardwood Floor Repair Services

We Repair Common Hardwood Floor Problems

• Scratches and surface damage
• Water-damaged hardwood floors
• Pet stains and discoloration
• Worn or faded finishes
• Gaps between boards
• Dents and impact damage
• Sun fading and UV discoloration
• Squeaky or loose flooring
• Damaged stair treads
• Hardwood floor transitions and patchwork

We work with both solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring.

How to Care for Hardwood Floors

What NOT to Do to Hardwood Floors

Signs Your Hardwood Floors Need Refinishing

Following a few simple rules can keep floors looking great

Place floor mats at entrances to trap dirt.

Sweep floors weekly with brooms with fine, exploded ends that trap dust and grit.

Vacuum cleaners aren't just for carpets.

Water and liquids can damage the floor's finish.

Go over a hardwood floor weekly with multi-surface vacuums.

Wipe up spills, pet accidents, and other mishaps immediately.

Hardwood Floor Care – General Do's and Don'ts

Enemy Number 1: Water

Regardless of its finish, your floor will quickly lose its luster if exposed to water. More severe damage is also possible, including warping and other problems.

DO: Wipe up any spills immediately with a soft, dry cloth, starting at the edges of the spill and working toward the center.

DO: Check with the manufacturer to determine if your steam cleaner is appropriate for use on your wood floor. Some models are designed for use on hardwood floors. Others are not. Remember that water is wood's No. 1 enemy. If the finish is worn or scratched, steam could seep into your wood floors, eventually causing damage.

Don't: Let the water stand on your floor, or use wet clothes for clean up.

Don't: Do not mop sealed-and-waxed floors, not even with a slightly damp mop.

Banish Dirt, Dust, and Grit

Dirt, dust, and grit can also damage your hardwood floor. Tracking dirt, dust, and grit can dull its finish and cause scratches that can only be repaired by refinishing the floor.

DO: Sweep your floors regularly. Invest in a good broom with exploded tips to trap dust and dirt, not simply spread it around. Dust mops can also help keep dirt, dust, and grit under control.

DO: Vacuum frequently using a canister vacuum with special hardwood floor attachments.

Don't: Use an upright vacuum with beater bars. They can cause dents on your floor's finish.

Don't: Use any dust treatment unless it is approved by your floor's manufacturer. The wrong treatment can dull your floor and cause problems the next time you refinish.

DO: Use doormats at the entrances of your home to help trap dirt and grit. Clean them regularly.

What Finish Is On Your Hardwood Floor?

Surface Finishes

Urethane is one of the most common finishes in use today. An easy way to determine if your floor has a polyurethane finish is to select an inconspicuous area and apply a small amount of paint remover to the floor surface. If the finish bubbles up, it is most likely a surface finish. You can also try scraping up a bit of the finish with a sharp blade (also in an area hidden from view). If you successfully scrap up a transparent material, the finish is likely a surface finish.

Penetrating Finishes

Run your hand over the floor surface. Can you feel the wood grain? If so, the finish is probably brilliant. Another test is to select an inconspicuous area and attempt to smudge the floor surface with a fingertip or scrape the surface with a fingernail or sharp instrument. If the floor smudges but no explicit material is scraped up, then the finish is likely brilliant.

Sealed and Waxed Hardwood Floors – Care and First Aid

You will find that, with regular vacuuming and occasional buffing and waxing, your floor will look as good as the day it was installed. Over time you may find that the shine cannot be restored in areas with heavy foot traffic; if so, re-waxing may be necessary.

Perhaps you have recently moved into a home with waxed floors that have been overlooked recently, or you have a few trouble spots that need help. The following tips should help you rejuvenate your floors and treat other common problems that may arise.

Do not mop sealed-and-waxed floors, not even with a slightly damp mop.

Scratches

Most surface scratches should be easily repaired by applying a new coat of wax to the affected area and then buffing it to shine. For deep scratches that can't be concealed with the method above, try rubbing the scratch with a piece of oily nutmeats, like Brazil nut, walnut, or pecan. A good quality commercial scratch remover or stick wax that matches the surrounding wood can also be used. Apply a new coat of wax and buff to a shine.

Dried Milk and Food Stains

Always work from the outer edge toward the center of the stain. If the material has dried, it may be removed with a sharpened blade. Take care not to scratch the surface. Rub the spot with a slightly dampened cloth, then immediately go over the spot with a soft dry cloth. Re-wax this floor portion and buff it to restore the original shine.

Stains and Spots

Begin with the least aggressive treatment: Rub the spot with No. 1 steel wool and re-coat with wax. Buff to bring back the shine. If this doesn't work, lightly sand with fantastic sandpaper (90 to 120 grit). Clean the spot and the surrounding area with No. 1 or 0 steel wool and a few mineral spirits or a good wood floor cleaner. Let the floor dry thoroughly. Apply a matching finish, “feathering” it into the surrounding area. After the finish is dry, re-coat the floor with wax and buff.

Heel Marks

Heel marks, caster marks, and similar scuffs can usually be removed by rubbing with fine steel wool and wood floor cleaner. Wipe dry and follow with polish.

Mold or Mildew

Using No. 1 steel wool and a good wood floor cleaner removes mold or mildew.

Chewing Gum, Crayons, Candle Wax

Try scraping the residue off with a sharpened blade, taking care not to scratch the surface. Another option is to apply ice until the substance becomes brittle enough to break off. If you use ice, make sure you remove any spots of water immediately. A third option is to apply cleaning fluid on the floor's surface surrounding the spot. It will seep under the substance and loosen it.

Cigarette Burns

Steel wool will often remove superficial cigarette burns. A small amount of water and soap, along with the steel wool, will often help. Be sure to wipe the area dry with a clean, dry cloth and re-wax. If this method doesn't work, try scraping the area carefully with a sharpened blade. Sand lightly and apply matching stain, if necessary. Once the stain is dry, re-wax and buff to a shine.

Oil and Grease

Try applying soap with high lye content or tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). As a last resort, place a soft cotton cloth saturated with hydrogen peroxide over the stain, then place a second cloth saturated with ammonia over the first. Repeat this until the stain is removed. Reserve this treatment option for the last because the ammonia may discolor the wood.

Wax Build Up

Over the years, floors that have not been cared for properly may show a wax build-up. Remove the old wax using mineral spirits or a good wood floor cleaner (make sure the cleaner is a solvent, not water-based). Use cloths and fine steel wool to remove dirt and grime before applying new wax. Buff to a shine. Hint: Strip old layers of wax from your floor occasionally to eliminate any embedded dust or dirt, brighten the floor's natural color and restore that like-new shine.

Polyurethaned Hardwood Floors – Care and First Aid

Scratches

Most minor scratches can be removed with the help of a touch-up kit available from any wood flooring retailer.

Stains and Spots

Generally, stains and spots caused by standing water can be removed and the shine restored by applying a small amount of recommended floor cleaner and buffing vigorously with a soft clean cloth or towel.

Heel Marks

Heel marks, caster marks, and similar scuffs should wipe up quickly with an approved cleaner. Some marks can also be scraped up carefully with a sharpened blade.

Mold or Mildew

Mold or mildew on the surface can usually be cleaned with an approved cleaner. If the mold or mildew is under the surface, however, that portion of the floor will need to be refinished.

Cigarette Burns

Use a sharpened blade to scrape the burned area. Apply additional finish if necessary.

Oil and Grease

Generally, it is possible to remove oil and grease stains by applying mineral spirits or tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) and wiping with a clean cloth. Buff the area to restore the shine.