By Henry DurhamThe rich look of wood floors can add class and beauty to any room.The natural beauty of a wood floor never goes out of style and is very easy to incorporate in redecorating. But keep in mind that after much wear and tear, wood floors can look dull and worn and may need repairing.Luckily, it is not always necessary to sand down the damaged part of your wood floor to give it a newer look.By filling cracks and gouges, your floor can look new again and it won’t cost you a lot of time, effort and money. With these helpful wood floor repair tips you won’t have to cover scratches or gouges with pieces of furniture or area rugs.If you have a stained floorboard that needs replacing, see ‘How to Refinish Wood Floors’.These small problems can be easy for anyone to fix with the right materials and tools.Remember that before you repair the floor, it must be cleaned thoroughly and all dust and debris must be vacuumed or swept up.Fixing a scratch on a natural finishTools and Materials:• Polyurethane or urethane finish (small amount)• Artist’s paintbrush• Dry ragSTEP 1Apply the FinishGet a small can of wood floor finish, usually polyurethane, urethane or varnish (If you are not sure, use polyurethane.)The sheen of your floor may be satin, semigloss, gloss, or high-gloss. Try to match the new finish to the finish on your floor so it blends well.These types of finish cover the scratch best on a floor that has been finished naturally, or with no coat of stain.Apply the polyurethane or other finishing material to the scratch with an artist’s paintbrush or any tiny paintbrush. The porous part of the scratched wood will absorb the finish and cover the scratch.STEP 2Buff the ScratchWipe away the excess polyurethane finish before it dries. If excess finish is not wiped away, it will be noticeable when the light shines on that spot. Buff with a rag to help the scratch to disappear.Fixing a scratch on a stained finishTools and Materials:• Stain or furniture touch-up marker (similar colour to your floor’s stain)• Polyurethane or urethane finish (small amount)• Artist’s paintbrush• Dry ragSTEP 1Apply the Stain and FinishIf your floor was stained before it was finished, you must stain the scratch before applying the polyurethane or other type of finish. Use an artist’s paintbrush or any tiny brush and apply stain to the scratch using a similar colour to that on the floor. You can also cover the scratch with furniture marker in place of stain. Let the stain dry for at least 24 hours and then apply the polyurethane using the same brush.STEP 2Buff the ScratchWipe off the excess polyurethane that is not absorbed into the scratch before it dries so it does not leave a mark. Buff the scratch lightly with a dry rag to help it disappear.Fixing GougesTools and Materials:• Latex wood filler• Putty knife• Sandpaper• Artist’s paintbrush• Stain (if needed)• Polyurethane, urethane or varnish (small amount)• Dry ragSTEP 1Fill the Damaged AreaFill the gouge with latex wood filler and smooth it over using a putty knife, removing the excess filler. Let the area dry completely and smooth it with sandpaper.STEP 2Stain the Latex Wood FillerIf the filled gauge is very noticeable, it can be stained even if it is a natural finished floor. Use an artist’s paintbrush or any tiny brush to apply stain to the dried latex wood filler. Let the stain dry for at least 24 hours. Use a stain that matches the colour of your floor as closely as possible.STEP 3Apply the FinishUsing an artist’s paintbrush, apply polyurethane or any other finish to the area once it is dry. Wipe away excess finish before it dries and buff the area with a dry rag.Henry Durham is a director at Gorham’s. Contact him on 441-295-1550