While installing hard wood floors is easy repairing them and maintaining them is an easier job. If the quality of the hardwood is good a simple re-polishing can do wonders to enhance the look. Also good quality floors need to be redone only once in 4-5 years. With continuous use the floor does develop a few scratches and marks. While some believe this adds to the beauty of the natural hardwood some prefer their floor to be spic and span and sparkling at all times. Floor polishing can be done regularly to get the desired look and for repairing hardwood floors.

Things you will need:
  • Sand paper/ steel wool
  • Damp cloth
  • Floor wax
  • Polish
  • Soft brush


Step 1:

Prevent floor mishaps:
The floor bears the maximum brunt in everyday use compared due to continuous movement. Pets and children can do things to the floor that one cannot even think of in their wildest dreams. While warping and cupping are common problems faced by a lot of people, discoloring and unevenness are others. It is best to avoid the damage to the floor than repair it. For instance, pushing heavy furniture or pulling luggage or would make the hardwood floor susceptible to scratches or marks. Repairing hardwood floors and scratch marks might require professional help then.

Step 2:

Getting professional help:
While a scratch is not deep a gouge is a deeper mark on the floor where a bit of wood has been cut away. Scratches can be dealt with by using hardwood floor scratch remover but gouges cannot be removed using these. One needs professional help to treat gouges. But scratches can be handled easily and since one cannot avoid them it is better to know how to keep them in check and repair them also.

Step 3:

Doing it yourself:
Rough up the scratched area using a sand paper or steel wool. It is the corners in the scratch that are more difficult to remove thus they need to be covered too. It is important to either rub in the direction of the grain or in circular motion to avoid further damage to the floor. The dust particles can be then removed using a soft damp cloth. After the area has dried we need to apply the scratch removal solution covering the whole portion with an even layer. This too needs to dry up before we use a paint brush to touch up the floor with the original floor color. Avoid using brushes with hard bristles as it also cause scratches so you need to be careful while selecting your equipments. Also the chemicals need to be used in the right quantity or else the scratch can look like an ugly scar on the floor. It needs to be just right to blend in with the rest of the floor.

Step 4:

Touch up:
Get floor polish and wax to touch up on the scratches. This may need a little time and patience. Impatience can cost money and leave you with a bad stain on the floor. Often buying the right stain from the manufacturer along with an extra box of materials, while laying the new floor, proves helpful in repairing the wood floors.



Hand scraping wood floor looks similar to a distressed wood floor. This method makes the wood look older, giving it an old-world charm. For a family with kids, this floor is the perfect option. Hand scraped wood floors are really easy to maintain. Instead of hiring craftsmen to install this hand scraped floor, you can save money and do it yourself. Follow the steps mentioned below to add a hand-scraped look to your floor without any extra cost.

Things required:
  • Floor sander six-inch spinner and edger with 38-grit and 60-grit discs
  • Scraper broom
  • Metal chain
  • Crowbar
  • Buffer
  • Floor stain
  • Paint brush or roller
  • Vacuum cleaner


Step 1:

Sanding:
First, sand the entire floor with the help of a floor sander. You can start by using the 38-grit disc and then follow it up with the 60-grit disc on your floor. With the help of six-inch spinner or edger, remove the leftover stain from the edges of the floor.

Step 2:

Vacuuming:
Using a vacuum cleaner, remove all the dust from the surface of the floor.

Step 3:

Scraping:
Then, wet a small section of the floor and scrape that area with the help of the scraper. Divide the floor into similar small sections and then wet and scrape them. While scraping the floor, remember to scrape against the grain of the floor so as to give the floor a hand-scraped look.

Step 4:

Sweep:
After the wood floor has been scraped, remove the floor shavings using a vacuum cleaner or a sweeper.

Step 5:

Create hand scraped floor:
Now, with the help of the metal chain, make dents into the surface of the wood floor in order to create a hand-scraped wood floor.

Step 6:

Paint scraper:
Take the paint scraper in a slicing motion so as to make scratch marks on the surface of the wood floor.

Step 7:

Gouge floor:
Also, gouge the wood floor with the help of the crowbar. This will add to the look of the hand-scraped wood floor.

Step 8:

Buff the floor:
After all the scratch marks and dents have been made into this wood floor, then use a buffer to buff the floor. But buff the floor only lightly.

Step 9:

Apply coat:
Now, the hand-scraped wood floor is ready to be stained. Apply the first coat of stain with a paint brush or roller.

Step 10:

Finish off:
Allow the first coat of stain to dry for about 12 hours, and then apply the second coat of stain on the hand-scraped wood floor.

Tips and suggestions:
  • Remove even the slightest of the dust particles from the surface of the wood floor before you start staining the floor.
  • While the staining of the wood floor is on, do remember to open the windows to ventilate the room. This is done to avoid the hazardous fumes that emanate from the stain. You must also wear protective clothing and eyeglasses while hand-scraping a wood floor.



Designing hardwood floors can be a great creative experience, as it can be exhaustive. Designing the floor of your home or room can be tricky too, as the floor usually sets the tone for the rest of the room. While the best part of designing your own hardwood floor is that you can let your imagination wild, you must also remember that the floor should still remain durable and practical. This article will help you select and implement just the right kind of hardwood floor design for your home.

Step 1:

Choosing the right color:
The first important step in the direction of selecting the perfect hardwood floor design is to settle on a color for it. While picking a color, remember to keep it simple. Do not get swayed by elaborate names. Trust your eye and instinct. More importantly, do not make a hasty decision in any case. Take your time and deliberate over what color floor you would like to have. Also, check various colors against the light and in the absence of it. A good way of selecting the right color for your hardwood floor design would be to take the samples and place them on the floor to get an idea. In case, you room is getting a complete makeover, then be sure to match the floor color with the color of the walls to create the effect you want.

Step 2:

Designing the floor theme:
The floor theme of your hardwood floor design would depend upon the kind of look you want to give to your room. If you want the room to have a formal appearance, then square, stripes, and lined themes would be best. In case you want something informal and cozy, then go in for curved floral patterns. A stenciled border would also add coziness to the room. A curved pattern is also likely to give a sense of motion in the room. If your room is small in size, then perhaps you can have a linear pattern as the theme of your floor and extend it lengthways. This will make your room look longer. Use the same hardwood floor design across the room, and you can make your room look shorter but wider at the same time.

Tips and suggestions:
  • You can use focal points almost anywhere on your hardwood floor. They are actually prefabricated designs. You may sprinkle them anywhere you want. In fact, you can use a number of such focal points to create a larger design on your wood floors.
  • Your hardwood floor design may also include medallions made of stone or mosaics. These too, greatly add to the appeal of the hardwood floor. You can use materials such as granite, ceramic, stained glass, and travertine designs.