4 Simple Steps on How To Fix Gouges in Hardwood Floors | Causes of Gouges in Hardwood Floors
What Are Gouges in Hardwood Floors?| How To Fix Gouges in Hardwood Floors | Causes of Gouges in Hardwood Floors | How to Prevent Gouges in Hardwood Floors
What Are Gouges in Hardwood Floors?
Gouge is a term used to describe a gouging or dent in the surface of your hardwood floor. It can be caused by anything from pet claws, furniture scrapes, and other household items.
Even though they are not always visible to the eye, if you use your hand as an example- pressing in on it with enough force will cause indentations to form (just like when we press into our skin) which is essentially what has happened to your floors!
The best way for you to prevent gouges from happening again would be to protect them with a hardwood floor mat such as bamboo mats or cork mats that have been created specifically for this purpose.
These types of mats will act as extra protection against dirt particles and other harmful particles that can harm your hardwood floors and cause these gouges to appear.
Gouges are not necessarily a threat to the longevity of your flooring, but they may damage the aesthetics of it.
When you have a gouge it can sometimes be hard to clean and will always look more worn than if you didn’t have these indentations in the floor.
Gouges can be caused by anything from a heavy object being dropped on the floor or an unfortunate event like a pet scratching at the floor boards.
Whatever may have happened to cause these dents in your flooring, it’s important that they get fixed quickly before more damage is done.
Read below for some helpful information about removing gouges in hardwoods!
Causes of Gouges in Hardwood Floors
1. Pets Scratches
Purring, running, jumping, biting…most pets love to get into mischief and play around! One of the most common ways they do this is by playing and scratching at the floor boards.
With their claws and paws they can make gouges in your hardwood floors that can become permanent if left alone long enough.
When this happens, it also makes it very difficult to keep your floors clean, since the gouges collect dirt and dust around them.
2. Heavy Objects Dropped on the Floor
Dropping any heavy object on your hardwood floors will cause a gouge to appear, whether it be a little scratch or a large dent.
Chances are if you dropped something on your floor that was heavy enough to cause this, you’ve probably seen it and you’ll have the opportunity to fix it before too long.
3. Household Items
As is the case with pets causing gouges, household items can also do the same.
Pens, pencils, paperweights, and other similar items can be dropped on your floor and cause a gouge in your hardwood floor to appear.
4. Grate Movement
If you use a wood-burning stove, fireplace, or any other grate that moves on your hardwood floors when it’s used can create a gouge or dent in your floors.
The movement of the grate can cause a mark to appear in your flooring from the dent of the moving grate.
Even though it may not be visible, if you look closely enough, you can still see the imperfection that is there because of this.
How to Fix Gouges in Hardwood Floors
- If a gouge is larger than 1/4″ deep, you need to fill it with matching colored wood putty, an oil-based wood filler such as Minwax wood putty, or Sikkens Woodzone.
When the spot is dry, softly sand it, flush and smooth it with the floor before applying a thin layer of an appropriate finish on it.
- If a gouge is smaller than 1/4″ deep, use a putty knife to scrape away the affected area and fill in the gouge with the wood putty mentioned above. Rub a matching-colored wax filler stick or brown crayon on the location until the scratch is filled for a tiny gouge. To remove any excess wax, rub the area with a soft cloth.
- When you’ve sanded, vacuumed, and waxed your floors, you can lighten up your hardwood floors with a mildewcide or sealer to keep them looking fresh and pristine.
- This method will not work on gouges that are deeper than 1/4″ because you’ll need an oil-based wood filler to hide the gouge and prevent it from happening again.
Now that you know how to fix gouges in your hardwood floors, keep your floors protected by using floor mats!
How to Prevent Gouges in Hardwood Floors
Gouges in hardwood floors are indentations in the surface of the floor that run parallel to the grain of the wood.
Gouges are often caused by heavy objects scraping their way across the floor or when objects, like chairs, are caught between a door and the door frame.
Here are some ways to prevent gouges;
- Use floor mats in your home (especially if you have pets)!
- Don’t allow heavy objects to be dropped on your hardwood floors.
- Use coasters for drinks and other items that can be dropped or placed on your flooring!
- Use a wood-burning stove carefully and check for gouges every so often to ensure that it hasn’t done any damage to the surface of your floors!
- Before you vacuum your wood floors, simply remove the vacuum bag and sweep up any particles with a dustpan. This way you will avoid gouging your floor boards and will also keep the floor pretty clean!
Gouges in Hardwood Floors FAQs
What are gouges and what causes gouges?
Gouges are the deep, rough scratches that happen to the surface of wood. This is an essential maintenance.
Gouges are often caused by a jar or some other type of impact. Gouges can be caused by a bowling ball rolling across a floor or a chair sliding across the floor.
Long-term, the gouges can be a way for a wood floor to be sanded down. While these gouges can happen at any time, they will usually become more common during a high-traffic period such as the holidays.
That is when people will be more in-and-out of the house and more likely to move around more furniture – and this will lead to more gouges.
Can you use wood filler on hardwood floors?
To repair the damaged area, you can use plastic wood or wood filler. It dries quickly, even faster if you use a hair drier, and can then be sanded.
It is available in a range of hues, allowing you to try to match it to the color of your hardwood floor.
Do you have to replace the entire flooring?
No, if the gouge is smaller than 1/4″ deep, you can simply fill it in with wood putty or an equivalent product then buff it in gently, using a soft sponge. Clean thoroughly with a damp cloth and dry with a towel.
What’s the right way to fix gouges in hardwood floors?
To fix Gouges in hardwood floors, once you’ve filled the gouge with wood putty, make sure you sand it completely so that it is no longer visible.
If you can still see the gouge after sanding, be sure to fill it a second time until it is completely gone.
Can you repair dents in hardwood floors?
To repair deep gouges or dents, apply a wood floor filler and stain to the affected area. Tape off the damaged area before applying the filler so that you don’t mistakenly put filler where it doesn’t belong.
What’s the difference between wood putty and wood filler?
Wood filler is typically water-based, whereas wood putty is typically oil-based. Wood filler can be sanded and is commonly used on untreated wood, whereas wood putty cannot be sanded and is best used on polished wood.
How do you repair gouges in laminate flooring?
For repairs, first prep the hole with sandpaper. Then, use a wood filler stick to push filler into the hole. Once it is dry, sand again and apply a new finish.
Can you fix gouges in concrete floorboards?
Use a power sander and grind down the affected area until it is smooth. Then clean that area with soap and water. If there is still a gouge after drying, repeat this method until it disappears.
How do you restore hardwood floors without sanding?
The first step is to fill the gouge with putty or a wood filler, then sand it down evenly. Next, clean the area and apply floor wax to protect the surface of the hardwood flooring.
How do you fix gouges in wood?
To fix a gouge in wood, you will want to use wood filler to fill in the gouge. You’ll need to let that dry for at least 24 hours before sanding down the area around it.
How can you repair gouges in wood floors?
There are several ways to repair gouges in wood floors, including using a wood putty and sanding, using a wood filler and waiting for it to dry (this can take up to 48 hours), using an epoxy-based product like floor pro or rubbing compound, or using a drywall patch kit.
How do I repair large gouges on hardwood floors?
Use an oil-based wood filling compound or an epoxy-based material.
What is Gouges in Hardwood Floors?
Traditional hardwood flooring can be a beautiful addition to any home or office space, but they can also be expensive – especially when they have to be replaced.
So, it’s imperative to take good care of your hardwood floors, which means addressing the problem of gouges whenever they form.
Gouges are indentations that create a different surface on the surface level that runs parallel to the floor each time it’s stepped on or moved across.
They are most often caused by heavy objects such as furniture, but they can also happen when people move furniture around the house.
As the furniture slides across the floor, the corners can push into the wood and create a gouge.
How do you fix gouges in hardwood floors?
- Clean the area of any dirt or debris with a damp cloth
- Apply wood glue to the gouge and press in a piece of scrap wood that is about 1″ x 2″
- Wait for at least 24 hours before sanding down, then apply varnish to finish off
- If you don’t have access to scrap wood, use toothpicks or matchsticks instead
- To repair larger areas, fill in the gouges with putty and let dry overnight before applying varnish
- For deep scratches on your hardwood floor that are more than just surface-level, it may be best to hire someone who specializes in refinishing floors as these repairs will be much more complicated and require special tools and materials not commonly found around the house
