Hardwood floors make a gorgeous addition to any home. They are generally easy to care for as well as low maintenance. However, like anything that is used frequently, they do eventually wear, develop cracks or chips, gap, or become exposed.

This article will go over various small, easy repairs that you can do yourself with your hardwood floor.

Fixing Cracked or Chipped Sections

The first issue is cracking in the floor piece. If the crack is small enough, you can drive one or two angled nails into the cracked piece to hold the two together. Once they are secured, put wood putty in the crack to hide the blemish.

If it is a large crack, you might want to think about replacing the individual board. This is a relatively easy fix as well.

First, mark a line across the section of flooring you're removing, then drill four holes in the piece of flooring, two on each side of the line. Next, use a wood chisel to split the two sections of flooring for easier removal. Cut a replacement strip that fits the area you removed, and cut off the bottom side of the groove of the flooring board, this makes it easier to slide the piece into place. Apply construction adhesive to the back of the new piece and set it in place, tapping gently to get it a snug fit.

A chip is an easy fix as well. You put wood putty in the chipped area, wait for it to dry, sand it smooth and stain to match your flooring.

Fixing Gaps

Gaps in your hardwood flooring are from the humidity levels rising and falling. The floor expands and contracts as it retains moisture. Luckily, this is a relatively easy fix.

An older method of fixing gaps is to put wood putty or pieces of rope into the gap, and stain to match the rest of your floor. This method helps keep drafts out as well as being a quick fix.

If you notice gaps starting in your hardwood floors, it is best to fix them quickly. First, clean out any debris that may be stuck in the gaps. Put the wood putty or filler of your choice into the gap with a putty knife or your fingers, allowing for slight overfill. Let it dry and sand it. Stain it to match the rest of the floor.

If the gap is wider, you can use a small wood shim to push the flooring tightly back together. Measure the gap, cut the wood shim to fit the gap, and put it in the gap with the adhesive of your choice. Let it dry and then finish it off with a stain.

Repairing Exposed Spots on Your Floor

If a hardwood floor becomes exposed from heavy traffic, you can repair this on your own as well. To start, get the type of sandpaper that is sold to jewelry hobbyists. Sand your floor with the grain, and go over the worn spot and about one inch past the bare area. Get a tack cloth and clean the sanded area, to ensure it is smooth.

You should put gloves on and apply a layer of stain to the bald area and let it dry according to the stain's directions. Be careful to not over apply the stain or you might find yourself resanding the floor because it is too dark. As soon as you know if your whole bare area needs stain or not you can apply the polyurethane, chosen to match your existing floor.

These easy fixes will ensure your hardwood floor continues to look gorgeous for years to come.

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