Hardwood Floor Repair
& Restoration
Hardwood floors can often be repaired without replacing the entire floor. From deep gouges and cracked boards to pet stains, water damage and flooring affected by renovations, the right repair depends on the type and extent of the damage.
At Lantzville Artisan Wood Floors, we repair and restore existing hardwood floors throughout Nanaimo and Central Vancouver Island. Where possible, we repair the damaged area while preserving the original floor. When replacement boards or refinishing are necessary, we carefully blend the repair into the surrounding flooring for a finished result that looks like it belongs there.
Repairing Deep Gouges, Cracks & Damaged Boards
Repeated dog scratching on the floor.
Kitchen island was removed leaving a void in the floor.
Pet urine stains that darken over time.
Deep scratches, gouges and cracks are some of the most common hardwood floor repairs we see.
For smaller areas of damage, a tinted wood putty can sometimes provide a simple and effective repair. With prefinished flooring, however, the repair may require replacing the damaged board rather than sanding and refinishing the surrounding floor.
If the damage is extensive, very deep or spread across a larger area, a more involved repair may be necessary. In these situations, we may sand the affected area down to bare wood and refinish it, or replace damaged boards and sand and finish the repaired area.
Can a single hardwood board be repaired?
Sometimes a damaged board can be isolated and refinished individually. This can be a good option when the surrounding floor is in good condition and a full-floor refinish isn't necessary.
There is one important consideration: an individual repair may not match the surrounding floor perfectly. Differences in the age of the wood, stain colour, finish and sheen can make a repaired area visible under certain lighting.
Where a seamless appearance is important, we can discuss whether extending the sanding and finishing area will produce a better match.
Blending Hardwood Flooring During Renovations
Renovations can create another type of hardwood floor repair.
Removing a wall, moving a kitchen, changing a doorway or altering the layout of a room can leave gaps where flooring needs to be added. New flooring can also need to connect to older existing flooring.
Rather than leaving an obvious patch, new hardwood can often be laced into the existing floor. Individual boards are woven into the surrounding flooring so the transition follows the existing pattern.
Once the new flooring has been laced in, the area can be sanded and finished together with the surrounding floor. This creates a much more cohesive result than simply placing a rectangular patch of new flooring into the existing floor.
This type of repair is particularly useful when renovating older homes where matching the existing hardwood and maintaining the original character of the floor is important.
Pet Stains & Water-Damaged Hardwood
Pet accidents and water damage can penetrate into hardwood and, in more severe cases, into the wood itself or the material underneath.
Sometimes staining is relatively shallow and can be removed through sanding. If the damage has penetrated deeply enough that sanding cannot remove it, affected boards may need to be replaced.
For significant pet staining or water damage, we can remove the damaged boards, install replacement hardwood and then sand and finish the repaired area together.
The goal is not simply to cover the stain. The damaged material needs to be addressed so the repaired area can be incorporated into the surrounding floor.
Hardwood Floor Repair or Full Refinishing?
Not every damaged floor needs to be completely refinished.
A few isolated scratches or gouges may only require a localized repair. A damaged prefinished board may be better replaced. More extensive damage may require sanding and refinishing, particularly when there are numerous repairs or when the existing finish is already worn.
During an assessment, we can determine whether the floor is best suited to:
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A localized repair
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Tinted putty or another minor repair
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Individual board replacement
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Lacing new hardwood into an existing floor
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Localized sanding and refinishing
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Repair followed by sanding and finishing
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Complete hardwood floor refinishing
The right approach depends on the type of hardwood, the existing finish, the extent of the damage and how closely the repaired area needs to match the surrounding floor.
What Can Be Repaired?
We regularly encounter hardwood floors with:
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Deep gouges and scratches
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Cracked or damaged boards
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Pet stains
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Water damage
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Missing or damaged flooring after renovations
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Flooring gaps created by moved walls or cabinets
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Areas where new hardwood needs to be blended into existing flooring
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Worn or damaged sections that require sanding and refinishing
If you're unsure whether your hardwood floor can be repaired, send us photos of the damage and we can discuss the options.
Localized Repairs
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Small number of damaged areas
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Individual board replacement
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Tinted putty
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Localized refinishing
Sanding and Refinishing
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Extensive damage
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Numerous repairs
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Worn overall finish
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Colour change desired
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Better overall colour/sheen consistency