Simple Hardwood Floor Repair for This Scratch/Gouge? (sand, light, crayon)

[UEHelp]

Hi there-

So I have noticed a couple of these scratches/gouges in my floor. I am not very handy or DIY inclined and do not want to make anything worse.

I have tried stain pens and believe it or not crayons to fill in these scratches but It ends up looking like I used stain pens and crayons to fill them in

I have included a link to my Google drive photo of the issue and was hoping to see if there was anything I could do that did not require sanding/refinishing to fix this?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7u...ew?usp=sharing

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

[turf3]

That would be called patina.

Remember, it's a floor. You can't keep it looking new forever.

[TrapperL]

Call a flooring company. They can use a steamer to pull the grain back out but don't expect it to be a cheap date. Most likely the area will have to be lightly sanded and possible the entire floor to be refinished. But a flooring company that deals in wood floors can help you.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Me thinks you're being hypercritical-

The cost of the "repair" is really not worth the expense.

I'm in the "Patina" camp!

[Diana Holbrook]

It's character.

[UEHelp]

I rent and have pets AND put down a non-refundable pet fee so I hope the landlord agrees with the patina route. LOL

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by UEHelp

I rent and have pets AND put down a non-refundable pet fee so I hope the landlord agrees with the patina route. LOL

Invest in a few runners and area rugs. It will probably be part of normal wear and tear provided the nail scratches are not too numerous.

[Diana Holbrook]

Good advice. Since it's not your floor and you're just renting, put down some carpet runners to prevent further damage if possible... So far, a few scratches is NOT cause to refinish a wood floor. Don't let it get too bad.

[UEHelp]

I was just thinking that! Thanks

[MacInTx]

You can get the wood to expand out of the gouge using an electric iron and a wet paper towel. Dampen a paper towel and folder it over itself four times. Place it on top of the gouge. Place a hot iron on top of the paper towel and press it for 15 to 20 seconds. Lift the iron and the towel and observe the gouge. If the gouge is reduced (stain can inhibit the water's ability to penetrate the wood), repeat these steps until the gouge disappears. You may have to dampen the towel again. If the gouge rises too much, smooth it down with some fine sandpaper (100-200 grit)