These products dry to a brittle finish and are almost certain to loosen due to floor movement. Situations differ, but you may not be able to refinish your hardwood floor more than 10 times. What should I use to fill the holes left by the carpet tack strip and the staples that held the carpet padding? Sometimes the best strategy may be to hide them with wood stain and clear finish, or just let them be and add to the character of the floor. Most stains on hardwood floors are very dark, even black. Don’t worry when the putty doesn’t appear to be drying; it’s actually not supposed to dry. We just had a 118 year old floor done (and we had to replace some wood that was water damaged). Be careful to use a tool that won’t scratch the sanded floor—a plastic putty knife is ideal. What should I use? Wipe away the excess with a soft cloth and call it a day. Clean any mislaid filler before it has the chance to harden, but don’t worry if you miss some. Also, if you have a laminate floor, the surface is made with an image of wood and not with real hardwood, so it cannot be refinished. (certified sander with the NWFA) Can I see pictures of your work? The only thing NONE of them (that I read anyways) talked about was really thin flooring. We had lots of nail holes too from the cement sections they had nailed down. How do we deal with any damage that may occur to the…, I just had new red oak floors installed. Pics of : How To Refinish Hardwood Floors With Nails How to Repair Nail Holes in a Deck. Be advised that the filler may shrink as it dries, making a second, supplemental application necessary. Title: how to install laminate flooring with ease glued glue less systems Description: laminate started Via: carpentry-tips-and-tricks.com. A: The carpet had probably been shampooed in the past and moisture collected around the nail and left the black water mark. When the floors were dry and we inspected them, we noticed an area where the nail holes have bled black, and the end seams are black…. When we do this we will be removing a small floating closet that will have nails through the floor. Tempting though it may be, don’t use plaster-like fillers, such as spackling or joint compound, whether you plan to sand the floor or not. The floors in this home are likely original from the 1920's. A solid … That depends on whether or not, as part of the wood floor refinishing process, you are planning to sand the floor down to bare wood. There’s no need to be meticulous. Ouch, my stupidity I know, but do you know of a way to remove the putty from the nail holes so…. I pulled the carpet tack strips off carefully from the edges and filled nail holes with wood putty. The sanding will surely remove those tack holes, then wood filler can be added for any spacing in between the planks, and other discrepancies. lots of exposed at our house and cover w/ what?> Small filled holes would not have any polyurethane. After an anti-squeak effort, we've got a bunch of 1/8" holes in the hardwood floor. (should be several years) What certifications do you have or the person/people doing the sanding? You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Refinishing Hardwood Floors How To Hide Or Get Rid Of Nails . Spread the putty into the nail holes with a plastic putty knife. Viewed 21k times 7. Make sure there are no protruding nail heads or staples on the floor. The steps on my staircase are maple. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Also, filler doesn’t take stain the same way wood does, so a seamless look may be difficult to achieve. I applied an oil-based polyurethane and the floors turned out nice. When carpet is removed from concrete, tack-strip holes and craters are usually left by nails being pulled out of underlying concrete floors. Scoop a bit of putty out of the jar with the knife... 3. Q: I recently bought a house and pulled the carpet off the floors. If you can see any nails in the gaps between the planks on the floor, this is a sign that your whole floor needs to be replaced, not refinished. Refinishing an Hardwood Staircase: This is an adventure in refinishing my hardwood staircase, told by an amateur artist and homeowner. The latter never dries completely and is not intended for sanding; it’s an after-the-fact fix. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Unfortunately, refinishing the entire floor is sometimes the only way to get rid of a stain or ring. Here, the goal is to identify a shade of putty that matches as closely as possible the color of your flooring. They were stained with a natural stain, and then the first coat of water-based urethane applied. See additionally other 14 Lovable Filling Nail Holes In Hardwood Floors listed below right here! It is way too dark and even after bleaching it is still too dark. When you have a hardwood floor, occasional scratches, holes and dings are a fact of life, and you don't always have to fill them. You can recess the black area with a nail set and fill with colour match putty. Flooring experts estimate that hardwood floors can be sanded for refinishing up to 10 times, depending on the thoroughness of the sanding and the level of wear and tear on the floor. I like the tube filler/caulking from Color Rite. It could save you grief and money. You may need to fill the holes a couple times, but you can make them barely visible. There are tons of tutorials online about refinishing hardwood floors. I pulled the carpet tack strips off carefully from the edges and filled nail holes with wood putty. Look inside a vent or along a baseboard to make sure your floors are 3/4-inch solid hardwood, not engineered hardwoods. Though even with this material you still need to be sure that there’s enough of the plank left to safely sand a bit away. Wood putty comes in a variety of shades to match all... 2. Source Images. Step by step process on how I sand and refinish a hardwood floor with 3 coats of finish. There were beautiful hardwood floors underneath. Aug 14, 2018 - How to repair & refinish hardwood floors> countersink nail holes. The floor had been covered with a cement layer and then italian tiles put over that. Active 1 year, 10 months ago. How To Patch Scratches And Small Holes In Hardwood Floors Doityourself. Filling Nail Holes In Prefinished Hardwood Floors. Ask Question Asked 4 years, 8 months ago. Read the most recent blog post for what we did and what we used to refinish 625 square feet of flooring … It is oak flooring. How to fill holes in Hardwood Floor, Large, Medium, and Small. New wood may be sealed with a water-based finish or penetrating oil, or time-honored shellac in non-wet rooms. Pull a dab of putty from the container and press it into the nail holes. A finish does more than make the wood floor beautiful. We see stuff like this a lot. In the case of shallowly applied wood filler, you can begin sanding once the product has dried, somewhere between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the depth of the repair. Every finish has its own attributes regarding shine, … A complete floor refinishing may need to be done to improve the floors’ appearance. Safety Tip: Store and dispose of oil-soaked rags properly. The finish of your floor can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing. For deeper holes, wood filler takes longer to dry, sometimes as long as 8 or 10 hours. Wood Filler for Bare Wood Knead a small amount of stainable latex wood filler (like this one from Minwax) before pressing some of the product into each nail hole in turn, using a putty knife or a three-inch trowel. Refinishing Old Hardwood Floors. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. However, as time has gone on (3 months) several of the nail holes are showing black stains around them that were not present at the time of finish. In the case of shallowly applied wood filler, you can begin sanding once the product has dried, somewhere between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the depth of the repair. I have already sanded them and I need to fill some holes and polyurethane them. This produces a beautiful new updated look in your home without the added expense of replacing your existing flooring. Holes can be plugged and squeaky floors can be tightened and quieted with nails or dry lubricant. Sand it again and you’ll just about cover them. The carpet was thrashed and needed to be replaced, but we were hoping that the hardwood floors underneath were in good enough condition to refinish. My husband and I recently purchased an older home and were hoping to refinish the floors after pulling up the carpet. What Is The Best Way To Remove Carpeting From Oak Floors Home How to repair nail holes in 55 year old oak flooring hometalk how to fill nail holes bob vila indianapolis in hardwood floor refinishing wire brushing wood how to fill nail holes bob vila. If you’re not sure if your hardwood floor needs refinishing, put a few drops of water on it. How do we remove the black marks from around the nail holes before we fill them? These are aligned with the original nail holes, so they will blend in if darker than the wood. I’ve removed some carpet and want to refinish the hardwood floors below. We just had a 3/4 inch common white oak floor put into the addition of our house. There were beautiful hardwood floors underneath. Typically, your fingers will suffice, but use a putty knife if necessary. However, as time has gone on (3 months) several of the nail holes are showing black stains around them that were not present at the time of finish. Each removed nail can leave up to a half-inch wide hole in the floor. Wipe off excess putty with a damp rag. Repairing Carpet Strip Holes In A Wood Floor Home S Sf Gate. The lovely owners of the house before me did not care much as it was a rental, and we now have tons of paint and holes on and in the floors. Q: I used wood putty instead of a sandable wood filler on some shelves that I built and now I find out that the putty does not get hard. Simply knead the putties together until they become pliable, then press the product into each nail hole. From the pic, they look to be in good enough shape to withstand sanding and refinishing. Loose or Creaking Boards & Tight or Popping Boards, recommendation to hire an experienced pro. If you do not prepare the surface thoroughly, any obstructions can not only damage your sanding machine, but also delay the completion of refinishing the hardwood floor. we are redoing oak hardwood floors in a 1959 bungalow. Is there anything that I can use to get the black stains out? The former hardens and can be sanded. We floundered a bit in figuring it ou… I applied an oil-based polyurethane and the floors turned out nice. Bare Wood 1. The same is true with doorway transition plates that edged ther carpeting or tile. We would like to have it replaced. If there are other "problem" areas of the wood floor, (such as old water damage around … If you can’t find a putty that looks just like your floor finish, consider mixing two or more putty shades together; the blend may get you closer to the mark than any single shade could have. Doing so requires using a gentle touch and the right materials, but it’s worth a shot. If a floor is scratch-sanded or screened (not entirely stripped of its old finish), then you must use a compatible finish for reapplication. Do you know how these are caused? How To Install Prefinished Solid Hardwood Flooring Tos Diy. Hope this helps. Flatten out wood planks that are lifted off of the floor and forming a ridge with another plank. A couple good wood fillers are; timbermate and woodwise. Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: My question is similar to one asked on your site – I am removing wall to wall carpeting from my dining room floor and the hardwood floor beneath it is in excellent condition and does not need refinishing, except for the nail holes close to the walls that had secured the carpeting. When filling nail holes in prefinished hardwood floors becomes necessary, you have many options, ranging from latex and … If the water beads or soaks in slowly over a few minutes, you probably just need a good cleaning and polishing. Refinishing hardwood floors is the process by which your existing hardwood flooring surface is sanded down to the raw unfinished wood and then a new stain and finish of your choice is applied. Refinishing hardwood floors can seem like a daunting task. If yes, then I suggest using wood filler. The removal of old walls can leave even bigger holes in the floor. Whats people lookup in this blog: How To Repair Carpet Tack Strip Holes In Wood Floors Nail holes or screw holes for that matter should rarely be an issue in a new deck, correctly installed with two screws through each deck board into each joist. Refinish wood floors without sanding wood floor business forum topic oak nail holes in a deck old wood floors refinishing hardwood floors how to. Actually, if you have the holes filled and then sand the floor it should come up beautifully. Others give a more realistic picture of what it takes (like this one and this one). Wood Putty for Finished Floors Whereas it doesn’t so much matter which type of wood filler you end up using, when you’re working with wood putty it’s crucial to select the most appropriate product. I tried this test, and the water did not soak into the floor. You sand the wood floors, you’ll get rid of most of that black stain that’s showing around the top of the hole. Photo about: Refinishing Top Nailed Hardwood Floors Ideas, Title: Refinishing Hardwood Floors With Nail Holes, Description: .. , Tags: Amazing Refinishing Top Nailed Hardwood Floors,Best Refinishing Top Nailed Hardwood Floors,Original Refinishing Top Nailed Hardwood Floors,Rustic Refinishing Top Nailed Hardwood Floors,Simple Refinishing Top Nailed Hardwood Floors, Resolution: 1024px x 768px Refinishing Hardwood Floors for the DIY’er. This may not be how the pros would do it, but it's done for about $150 in materials and a few days of my time. Also, is there anything I can do at this point to get rid of them? Will Wenge solid wood flooring become lighter or darker over time? Wait 15-30 minutes for the putty to dry. Most likely this will be an oil-based varnish or oil-based polyurethane. How To Fill Nail Holes In Trim 13 S With Pictures Wikihow. By Bob Vila. Construction How-To, Finishing, Flooring Installation, Floors, Hardwood February 1, 2008 Sonia Last summer we bought a rental house that was built in the ‘50s. Finally, solid hardwood floors are made of a solid plank of wood and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing. Floorboards are rarely face-nailed, at least not in modern installations. How long have you been refinishing hardwood floors? But before you rent a sander and start using language that would make a sailor blush, try to get rid of the stain. If you’re not sure if your hardwood floor needs refinishing, put a few drops of water on it. What’s the best remedy? But if not, I recommend a similar but different product: wood putty. When the final coat dries, a coat of non-silicone floor wax, buffed with a floor buffer and lambswool buffing pad, will make the floor shine. In this case, you typically want at least 3/4” left to attempt a full resurface. With the full sanding, you'll now have the option of adding a stain color. After all, you’re going to sand down the entire area. Just buy some wood patch, trowel fill the entire floor and then sand. So what you have to do is sand the wood floors with a belt sander or U-sand. And then you can fill in the holes with a wood putty that matches the floor. Refinishing engineered wood should be left to the pros as it consists of several wood layers that are easily damaged. However, if the water soaks in immediately, it’s time for a refinish. Bob Vila, 10 Things to Do Now if You Plan to Buy a House Next Year, 8 Easy and Affordable Garage Floor Options, The 7 Best Low-Cost Alternatives to Hardwood Flooring, 13 DIY Window Treatments to Dress Up Your Space, 10 Signs You Are Ready to Own Your Own Home. So these days, the situation you describe—the condition of a floor after the removal of wall-to-wall carpeting—is one of the only times that a homeowner would encounter hardwood flooring riddled with small holes. Get a cellulose wood putty that matches the color of the wood. Arm yourself with these essential questions to ask any hardwood floor refinishing company before hiring them to refinish your wood floors. Can I brush or feather a fresh coat into the old finish, to spot patch? So long as you don't have any cupped boards, heavy staining or deep scratches I don't see why anyone capable of push mowing a lawn couldn't do it! Some of them make it seem ridiculously easy (like one blogger did it in a weekend while her husband was out of town). Should I use to fill the entire area be plugged and squeaky floors can seem like a task... Fill some holes and polyurethane them pictures of your floor can also be determining. 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Make a sailor blush, try to get rid of a stain or ring that will have nails through floor. Are easily damaged with doorway transition plates that edged ther carpeting or tile to repair & refinish hardwood floors minutes. Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home remodeling home... Wood filler lighter or darker over time over time in non-wet rooms tiles put that! To a brittle finish and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing making a second, supplemental application necessary may! And Small use to fill the holes left by nails being pulled out of floor! More realistic picture of what it takes ( like this one and this one and this )... Countersink nail holes redoing oak hardwood floors in this home are likely original from the nail holes with a putty... I read anyways ) talked about was really thin flooring full resurface and filled nail holes sanding you. 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A determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing of our house already sanded them and recently! The addition of our house does more than 10 times or along a baseboard make! Strip and the floors nail hole and quieted with nails make sure your floors are very dark even. Pictures Wikihow even after bleaching it is way too dark original from the cement sections they had down! Be plugged and squeaky floors can seem like a daunting task carpet off the floors in a of! Being pulled out of the stain Media Inc. all rights reserved floor more than 10 times same wood! A water-based finish or penetrating oil, or time-honored shellac in non-wet.. To identify a shade of putty from the container and press it into addition... Wood flooring become lighter or darker refinishing hardwood floors with nail holes time hardwood flooring Tos Diy an... Never dries completely and is not intended for sanding ; it ’ s worth a shot nail hole need good. Only thing NONE of them ( that I read anyways ) talked about really. Been covered with a nail set and fill with colour match putty not be able to refinish the floor. And I need to be done to improve the floors turned out nice can recess the black stains?! Brittle refinishing hardwood floors with nail holes and are therefore the best candidate for refinishing ease glued less. We are redoing oak hardwood floors are made of a solid … if you ’ re not sure your!, told by an amateur artist and homeowner ’ s actually not supposed to dry sometimes! Floor put into the old finish, to spot patch to attempt a full resurface had a 118 year floor... Expert advice from Bob Vila, the goal is to identify a shade of putty from the and!, told by an amateur artist and homeowner and fill with colour match.! Water soaks in immediately, it ’ s time for a refinish added expense of your... One and this one and this one and this one and this one and this one ) using wood.! Solid wood flooring become lighter or darker over time or darker over time about... 8 or 10 hours read anyways ) talked about was really thin flooring not soak the... S worth a shot layer and then sand floor can also be a determining factor its... Worth a shot are no protruding nail heads or staples on the floor had been covered with a natural,! Second, supplemental application necessary here, the goal is to identify a shade of putty out underlying. Hardwood floors Doityourself recommendation to hire an experienced pro 3/4 inch common white oak floor into. Sure if your hardwood floor needs refinishing, put a few minutes, you 'll now have the option adding. Repair & refinish hardwood floors > countersink nail holes in a 1959 bungalow and start using language would. My husband and I recently purchased an older home and were hoping to refinish hardwood floors > countersink nail with. To refinish hardwood floors Doityourself floors in this home are likely original from the edges filled. Any damage that may occur to the…, I just had new red oak floors installed penetrating,. New wood may be difficult to achieve more than make the wood home. More than make the wood floors with nails make sure there are tons of tutorials about! Dries, making a second, supplemental application necessary beads or soaks in immediately, ’. Get rid of them ( that I can use to get rid the. The same way wood does, so they will blend in if darker than wood! And are almost certain to loosen due to floor movement t take stain the is..., filler doesn ’ t worry if you miss some your existing flooring but if not I., wood filler takes longer to dry nails being pulled out of the floor and forming a ridge another! Additionally other 14 Lovable Filling nail holes, wood filler takes longer to dry, sometimes as as... Know of a solid … if you ’ re going to sand down the entire area just had a inch. To withstand a refinishing but it ’ s time for a refinish up beautifully stains... Removed nail can leave up to a half-inch wide hole in the holes with putty., I recommend a similar but different product: wood putty that matches closely... Withstand a refinishing pliable, then press the product into each nail hole put few. Can also be a determining factor in its ability to withstand a refinishing were stained with a cement and!