Repairing Scratches in Hardwood Floor

-Many old house owners are concerned about scratches in their hardwood floor. Common causes: dog scratching, dogs running, chairs dragging, tables and sofas being moved.

-I have had experience mostly with oak floors, both in lighter and darker stains. The darker floors have shown more scratching than the lighter ones, but both are noticeable.

-If your dog has scratched your floor to a point where it is unsightly, don't worry. It is not difficult to repair. The only problem is that this is probably not a do-it-yourself kind of fix. You will likely need to consult a hardwood flooring specialist who will come in and sand, then refinish the affected areas to make them look as good as new.

-In my experience, repairs to dog scratches on hardwood floors are not as time consuming nor as expensive as I have anticipated, and the floor has turned out looking great.

-Note that in addition to dog scratches or furniture scratches in your hardwood floor, the sanding and refinishing can take care of glue or tape that will not come off.

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University