Hardwood Floor Repair

Hardwood Floor Repair
The dreaded hardwood floor repair. Unfortunately you won't find many willing professionals to do this kind of work when business is booming and depending on where time of year. You may find some who are whiling, However, trying to find someone good at it may be another story. Some repairs are easier than others, and some should be left up to a professional, specifically floating floors.

Floating Floor Repair

I know what you may be thinking..."it was a cakewalk installing it, why should it be difficult to repair?" Floating floors are often manufactured with precision. Once a board or two is removed, the new ones have to go back into position the exact same way as they are suspended above the subfloor. The locking or glued mechanism is lost when they are removed. Special tools have to be brought in.
This is especially true with square edged floating floors in the likes of Kahrs, Harris Wood, and Award to name a few. In recent years with seemingly every manufacturer claiming their engineered products can now be floated, beveled type floors may not require the meticulous repair work. Their slight bevels can hide any vertical height difference that is very important with the others mentioned.
Nailed Or Stapled Floor Repair
These types of repairs will be the most simple to perform, although a hardwood professional is better apt to make any repair look like it was not a repair. Like any board replacement, if you're using new material the likelihood of them not matching is always there, due the way hardwood changes color over time.
Prefinished floors will be the easiest task because there will be no finishing required. However, the utmost care should be taken into consideration not to damage adjacent boards during the procedure. There are several methods of handling this project noted below if you follow other page links.

Glue Down Floor Repairs

Glue down floor repairs will require more prep work before any new replacements are installed. The most difficult part of the job is removing all the material from the subfloor after the boards have been cut out (discussed on additional pages). If you're dealing with a wood subfloor, chances are the hardwood itself may bring up some of the subfloor (small chunks) with it when removing, unless you're extremely patient with a sharp chisel and hammer.

How Much Time Is Involved?

Let's assume we're replacing two damaged boards. When comparing the time involved of the four types of repairs mentioned, a prefinished nailed floor will require the least amount of time, with floating floors (using proper tools) coming in next. Glued repairs will be a distant third, and site finished repairs the most time consuming if you desire a look that doesn't look repaired.

Other Considerations

The time and work required may vary and can depend on the quality of the replacement material. When buying new floors it is always preferred you keep additional material. What many do not realize is the importance of where it is stored. Leaning an extra box against a wall in the garage for instance, exposed to unpredictable moisture changes throughout the years will distort the original shape of the flooring, especially longer engineered wide planks. In some cases the hardwood cannot be used.

When storing, always always try to lay any extras flat in a controlled environment, or an area that has more stable moisture levels. Always keep it off of concrete subfloors as well. Otherwise moisture from concrete over the years can affect it.

Repair Costs

Professional labor costs will always vary. For a few prefinished board repairs some may charge as much as $ 100-150 per board, while others may include the amount of labor involved or a flat minimum. Can't find any leftover hardwood for the job? Depending on the time since the original installation it may have been discontinued (exception unfinished). The store or installer that handled the original work may have some leftover in their warehouse. Calling around to other stores that still handle the line may also be useful, but trying to get someone to listen to your needs may be another issue. Good Luck.