Doing repairs, you can be spot on
OVER the last two issues of CFJ I have been offering tips on keeping wooden floors in top condition. The
third in this series articles is on spot repair.
Unlike many traditional lacquers, damaged areas on floors treated with hardwax oils can be sanded and re-treated with the same products without any visible brushmarks.
To repair a small area where a deep scratch has occurred, first cordon off the damaged area using masking tape. Then evenly sand the cordoned area. The surface should be sanded following the grain of the wood and finished with 120-150 grit sandpaper. Take care to remove all scratchmarks – don’t stop sanding too early.
Ted Ellet on caring for wood floors - part 3 (spot repairs) Ensure that the sanded area is totally dust free
before progressing. Then apply a thin coat of a hardwax oil (for example Polyx-Oil) using the microfibre
roller evenly to the surface. Leave the treated area to dry for around 8-10 hours.
When dry apply a second thin coat using oil and a lint free cloth. If there is a difference in the appearance of the surface (perhaps too dull) after the second coat has dried, a further thin coat may be applied using a lint free cloth to improve this.
Due to sanding the damaged surface area, the wood’s natural colour may again be visible; this may appear
lighter than the surrounding wood.
However, this affect is temporary and this difference will balance out over time. The beauty of hardwax oils is that when this finish is applied to the floor, it penetrates deeply into the wood to create a micro-porous finish.
This allows the wood to breathe, moisture to evaporate and ensures a flawless finish both upon application and for many years to come.
After treatment the wood is strengthened from within and retains its elasticity. It becomes water repellent, stain resistant and more hard-wearing, because it meets the wood’s naturaldemands and does not crack,
flake, peel or blister.
Once this is complete and the finish has dried, the floor will be back to its original state. This system ensures that the wood retains its natural appearance for many years to come.
CFJ Ted Ellet is sales manager at Osmo, which has created a selection of ‘how to’ videos to help flooring contractors with common issues they regularly face. Short clips cover a range of different topics.
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