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When you have hardwoods, accepting that damage happens is part of the deal. But when it comes time to fix scratches or gouges, take pause.
Before you get quotes for refinishing or reach for a repair product, first clean the surface. It’s easier to determine how bad it is when the surface is clean. Dirt has a way of making small scratches look worse than they are, and a dust-free area gives you a better idea of what you’re dealing with.
I’ve had hardwoods in every home and apartment I’ve ever lived in, and scratches tend to fall into one of these categories:
- Small scratch: A light mark or worn spot that affects the finish or stain but doesn’t remove much wood. (Ex. In the entryway where dirty shoes can add scuffs, or under the legs of your everyday dining chairs.)
- Deeper scratch: A groove, nick, or gouge where the wood itself has been damaged. (Ex. When your big dog gets the zoomies, heavy furniture that slides around, or that time your kid forgot to remove their cleats.)
- Widespread damage: Lots of scratches, dull areas, worn finish, stains, or damage across a large part of the floor. (Ex. You’d find this moreso in highly trafficked areas, and especially if the floor was exposed to moisture.)
If the scratch on the floor still feels smooth and the mark is mostly a change in color, it’s probably just a minor scratch that requires some color and blending. If you can feel a groove with your fingernail, you can probably tell that some of the wood has been gouged, which requires more in terms of surface repair.
If you have small scratches, a stain marker is one of the simplest options. “Stain markers allow you to apply color directly to the affected area, helping the scratch blend with the surrounding wood without having to refinish the entire piece," agreed Brooke Carpenter, Brand Marketing Director at Minwax.
How to Use a Stain Marker
- Pick a color. Choose a color that matches the floor as closely as possible
- Test (always!). Test the marker somewhere inconspicuous first. Once it dries, you’ll be able to tell if it’s going to be a good match for your floor’s finish. Check it from multiple angles, and with varying degrees of light (natural daylight, if possible).
- Clean the floor. Clean the area you’re repairing, and let it dry.
- Perform the touchup. Apply stain marker right to the damage, let it dry. Carpenter recommends Minwax Wood Finish Stain Markers.
- Wipe the area clean. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess marker in the area surrounding the scratch. Any coloration that touches the bare wood will stick, while coloring that rubs on the finished surfaces will wipe clean.
Deeper Scratch? Do This First
“For deeper scratches, nicks or gouges, a stain marker alone typically isn't enough because the damage has removed some of the wood itself,” explains Carpenter. “In those cases, the area should first be repaired with an appropriate wood filler or putty, allowed to dry and lightly sanded smooth.”
We’d add this: Keep the repair as small as possible. You only want to add the filler only where the wood is missing. Don’t let it become a bigger project than it needs to be.
Once the filler is in place, let it dry fully before sanding until it’s level with the surrounding floor. And, be careful with sanding, okay? On a finished hardwood floor, sanding through the surrounding finish can create a larger, more visible repair than the original scratch. For a small gouge, you’re repairing one damaged spot, not stripping the floor.
Only once the floor is sanded should you touch up the color with a stain stick.
If you have several deep scratches in one area, the repair becomes more complicated. At that point, it can make sense to have a flooring professional look at the floor before you start sanding or filling multiple spots.
FAQ
Is repairing a scratch different on an oil-based vs. water-based finish?
YES. The finish influences which product you should use. Try to match it so it fades similarly over time.
Oil-based polyurethane tends to add a warmer, amber tone as it ages, while water-based finishes generally stay clearer. That difference can make a new touch-up stand out, even when the stain color itself looks right.
How do you know if your floor has an oil-based or water-based finish? Well, you can check in the basement for old product labels, or ask the flooring manufacturer if you have the info. If you live in an older home and the floors haven’t been refinished in a long time, there’s a greater chance that it’s an oil-based poly finish, or even shellac or a varnish.
In any case, always test any touch-up product in an inconspicuous area first. A repair that blends well under one finish can look noticeably different under another.
When do you know it’s time to refinish a hardwood floor?
Refinishing makes more sense when the wear is widespread rather than limited to a few scratches. If large areas have lost their finish, the floor looks consistently dull or worn, or there are many scratches and marks across several rooms, spot repairs can start to look uneven.
Refinishing also comes into play when the damage extends beyond the finish and there’s enough surface wear that multiple areas need sanding. The floor’s construction matters, too. Solid hardwood can usually be sanded and refinished several times, while engineered hardwood has a thinner wear layer and needs more care.
If you’re unsure, ask a pro before doing any major sanding yourself.
