When school’s out and summer’s in full swing, your hardwood floors can take a beating. Kids and pets are home more, tracking in dirt, sand, and grit from outdoor adventures. With all that foot (and paw) traffic, your beautiful hardwood floors can start to show signs of wear and tear—especially unsightly scratches. If you’ve been wondering how to fix scratches in hardwood floors or how to prevent scratches on wood floors in the first place, SVB Wood Floors is here to help with the ultimate summer survival guide for your wood floors.
Why Summer Is Hard on Hardwood Floors
The summer months bring sunshine, fun—and unfortunately, a host of threats to your hardwood flooring. Kids are in and out of the house all day long, often forgetting to take off their shoes, while pets bring in dust, grit, and even small stones in their paws. Sand from vacation trips, gravel from playgrounds, and simple backyard dirt can act like sandpaper when walked across your floors, leaving fine scratches that dull the finish over time.
It’s also harder to keep up with cleaning. With more people and pets at home during the day, floors need more frequent sweeping or vacuuming. But let’s face it—life gets busy, and sometimes the floors have to wait.
Nobody wants scratched wood floors. But the good news is that there are plenty of ways to protect your wood floors and fix any damage that might already be done.
How to Prevent Scratches on Wood Floors
You can save yourself time, effort, and money by being proactive about floor protection. Here are a few effective ways to prevent scratches on wood floors at bay:
1. Enforce a No-Shoes Policy
Shoes are one of the biggest culprits behind wood floor damage. High heels can dent soft wood, and small stones trapped in the treads of sneakers can create tiny but destructive scratches. Place a shoe rack or basket near your entrances and encourage everyone to go barefoot or wear soft, indoor-only slippers.
2. Use Area Rugs and Runners
Rugs are your hardwood floor’s best friend, especially in high-traffic zones like hallways, living rooms, and entryways. Look for rugs with non-slip backings that are safe for wood floors or use a rug pad designed to prevent damage.
3. Trim Pet Claws Regularly
Pet scratches on hardwood floors are a common complaint. Keep your dog or cat’s nails trimmed to minimize the chances of scratching. If your pet is especially energetic, consider designating specific rooms as pet-friendly zones using baby gates or closed doors.
4. Create a Pet Cleaning Station
Set up a small station near your door to wipe down your pet’s paws when they come in from outside. A quick swipe with a towel can remove grit that might otherwise scratch your floor.
5. Sweep and Vacuum Frequently
Use a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum cleaner with a hardwood-safe attachment to remove dirt and debris regularly. The more often you clean, the less chance dirt has to grind into the surface of your floors.
6. Place Felt Pads on Furniture
Chairs, tables, and even kids’ toys can scratch wood floors when dragged across them. Attach felt pads to the legs of all furniture and replace them when they wear down.
How to Fix Scratches in Wood Floors
Even with the best prevention, life happens. If you already have scratches on your wood floors, don’t worry—there are several ways to repair them. Depending on the severity of the scratch, you can use one of the following methods.
1. Try a DIY Solution
Minor surface scratches can sometimes be minimized with natural oils or a paste made from baking soda and olive oil. Rub the solution gently into the scratch with a soft cloth, then buff with a dry towel.
2. Use a Wood Floor Scratch Repair Kit
For light surface scratches, many home improvement stores carry wood floor scratch repair kits that include touch-up markers, putty, and blending tools. Be sure to match the color of your wood stain as closely as possible for the best results.
3. Buff and Recoat with SVB Wood Floors
If scratches are more widespread or if your floor looks dull overall, it may be time to consider a hardwood recoating service. At SVB Wood Floors, we offer a professional hardwood floor recoating service that can restore the beauty of your floors in just a few hours—no sanding or refinishing required.
SVB Wood Floors Hardwood Floor Recoating
Our hardwood floor recoating process is designed to remove surface scratches, grime, and dullness that build up over time. We use Bona’s professional-strength, non-toxic hardwood floor cleaner, specially formulated for clear, unwaxed finishes. This cleaner is environmentally friendly and leaves no residue.
How the Recoat Process Works:
- We start by applying a remover solution to your floor.
- Next, we use a recoat abrasive drive plate to scrub the surface—twice.
- A power scrubber follows to rinse and remove any remaining solution.
- Finally, we apply a fresh coat of finish to rejuvenate your floor.
The result? A like-new appearance without the time and mess of a full sanding and refinishing job. Hardwood floor recoating is one of the most cost-effective ways to fix scratches in wood floors and refresh your space for summer. Your floors could look brand new with no sanding or refinishing required. If you thought refinishing was your only option, hardwood floor recoating might be the answer you were looking for. One of our wood floor professionals can take a look at your floor and determine which process would yield the best results.
Deeper Damage Calls for Hardwood Floor Refinishing
If your floors are deeply scratched, gouged, or discolored, it may be time to consider refinishing. Refinishing scratched wood floors is the best way to restore them if they are badly damaged.
At SVB Wood Floors, we specialize in full hardwood floor refinishing using the BONA® Dustless Refinishing System. Whether your floors are old or just badly worn, refinishing can make them look as good as new.
What Makes Our Dustless Refinishing Better?
We use the BONA Atomic Dust Containment System (DCS), which captures and removes 99.8% of the dust created during sanding. Unlike other sanding systems that allow dust to spread through your home, the BONA system traps dust at the source and transports it directly to an external trailer. That means cleaner air, less mess, and a safer home environment.
Why Choose BONA?
- Reduces airborne dust by 99.8%
- Leaves your home cleaner during the refinishing process
- Safe for homes with children, pets, or allergies
So if you’ve been putting off refinishing scratched wood floors because of the dust and mess—wait no more. SVB Wood Floors makes the process clean and efficient with dustless refinishing.
Why Kansas City Homeowners Choose SVB Wood Floors
When you’re investing in your home’s beauty and value, you want to work with a team you can trust. SVB Wood Floors isn’t just another flooring company—we’re an established, certified team of hardwood flooring professionals with decades of experience.
National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Certified
Our hardwood floor team holds multiple NWFA certifications in:
- Hardwood Installation
- Sanding and Finishing Floors
- Sales Advising
- Environmental Awareness
- Craftsman Degrees
Even our owner, Steve Brattin, is a board member of the NWFA and serves on multiple committees, which speaks volumes about our commitment to quality and professionalism.
When you choose SVB Wood Floors, you’re choosing a team that:
- Takes pride in craftsmanship
- Is up to date on the latest flooring technology
- Offers top-tier customer service
Schedule Your Free In-Home Wood Floor Consultation
If you’re considering wood floor scratch repair, recoating, refinishing, or even new wood floor installation, the best place to start is with our free in-home consultation.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Personalized advice on flooring options
- Help choosing plank width, wood species, and stain colors
- A clear explanation of the project timeline
- Answers to all your questions—before, during, and after your project
We’ll also walk you through our dustless sanding system, our custom stain options, and our three-coat finish process, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
At SVB Wood Floors, our goal is to make sure you love your floors—whether you’re fixing scratches on your wood floor, protecting against pet damage, or upgrading to a whole new look.
Your Hardwood Floors Deserve Summer-Long Protection
Summer doesn’t have to be a disaster for your floors. With a little floor protection and some help from the professionals at SVB Wood Floors, you can enjoy the season without worrying about every scuff and scratch.
From how to fix scratches on wood floors to recoating and refinishing options, we’re Kansas City’s trusted source for hardwood floor care.
We hope you found value in these wood floor tips for scratch resistance and scratch repair. If your wood floors need more help, contact SVB Wood Floors today to schedule your free in-home consultation and discover how beautiful your wood floors can be.
We hope you’ll trust us to refinish, replace, or add new wood floors to your home. Learn more on our website or give us a call at (913) 359-4157 or (816) 448-8400. If you’re in a hurry, schedule an in-home consultation and get on the fast track to new wood floors.
