Fixing Hardwood Floor Scratches

Q: How can I fix dog scratches on our hardwood floor? We moved into our new home less than two year ago and I can’t believe how many dog-induced scratches have appeared on our prefinished floors since then. Is there anything we can use to hide the marks?

A: Prefinished hardwood flooring usually has extremely tough wear characteristics -- much more durable than wood with site-applied finishes. That said, dog traffic can be very tough on a floor, especially when the dog is large and amply-clawed. Before you try any fix-ups, contact your builder. Prefinished hardwood usually comes with some kind of warranty. It certainly won't get you a new floor, but there might be some technical or financial help available repairing up what you have. One of the drawbacks of film-forming wood floor finishes like yours is that they're difficult to repair. The only thing I can suggest is to rub some tinted polymerized tung oil or stain onto the scratched areas. Let it soak in to the marks for a few minutes, then wipe all you can off with a clean rag. Keep traffic off the floor for 24 to 36 hours. Oil will make the scratches less visible, though they won't disappear completely.