How to restore and re-lacquer timber flooring?

Question

Hi, I am new to owning a home. I noticed that the surface of the timber floor is quite damaged with scuff marks. I want to restore/re-lacquer the sections. Also, one of the timber plank is loose. What do I need to get from Bunnings to do this project? How do I get started? Can I just fix this section or do I need to do the entire floor?

EricL · Answer

Hello @chimchimfan87

Thanks for sharing your question about restoring your timber floor. If you are after a temporary repair and thinking of just sealing the damaged area with a sealer or stained varnish the quick answer is yes, it is possible. However, matching the same stain colour of your floor is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible as it has faded and has been exposed to the sun and therefore no longer its original colour.

The only way to do it would be through trial and error and even then, that new patch will stand out as it's totally brand new and will not have the same textured finish as the surrounding floor area. If you are not ready for a full floor rejuvenation, then a patch repair will be perfectly alright. Your goal for that repair is to protect the timber panel from exposure to moisture and daily wear and tear.

The general steps would be to sand the chipped and damaged area and clean the surface with a damp cloth to remove all the sanding dust. Once the floor is totally dry you can then apply the sealer.

But once you have enough resources for a total revamp, then you can sand and re-seal the entire floor properly.

Here are some handy step-by-step guides:

* How To Sand Timber Floors

* How To Seal A Timber Floor.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric