Blog · Stains & Finishes
How to Fix Hardwood Floor Scratches
Here is a great video on how to fix a hardwood floor scratch. https://youtu.be/CTTTm4zT9uM
By David Brannan · Published March 30, 2020 · Updated August 2, 2026 · 3 min read
- 10,000 jobs completed in Georgia
- 25 Years of Experience
- Insured & Family Owned
Here is a great video on how to fix a hardwood floor scratch.
Screen-and-Recoat vs. a Full Refinish for Scratches
A simple water-drop test is a good starting point for scratches: place a few drops of water on the scratched area and wait ten minutes. If it beads up, the finish layer is still intact and a screen-and-recoat will usually blend the scratches right out in a single day. If the water soaks in and darkens the wood, the scratch has gone through the finish into bare wood, and you are looking at a full sand-and-refinish.
Light surface scratches from shoes or shifting furniture are typically finish-deep and the easiest fix. Deeper gouges, pet-claw damage in high-traffic paths, or scratches with water staining underneath usually mean the finish has worn through in that spot and needs to be sanded back to bare wood so the new topcoat bonds evenly.
Trying to screen-and-recoat a floor that has already worn through in the traffic paths is one of the most common DIY mistakes we get called to fix — the new topcoat will not bond evenly over bare wood next to old finish, and it peels within a year. We will always tell you honestly which repair your floor actually needs.
Want to See These Finishes on Your Own Floor?
We bring real stain and finish samples to every free estimate, so you can see the look before committing to it.
When Scratches Need More Than a Recoat
Minor scratches and gouges can often be handled with wood filler and a touch-up stain matched to your floor, without refinishing the whole room. If damage is widespread across a room rather than isolated to a few spots, though, a full refinish becomes the more practical option, since spot-repairs start to look patchy once there are more than a handful of them.
Deep gouges from moving furniture without felt pads, or scratch patterns concentrated in high-traffic paths and doorways, are usually a sign the finish itself has worn thin in that area, not just an isolated accident. That is worth mentioning at your estimate, since it changes whether a recoat will actually hold.
Financing is available up to $100,000, with interest-free options starting from $30 a month, subject to approval, whether the fix turns out to be a quick recoat or a full sand-and-refinish.
Every Estimate Starts With an Honest Look
We assess scratches, gouges, and general wear in person before recommending a fix, using the same water-drop test we use on any worn floor: a few drops on the damaged area, wait ten minutes, and see whether it beads up or soaks in. That quick check, combined with 25 years and 10,000 jobs completed in Georgia of experience, is usually enough to tell a simple recoat from a full refinish without guesswork.
Whichever repair your floor needs, financing is available up to $100,000, with interest-free options starting from $30 a month, subject to approval.
Backed by Real Reviews From Homeowners
None of this is guesswork on our end. The Hardwood Guys have 10,000 jobs completed in Georgia, and reviews are written by real customers. That track record is exactly why we can look at a floor in person and tell you honestly what it needs, rather than guessing from a phone call or a photo.
Every project starts with a free, on-site estimate — no obligation, and a written number before anything begins. Call 470-826-3581 or request an estimate below to get started.
Felt pads under furniture legs and a proper entry mat prevent the vast majority of the scratches we get called out for, which makes them one of the cheapest forms of floor insurance a homeowner can buy.
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