How to Repair a Buckled Hardwood Floor Transition

Metal Transition Strips

• 1

  Remove the transition strip with a screwdriver. Most transition strips will have three screws, one on each end and one in the middle. Turn the screws counter-clockwise to release them. Put the hardware aside so you don't lose the screws.

• 2

  Reshape the metal back into place. Metal transition strips tend to be very flimsy, so you can often bend the metal back into the proper shape with your hands. You can also leave a heavy object, such as a book, on top of the strip for a few days to encourage stubborn kinks to work out. Pliers can also be used to help reshape the strip. Hold one end in your hand, the other in the pliers and bend until the strip is straight.

• 3

  Replace the strip. Put the transition strip back into place and attach it to the floor with a screwdriver.

Wood Transition Strips

• 4

  Remove the transition strip as indicated in Section 1.

• 5

  Plane the buckled portion of the wood out. Use a hand planer and run it across the surface once or twice. Use a level to determine if the buckled wood is now straight. If not, continue planing until you achieve a level reading.

• 6

  Refinish the strip before replacing it. Sand the strip smooth with fine grit sandpaper. Stain it to match the rest of the wood. Apply the stain with a paintbrush, going with the grain of the wood. Wait for four to six hours, or until the wood stain no longer feels tacky to the touch, then apply a coat of polyurethane over the stain, with a paintbrush, to protect it. Replace the strip once the polyurethane is dry, which usually takes around six hours.