How to Fill Gaps in Prefinished Hardwood Floors

Prefinished hardwood floors are a quick way to transform your home flooring. The staining and sealing process occurs at the factory, and once installed the floors are ready for use. Whether you have new prefinished floors or have had them a while, gaps sometimes develop. While the gaps typically do not pose structural problems for the floor, they are often unsightly. Filling these gaps requires special colored fillers that completely hide the gaps and prevent dirt and sand from falling into them.

Paper towels
Water
Prefinished wood floor fillers
Putty knife
Paper plate

Instructions

- 1
  Hold two to three paper towels under running water until they are saturated. Wring them out so they don't drip and carry them to the repair location along with two to three colors of prefinished wood floor filler.
- 2
  Open the tubs of wood filler and scoop out 1 to 2 tbsp. from each one using a putty knife. Place the fillers onto a paper plate and mix them together until the color is identical, or as close as possible, to that of the floor.
- 3
  Place the lids back onto the tubs of filler to prevent them from drying out.
- 4
  Scoop up 1 to 2 tsp. of the filler from the plate and spread it onto the gaps in the prefinished floor until they are no longer visible. Once filled, run the putty knife over the top of the floor to remove the excess filler.
- 5
  Wipe the top of the repair site immediately with one of the damp paper towels to remove excess residue, which may appear shiny if allowed to dry.
- 6
  Cover the plate with another damp paper towel to prevent the mixed filler from drying out. Carry it to the next gap and repeat the process to fill it in the same manner.

How Do Sumps and Foundation Drains Work?

How to Stick Grout on Tile

Floor Repairs