wooden floors scratches and scuffs

[ladytmwright]

Hi, I am Lady T and I am new to the forum and also relatively new to the internet!! (Still at the learning stage!) I have a period property and have stained wooden floors. I am looking for advice on the best way to get rid of scuff and scratch marks which seem to have been caused by my husband's rubber soled slippers!! :evil: Any tips would be very much appreciated!

 

[LadyArowana]

Hello and welcome, to give the best advice I think we need to know whether there is an existing finish in the floor like a varnish, beeswax polish or whether it's just plain wood. Of course pictures are always helpful :wink:

 

[worms]

Of course pictures are always helpful :wink:

...preferrably of the floor, not the slippers or the offending husband!

 

[Penners]

This forum is rapidly becoming the "in" meeting place for the female aristocracy.

Hats off, gentlemen, and stand up for Their Ladyships.

Welcome Lady T. I agree with Lady A. that we really need to know what the floor is currently finished with.

 

[ladytmwright]

Hi all, and thanks for the welcome!
ok, the floor is pine, and it is stained. Mopping does not remove the scuff marks, any help appreciated. Here's a pic - with an example of the scuffing ringed - although the scuffs are certainly a lot worse in other areas of the floor.

 

[Penners]

Hmmm - we now know what it looks like but not what it's finished with. However, that doesn't look like a simple wax finish to me, so I assume it's a varnish or lacquer.

That being the case, Your Ladyship, I'm afraid the solution to your scuffs and scratches is not going to be terribly easy. For what they're worth, here are my thoughts.

You might get away with filling the "wounds" with a coloured wax - something like this: http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/300798213987?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0 However, if this is a high-traffic area of the floor I don't know how long those repairs might last - you might find yourself having to re-do them in a year or two's time.

You could try touching up the wounds with a varnish or lacquer the same colour as that already used. But it's difficult to get a good "blend" of the repair blobs with the rest of the finish, so you could end up with something that is no more aesthetically satisfactory than what you have now. And it would be irreversible.

Instead of using varnish or lacquer, you could stain the wounds with a simple wood dye, to match the rest of the floor. This would not fill the dings and dents but it would reduce their visibility. Remember that, when I say "wood dye" I'm talking about a simple colouring agent that will sink into the wood, and not a finish. Something like (choose a matching colour, of course): http://www.toolstop.co.uk/index.php?option=shop&page=shop.product_details&product_id=34901&l=uk&utm_source=google&utm_medium=base

Finally, if you feel like taking the radical approach (lots of work and mess!) you could strip off that man-made finish and refinish the floor with a wax. It's a lot of work in the short term, but in the long term it makes the floor a great deal easier to repair or refinish.

 

[DJH]

Cold tea, no milk, no sugar, and then polish with a duster. The tannin in the tea will kill any greasy marks and colour the wood, not that I think you need this in your case your ladyship or you could try 50/50 turps and linseed oil. To fill any scratches try rubbing a Brazil or walnut, shelled and cut of course (!)

Toothpaste on a damp cloth will get rid of black scuffs.....

Hubble bubble and all that........

Doug

 

[Penners]

My only reservation about your suggestion, Doug, is the cold tea. I don't think it would stain the scuffs a dark enough colour, and in my experience it's a dye that fades fairly quickly.

However, if Her Ladyship wishes to give it a try it shouldn't affect any further treatments, should she want to put something else on top.

 

[DJH]

Yes, you're right Penners. Cold tea is really for use on lighter coloured wood and maybe not for such a dark finish as she has, on her floor I mean although I did say it might not be any good for her in this case but the tea will help clean it up a bit perhaps?

As I said on another topic I just love old fashioned things....... the ladies on here included... :lol:

Doug

 

[Penners]

I just love old fashioned things....... the ladies on here included...

I hope you've got your tin hat on, Doug!

 

[LadyArowana]

As I said on another topic I just love old fashioned things....... the ladies on here included... :lol:

Doug

:evil: good thing for you that it's a long way to Tipperary and that I like donkeys or we might be looking at a variation on the Godfather moment :lol:

 

[DJH]

Ha ha. Nice one your ladyship. I don't know what came over me ........ :?

Doug

 

[jocelyn plummer]

My only reservation about your suggestion, Doug, is the cold tea. I don't think it would stain the scuffs a dark enough colour, and in my experience it's a dye that fades fairly quickly.

To say nothing of the use of a kit kat or two

Welcome ladytmwright ! Beautiful floor boards,and to be honest I found it quite hard to see the scuff marks. Good luck anyway with removing them.

 

[ladytmwright]

Well hello again everybody! Thanks ever so much to all those who replied to my query about my stained floors. Some good and interesting things to look at there and looking forward to trying them out this weekend!! Will let you know how I get on!! Thanks again

 

[plasticpigeon]

I think your floor looks great and the scuffs only small. I think people on this forum are used to living with far worse scars in their properties in the name of conservation!

Here is my two penny's worth. Are the scuffs in the finish (ie the top coat) or is there actually a colour change where the wood underneath can be seen? I will guess that if from rubber slippers then the scuffs will look like lines or small areas of a more matt finish to the rest for the floor but with no obvious colour change. This is the kind of scuffing that appears from trainers on a badminton court for example. Your floor is quite shiny. If it is cellulose, acrylic or even polyurethane gloss over stain then it might be possible to even out the scuffs or get rid of then all together with cutting past such as T cut or Farecla or the like. Even the old fashioned brasso paste would work I think. These products are usually used for polishing out scratches on car bodywork, but work well on other painted or varnished surfaces. They are available at car accessory shops. I use this type of product to polish guitars after they have been spray painted. I wouldn't use this type of product on a waxed floor though (waxed floors mark more easily so I don't think yours is waxed).

 

[Penners]

Will let you know how I get on

Yes, please do, Milady. It's always useful to know which solutions work and which don't. I trust you will achieve the former.

 

[ladytmwright]

Hi there PP, so good of you to send me your thoughts and yes, the marks are just the top surface of the finish with no colour change, just matt scuffs in places and the odd scratches etc. Thanks for the compliment, and the floor tends to look shiny when I have cleaned with a good soapy woodwash with orange oil or the like. I unfortunately used all of the tin up of woodstain when we finished the floor and by the time we got around to buying some more as a back-up that particular col had been discontinued (how many times does that happen?! groan!!) Goin off memory it was B & Q's own interior woodstain in teak and it needed no further treatment, i.e finish, after the second coat. Your advice sounds v good and looking forward to trying it out! For what it's worth, i get what you are saying about it not looking too bad and conservation etc, but it's quite a narrow hall and the floor is one of it's best features, so I wanna look after it the best I can! Am currently looking for a traditional runner, as at least that way some of it will be protected! In fact, I shall make that my next computer task, to look for one on e-bay! I am having fun surprising my 14yr old that I am not a complete techno-phobe (and also having fun surprising myself!!! ) Thanks again and I will let you know how I get on

 

[Penners]

Am currently looking for a traditional runner

This one's fairly traditional - will he do?

 

[ladytmwright]

Ha ha, Penners, I like your style! Definitely wouldn't mind him on my floor! What?! To fix my scuffs and scratches of course! Honestly?!

 

[vicky whitworth]

Roger Oates do good runners. I believe that some are made here http://www.coldharbourmill.org.uk
Woven on the old looms, amidst the general decline and wonderful atmosphere of the spinning rooms.
Good place to visit too although the cafe sadly is also in decline. I just don't think they get enough trade.