Floor Repair in Dallas TX: Professional Tips All Homeowners Should Know

The spilling can of paint. Dishes falling from the top shelf. The tipping wine glass. That rogue fireplace ember.

Have you ever had one of those slow-motion moments? You can see the accident happening, but can't do anything to stop it.

Don't let that spot on your favorite flooring get you down. There are many options for floor repair in Dallas, TX.

Keep reading for tips on how to repair the flooring in your Dallas home and when it might be best for you to hire the services of a professional Dallas handyman.

Hardwood Floor Repair

Hardwood flooring brings class and elegance to any space. It has the ability to make a house feel cozy and warm as well. With so many different varieties and finishes, hardwood is an excellent flooring option for any home.

But what happens when you get scratched floors? One of the advantages of true hardwood is the ability to sand and stain it again and again. The greater the damage, the more intervention is needed.

1. Scratch & Spot Stain Repair

If you're dealing with a small ding, isolated scratch, or small water ring, you can most likely take care of it yourself.

First, make sure you have a finish or stain that matches the rest of the floor. Keep in mind you probably won't get an exact match, but you can come pretty close. You can do this by applying the new stain to a small, hidden area to test it out.

Strap on your protective eyewear and mask to avoid getting sawdust in your eyes and lungs. Next, sand the scratch or stain working with the grain. It's best to use 150 grit sandpaper and a hand-sander.

Wipe the dust away with a clean cloth. Apply the appropriate sealant to your wood floor. If your floors are newer and still pretty glossy looking, it's best to use a water-based urethane sealer.

If you are dealing with floors that have seen quite a few years of wear, an oil-based urethane solvent won't stand out as much. Oil-based sealers have slight yellow tones and give off strong fumes, so be sure to ventilate the area and wear a mask.

2. Easy Fixes

If the above process sounds like a lot of work to you, don't worry. Here are some quick tips for repairing floors.

Don't go nuts, use a walnut! Seriously, using a circular motion, glide a walnut across scratches on your wood floor. The oil from the walnut will help hide that little scratch or dent.

Don't have a walnut? It's okay. Coconut oil will work in a similar way. Simply apply a small amount to the imperfection and rub it in. Wipe away any excess and dare your friends to find that scratch.

If you're still in your kitchen searching for another solution to hide scratches, stay put. Grab baking soda and olive oil. After removing dirt from the area, place a small amount of baking soda and a few drops of olive oil on the spot.

Wait five to 10 minutes and rub the mixture with a circular motion using a sponge. Wipe with a clean rag and you should have hidden the imperfection.

3. Easier Fixes

If you don't like the idea of using things you eat to repair your floor, don’t worry. There are many products available at local hardware stores for easy DIY repair.

Wood floor patches and filler pens make repairing small scratches and dents a breeze. These items come in many finishes and styles, so you're sure to find one that matches your floor.

4. For the Not-So-Little Damage

Maybe your flooring damage is on a larger scale. Unless you're dealing with extensive water damage, it's repairable. If your floor has sustained quite a bit of water damage, it's best to contact a Dallas handyman professional to help you decide what to do.

If you have scratches or dents all over your hardwood floor, you'll need to sand the wood down to remove them. If you've never used a drum floor sander before, it's best to school up before you rent it. If a floor sander gets out of control, it could injure you and cause damage to your surroundings.

Almost all DIY floor sanders end up renting a drum sander. While at the rental shop, ask the employees about what type of sandpaper grit you'll need. This will depend on the amount of damage you need to reverse.

Read the manual, take notes, and watch a few YouTube videos before you begin. You need proper eye and ear protection, gloves, and a mask as well. If you're planning to keep all 10 digits, heavy-duty, closed-toe shoes are best.

Carefully following all directions, sand the floor until imperfections are gone. Clean up debris and dust from the area. It’s best to wait a day or two to let all the dust settle before staining or treating the wood.

Next—working with a clean and dry floor—try a small amount of stain or finish on a corner to make sure you like it. Wearing proper protection, stain or treat your floor.

Once it's all dry, you may need to sand it with small grit sandpaper and repeat the process. If you're happy with one coat of sealer, congrats! You just got yourself a pretty new hardwood floor!

5. The Easiest Fix

Of course, the easiest option for you is not doing the fix at all. If you aren't comfortable fixing those floor imperfections yourself, leave it to the pros.

Don't Crack Under Pressure

Ceramic tile flooring is tough as, well, ceramic! It's virtually indestructible and easy to keep clean. No wonder it's a popular staple in kitchens, laundry areas, bathrooms, and even living room spaces.

Tile can crack under great force or shifting of the floor underneath. Just one small crack can take away the elegance and class of a tile floor. If this happens to be your situation, here's how to repair your floors.

1. Grout Is Great

Using grout to repair tile cracks is an easy and affordable fix. With the right tools and attention to detail, you can repair that unsightly crack.

First, use a skewer or dull butter knife to lightly kick up any loose grout. Next, clean the area of any grit or grout leftover.

Following instructions carefully, mix together a small amount of grout in a bowl or cup. Apply grout to the crack using a grout float. Clean the area and you should be all set!

If you can still see small outlines of your grout work, use a microfiber cloth to clean or buff it out.

2. Get Outta Here

If a piece of tile is beyond repair, you can repair it with a little epoxy application procedure. First, have your tools ready. You'll need epoxy, a construction syringe, a drill, a carbide blade (same size as the grout joint), and some matching grout.

Carefully drill two small holes on either side of the tile. Mix the epoxy following all instructions and safety guidelines.

Next, inject the epoxy with the syringe on either side of the tile. You may want to put something in the hole on the opposite side so the epoxy fills the area under the tile before coming out the other end.

Allow the epoxy to cure overnight. Clear away any excess adhesive and clean the area. Finally, reseal using the matching grout.

3. Get the Grout Out

Many times the tile itself is in great condition, but the grout is not. If your floor has discolored or cracked grout, you can follow these steps to replace your grout and give your floor the facelift it needs.

Make sure you adhere to all safety protocols and directions before using a grout saw. First, clear existing grout with the saw using a circular motion. Avoid the tile to keep it pretty.

Thoroughly clean the area and leave a small amount of water to help with the grout application; next, apply the grout.

4. Let The Pros Make The Call

Repairing ceramic or travertine tile flooring can be a tedious process. If you're not comfortable using a grout saw, call someone who is.

Vinyl Sheet Floor Repair

Vinyl sheet flooring is affordable, durable, and (sometimes) repairable. Elements like excess heat, heavy impact, or sharp objects can cause damage to vinyl flooring.

1. Patch It Up

If the affected area is small enough, you can fix it with a patch. You will need some leftover flooring that has the same pattern on it. If you can't locate an extra piece, you can cut some out of a closet corner or out-of-sight area.

First, cut out the area you want to remove and make sure its twin piece is the same size and style. Next, prepare the area with powder filler to make it level. As always, follow all directions and safety precautions.

Using an adhesive bond, place your patch (the identical extra tile piece) in place. Wait for all materials to dry. After everything is dried up, sand any rough material with fine-grit sandpaper.

Clean the area and no one will be the wiser!

2. When To Move On

If your flooring has sustained large-scale damage, repair may cost almost as much as a replacement. If you're in the area, find someone who does floor repair in Dallas, TX.

A Dallas floor repair expert will be able to tell you if a replacement makes more sense than a repair.

Carpet Floor Repair

Carpet flooring can make or break any room in your house. The right carpet can soften a room or provide a formal vibe. Cozy carpet makes playing on the floor with your kids more enjoyable.

But what happens when the carpet gets damaged? It seems a waste to replace an entire floor because of one (or a few) small spot(s). If you remember basic cutting and taping skills from kindergarten, you can repair your carpet!

1. Easy As 1-2-3

To start, you will need a scrap of matching carpet. Next, carefully cut like a small square into the carpet around the affected area.

You should cut all the way into the carpet but steer clear of the carpet pad. Lift out the patch of damaged carpet. Use this as your template for the size of its replacement.

Attach double-sided carpet tape to the new carpet square area. Place the carpet square down and press on it.

Give it a day or so to dry before resuming normal traffic on the spot.

2. Easy As "Nope! Not me!"

If the idea of slicing a square of the carpet seems dangerous to you, don't do it. Leave it to an area professional.

Why stress about not slicing the carpet pad when they can come in and do the work for you?

Squeak, Squeak

It's not a mouse, it's your floor! Many floor creaks are due to small gaps in flooring planks.

Did you know you can fix creaky floors and stairs? You will need a buddy, so go ahead and grab someone. If you have a crawl space or similar area, try to get underneath the floor of the room. Your buddy should be in the room while you're underfoot. Next, ask your pal to walk around. When you notice a squeak, mark the site with chalk or something you'll be able to see later.

If you can see gaps in the squeaky areas, try using small wood wedges to secure the areas. This will create tension and remove any give the floor may have had.

If you can't find any visible gaps, the problem is probably between the floor and subfloor. This can be fixed by placing screws in the floor and subfloor, securing them together.

If you decide to use screws for your fix, always pre-drill holes to avoid cracking the subfloor. It's also very important that your screws are long enough to reach the floor, but not go through the floor, as the last thing you need is a screw sticking up from your flooring.