Repair Polyurethane Floors

Floors that have been finished with polyurethane are resistant to moisture and stains but as with any surface finish they can be scratched.

Repair polyurethane floors. You commonly see these on floors or tabletops with heavy use. The blend of water or petroleum bases with synthetic resins plasticizers and other film forming ingredients harden over the wood to protect the wood but when the polyurethane is scratched it breaks the protective barrier. This is how to polyurethane a spot on the floor with that refinishing the floor. If the spill has already dried onto the floor spray it with some glass cleaner before wiping with a damp cloth.

The process is straightforward. Water based urethane will dry clear while oil based formulations will impart a slight golden. Put a few drops of lacquer thinner on an inconspicuous part of the floor then feel the finish if it s sticky it s lacquer or shellac. Sand the area clean it with a solvent afterwards denatured alcohol apply polyurethane let dry.

Use solvent based polyurethane and get the same finish type gloss satin etc and apply a few thick coats. To clean spills on polyurethane coated wood floors wipe up the liquid with a damp cloth as quickly as possible. If toluol or xylene both available at paint stores soften the finish it s a water based lacquer. When the floor gets particularly dirty mop it with a solution of warm water and mild dish soap.

Alternatively use a touch up polyurethane repair kit following. Additionally once the protective finish has been broken by a scratch the wood underneath can be irreparably damaged by moisture or deepening of the scratch in the wood. While a crack in polyurethane wood flooring is unsightly it s better than a crack in the wood flooring beneath it. Had a 75 year old oak floor with some deep gouges.

However it is still important to repair the crack so the wood remains. If your floor is natural unstained wood then try a few types of floor urethane on your test patch. Apply a light coating of floor wax to shallow scratches using a soft cloth. A crack in wood flooring is a more serious fundamental problem whereas a crack in the finish is superficial.

Repeat the test with denatured alcohol and if it s still sticky it s shellac and not lacquer. Any wood surface with a polyurethane wood finish can develop scratches with normal wear and tear.