How To Fix a Splinter Floor? Comprehensive Guide
Does your floor start to splinter, and you are having a painful walking experience over it? Then, you will quickly fix it by yourself. With time, every wood floor starts to splinter and make your interior look awful. If you do not promptly resolve this issue, then the whole floor will need replacement.
In this blog by Floor Land, we will tell you how to fix splinter floors yourself without any professional help. Moreover, we will enlist the common reasons behind this and ways to protect your floor from splintering in the future. So, without any further delay, let’s start learning.
How To Fix Splinter Floors- Steps Wise Guide
There are different ways to fix the splinter floors. Here, we have compiled some of them, but they will require minimal time and effort. Have a look at them:
Tools Required To Fix the Splinter Floor
Here are some tools and equipment that you will require to fix the splinter floor. Make sure to gather them at the place to avoid any hassle.
- Old Toothbrush
- Utility Knife
- Wood Glue
- Sandpaper
- Rag
- Waxed Paper
- Heavy Object
- Water
- Dental floss
Prepare The Floor
First of all, prepare the floor. Remove all the furniture from the splinter area. Now, use dental floss or something like that to lift the splinter. Remove the dust and debris from the area and ensure that it is 100% free from dust. Also, check that the splinter itself is fully clean. If the splinter is fully removed, clean it with a damp cloth and remove the dust fragment.
Prepare The Glue
There are mainly two types of wood glue available in the market: powder glue and liquid glue. If you are using powder glue, mix the powder and water in a ratio of 3:1. Make sure that the glue mixture is not runny and will stick to the floor easily.
If you are using liquid wood glue, then make sure to shake it so that it will achieve homogeneous consistency.
Apply Glue
When the wood glue is prepared, use an old toothbrush and spread it all over the area of the splintered floor. Keep great attention to the fact that the thickness of the glue layer is not more than 0.3 inches to 0.8 inches. If you use glue more than the requirement, then it will eventually cause a mess. Keep back the splintered floor in its original position after glue application. Make sure that the splinter segment is aligned very precisely.
Let The Glue Set
After precisely restoring the splinter to its original position, you must use painter’s tape to hold it in place firmly. If the splinter is approximately more than 1 inch in size, you can use a sheet of wax paper. Lay the wax paper over the affected area and apply some pressure with a heavy object.
You can use a book, box, or anything that weighs 10 pounds. This pressure will help minimize the chances of bending or buckling during the glue sets. Additionally, it ensures that the splinter will stick firmly without peeling. Leave the glue to set for at least 12 hours.
Sanding
After 12 hours of glue setting, remove the tape or paper that you use. Now use will need finely-grained sandpaper of around 120 to 220 grit to smooth the floor. Gently scratch the floor with your hand to avoid more splintering. Use an orbital sander for a larger splinter area.
If some of the wood chunks are missing, you can use a wood filler. Fill the gap with the filler and allow it to dry completely before sanding.
Varnishing
The last step after leveling the floor with sanding is varnishing. You can use polyurethane, water-based, oil-based, or shellac varnish. The varnish layer will protect your floor from scratches and increase its durability. The minimum thickness of the varnish layer should be 0.1 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.
Reason For Splinter Floor
Here are some common reasons for the splinter floor. Understand the cause of the splinter so that it can be fixed for a longer duration.
- Moisture damage: If the floor is exposed to moisture for a longer duration, then it can cause a splinter.
- Structural issue: Sometimes, uneven stress on the floor due to structural problems can cause splinter.
- Age of floor: After 10 to 15 years of use under high-traffic conditions, the floor will splinter.
- Quality Of Wood: If you use soft and low-quality wood planks, they will splinter more easily.
- Poor Installation: One of the most common reasons for the splintered floor is poor installation. So make sure that the floor is installed by a professional.
- Excess Dryness: In the case of wooden floors, if the air is excessively dry, then it can cause the wooden plank to shrink and splinter.
How To Reduce The Chances Of A Splinter Floor?
To reduce the chances of a splinter floor, make sure to follow the points mentioned below:
Buy High-Quality Floor
Always buy floors from a well-known flooring company and ensure that they use genuine and high-quality materials to manufacture their floors.
Get Professional Installation
If you want to enjoy the floor’s functionality for a longer duration without splintering, make sure to get a professional installation.
Seal The Floor
Use a high-quality sealant to protect your floor from moisture damage, which is the main reason for the splintered floor. You can use any varnish or epoxy in this regard.
Final Words
So that was all about how to fix a splinter floor with the easiest and quickest method. To fix this problem for a longer duration, analyze the cause behind the splinter. Moreover, always buy high-quality floors and get professional installation to reduce the chances of splintering. If you have any questions regarding this problem, feel free to ask in the comment section.
