Q: Do you sell stain or touch-up products to repair floor scratches or gouges?
A: While we don't sell color stain for our floors, we do have some helpful suggestions for minimizing and repairing surface damage on bamboo and hardwood flooring.
Why We Don't Offer Color Stains
We don't offer color stains because they are unstable outside of a controlled factory environment and may change hue over time. Also, since bamboo and wood are natural products, shade variations between lots are common, making exact matches difficult.
Repairing Surface Scratches (White Scuff Marks)
Micro-scratches are common, especially on darker floors. These are usually just in the surface finish and can fade over time with normal foot traffic. You can use the products below to reduce their visibility:
Some customers have also used the meat of a walnut to rub out micro-scratches with success.
Repairing Deeper Gouges and Penetrated Finish
If the damage has gone through the finish and stain layer, start by using a floor marker to reduce visible discoloration. Then, consider filling the gouge with one of the following products:
Flexible fillers are best for high-traffic areas since they can expand and contract with the floor. Hard fillers may crack over time if exposed to foot traffic.
Touching Up Worn or Dull Finish
To restore worn areas or reduce sheen differences:
- Buff lightly using 80, 120, or 150 grit screens
- Apply a matte oil-based polyurethane finish
- Optional: Use Basic Coatings StreetShoe (popular with pro installers)
For best results, apply to a full room rather than spot-treating individual boards. Always test your method on a sacrificial plank or hidden area first.
Important Note: These are general suggestions. Since every floor and repair method is different, we strongly recommend testing your approach on a hidden area before making visible repairs.