aarrrgghh!! Heel divets in my hardwood floor!!

[minniecarousel]

Somebody was wearing high heels yesterday & got divets in my hardwood floors! Can even refinishing get rid of noticeable dug-in marks? I'm beginning to think that when we finally move out of this house, we'll have to offer a "floor allowance" to have the hardwood replaced.

(I'm pretty sure it was my SIL's high heels that did it. They're going to have a laminate floor put in at their house - does anyone know if laminates resist this kind of mark? If not, she's going to have divets in her own floor before long.)

 

[Charade]

How many are there? Some dents in wood can be easily removed and repaired without redoing the whole floor.

 

[minniecarousel]

There are many all over the floor. We have hardwood in our entryway, hallways, kitchen, living room, dining room and one bathroom. There are definite dings at the base of the stairs that were made probably by my nephews running their hot-wheel-type cars down the bannister.
So, would we have to remove the individual planks and repair them? Most of the flooring in the entryway, living room and dining rooms have large area rugs, so have been protected. The kitchen floor is starting to look pretty dinged up (not just from the heels, but also from dropping stuff on the floor.)

 

[damo]

What kind of hardwood is it? Oak?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Carpet is my specialty, not hardwood. Refinishing might be a solution, depending on how deep the divets are. I'm thinking that if they aren't very deep refinishing could help, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll have to ask my co-workers tomorrow and see what they think.

Removing and replacing individual planks is NOT easy. If you do that, you might be better off replacing the entire floor. That way you won't have to worry about trying to match the width, thickness, and grain of the planks.

Laminate is pretty tough against impacts compared with hardwood, but it's not indestructable. Your SIL may have less trouble with the laminate, but under the right conditions -- a very pointed heel vs. a broader base -- it may damage laminate flooring.

 

[Panthra529]

I have a similar situation. DH, 3 kids, 3 DOGS and I just moved into a beautiful new home one month ago. There is or rather was a beautiful hardwood floor on the main floor. The dogs have trashed it in a months time. I have heard that there is a way to refinish the floors with what is called a "street shoe" finish which is supposed to resist most anything. So I am looking for suggestions too!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Laminate flooring is usually much less dentable, as a matter of fact there is a "high Heel" test that many manufacturers show off at various flooring shows to prove that laminates are impervious to heels. Think of your laminate kitchen counter tops. THats what laminate flooring is.

Really, I wouldn't worry about offering any allowance when you go to sell. If the buyers want to offer less and use the floor as the reason, and it seems to be a good offer, thats when you decide. The problem with many "hardwood" floors is that they are not hard, wood scratches, dents, etc. Unless you have ebony, you are bound to have a few dings, scratches etc.

 

[KristaTX]

Oh, come on!!! They aren't divets. She was just adding "character" to the house .

 

[MoniqueU]

You are taking it much better then I would.

 

[Nancy]

That's why no one wears shoes in my house...they come off at the door.

 

[mum4jenn]

Oh, come on!!! They aren't divets. She was just adding "character" to the house .

That is EXACTLY what I was going to say!!!

 

[Pugdog007]

My hardwood floors are indestructible. I have 5 dogs running on it all the time and I haven't noticed one nik or dent. We've been here 2 years. So there are some types that can withstand abuse.

I think dents can be fixed without pulling up planks though. Contact a floor specialist.