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How To Fix A Splinter In A Hardwood Floor

22 July 2017 by Janet Robinson

A splinter in your hardwood floor can be disastrous for people who like to go barefooted, so fix them immediately when you notice them. Older floors are especially prone to them, because of all the use, and new floors get damaged from dropped objects.  

The splinters that form on hardwood floors are commonly sharp, and they seldom break off the wood. A beginning DIY person should be able to remove the splinter by following these tips.

Gather Materials to Fix the Splinter

To fix the splinter, you need:

• disposable work gloves
• knee pads
• damp rag
• bucket
• utility knife
• old toothbrush
• toothpick or cotton ball
• crayon
• salad oil
• wax paper or painter's tape
• fine-grit sandpaper
• fine steel wool pad
• vacuum
• glue

Find all the splinters. Don't attempt to pull the splinter with bare hands, as this may cause the boards to loosen. If you could break off a splinter, it leaves a cleft. Some splinters may be partially removed from the floor, while others have broken.

Clean the Splinter

Place knee pads under your knees to prevent soreness from bending. Insert the tip of the utility knife under the part of the grain that has split, and lift it slightly. If the splinter has completely detached from the wood, remove it by hand. 

Make  a solution from several drops of vinegar in a gallon of water. Dip the old toothbrush in the mixture, then clean debris in the area, then wipe the crevice with a damp rag. 

Add Glue

Dab a medium coating of wood glue on the under side of the splinter with a tooth pick ensuring you get the space. Soak extra glue with a rag, but don't use too much water, which keeps the glue from bonding. If you can't raise the splinter to squirt glue from the bottle, rub it on with a cotton swab or toothpick. 

Lay a piece of painter's tape  over the splinter, and keep it pressed for several seconds with you fingers, so the glue sets. Apply wax paper instead of painter's tape to larger splinters.

Place a heavy object on the splinter, such as a brick to prevent buckling. Allow the glue to dry overnight or several hours, then sand lightly. If the repair leaves a small hole in the floor, apply some wood putty to patch it, and let it cure before you sand. 

To protect the finish, insert felt pads under heavy furniture, and lay mats in area you work with sharp objects. Older floors may not repsond well to refinishing, so you may want to contact a floor service for replacement. Contact a flooring expert, like J  Brothers Flooring, for more help.

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