Hardwood refinishing
Screen and recoat for tired finish, full sanding for scratches and wear, and stain changes tested on your own floor before we commit.
Service
Hardwood floor repair in Toronto
Targeted repairs for damaged, squeaky or patched hardwood, with new boards woven in and colour matched so the fix does not show.
Not every damaged floor needs to come up. Most of the time the problem is in a few square feet: a leak under the dishwasher, a spot where the dog always waited, a strip of bare subfloor where a wall used to be. Repair is about fixing that spot well enough that you stop noticing it.
What we repair
Damaged boards. Deep gouges, split boards and burns are cut out and replaced with matching wood.
Water damage. A slow leak can cup or blacken boards around a sink, fridge, radiator or patio door. We find out whether the wood is still wet before touching anything, then replace or flatten what can be saved.
Pet stains. Urine soaks into the wood fibres and turns it dark grey or black. Sanding rarely removes it, so stained boards are usually replaced.
Squeaks. Boards rubbing against nails or a loose subfloor. We secure them from below where there is access, or from above with small fasteners that are filled and coloured.
Gaps. Some winter gapping is normal as furnace heat dries the air. Gaps that stay open in summer, or that keep getting wider, point to an installation or moisture issue we can look into. Our guide on why hardwood floors gap in winter explains the difference.
Buckling and cupping. Boards lifting off the subfloor or curling at the edges mean too much moisture or too little room to expand. We fix the cause first, then the floor.
Scratches. Surface scratches in the finish can often be dealt with by a recoat. Scratches into the wood may need a local sand and finish, or a full hardwood refinishing.
Lacing in where a wall came out
Open-concept renovations leave a stripe of plywood where the wall was, often with boards running in different directions on each side. A single filler strip always shows. Lacing means cutting back the ends of the existing boards in a staggered pattern and weaving new boards in, so the floor reads as one continuous surface. It is careful, slow work, and the part people notice most when it is done well.
Getting the colour right
New wood is paler than wood that has aged for years under a finish. We sand the repair area, test stain on the new boards and compare in daylight and lamp light. If a perfect blend is not possible on part of a room, we will tell you before we start and suggest refinishing the room so the whole floor shares one colour.
Why repairs fail, and how we avoid it
Repairs fail when the cause is still there. A leak that keeps going, humidity that keeps swinging, a subfloor that keeps moving. We record moisture readings on the job sheet, and if another trade is needed (a plumber for a leak, for example) we say so plainly. Your quote is itemized, and if opening up the floor reveals more damage than anyone could see, we stop and send photos before going further.
Damage on the stairs too? Our staircase work covers treads and nosing. For a repair quote, book a visit.
Photo placeholder: Close view of a repaired hardwood floor where new oak boards have been laced into old ones
How a floor repair job runs
Find the cause, not just the damage
A cupped board, a black stain or a squeak is a symptom. We look for the leak, the humidity problem or the loose subfloor behind it, so the repair lasts.
Source matching boards
We identify the species, width and thickness, and look for matching stock. Salvaged boards from a closet or under a fixture are sometimes the closest match.
Cut out and lace in
Damaged boards are cut out and new ones are woven in at staggered joints, so there is no straight line where old meets new.
Blend the colour
We sand the repair area and test stain on the new wood until it sits with the old floor in your light, then finish to the same sheen.
Check it with you
We look at the repair from the angles you see it from every day, and anything that still catches the eye goes on the punch list.
What affects the price
Every quote is written and itemized, so you can see where each dollar goes. These are the things that move the number.
How much wood needs replacing
A few boards in the middle of a room is a different job from a run along a whole wall.
Availability of matching boards
Common oak widths are easy to find. Older or unusual sizes may need milling or salvage.
Cause of the damage
If a leak or moisture source is still active, it has to be fixed by the right trade before we repair the floor.
Colour blending
Matching an aged, ambered finish takes more sampling than matching a new floor.
Repair alone or with refinishing
Sometimes the cleanest result is to repair the boards and then refinish the whole room so everything shares one finish.
Frequently asked questions
How much do hardwood floor repairs cost?
It depends on how many boards are involved, whether matching wood is available and how much colour blending is needed. We do not have reliable public Toronto ranges for repairs, so we quote after seeing the floor. The written quote lists each part of the repair separately.
Can you replace just a few damaged hardwood boards?
Yes. Damaged boards are cut out and new ones are laced in with staggered joints. On a solid hardwood floor the repair can then be sanded and finished to blend.
Can water-damaged hardwood be saved?
Mild cupping sometimes settles once the wood dries out and the source is fixed. Boards that are black, soft, split or badly buckled usually need replacing. We take moisture readings before we decide, because repairing a floor that is still wet only repeats the problem.
How do you fix squeaky hardwood floors?
Most squeaks come from boards or subfloor moving against fasteners. Depending on access, we secure the floor from below or fasten it from above with small, filled fasteners.
Can you patch the floor where a wall was removed?
Yes. When a wall comes out it leaves a strip of subfloor with no hardwood. We lace new boards into the floors on either side so the boards run through, rather than filling the gap with a single strip.
Related services
Staircases
Refinished, capped or rebuilt stairs that match the floors at the top and bottom, priced per step so you can see the total before we start.
Hardwood installation
Solid oak, maple and walnut nailed down over a sound wood subfloor, with moisture readings on record and start and finish dates written on your quote.
Read before you book
Get a floor repair quote
We reply within one business day [CONFIRM] to book a free in-home measure. Your quote is written and itemized: materials, labour, prep, removal and disposal, so there are no surprises later.
- No obligation and no pressure
- Photos help: you can send them after we reply
- We never share your details
Get a written, itemized quote
Tell us about your floors. We will book a visit, measure, and send a quote that lists every cost up front.