How to Remove Scratches on Engineered Wood Floors

If an engineered wood floor is scratched, it can be repaired as long as the damage is not too deep. In this blog, we’ll look at a range of issues you should stay aware of, and how you can deal with them.

Minor scratches

If the scratches are not deep, repairing the floor is not difficult. Gently sand the scratches with fine sandpaper, between 180 and 220 grit. Use a wood stain or touch-up pen that is the same colour as the wood. Cover the sanded area with the stain, wipe off any excess stain and allow to dry completely before walking on the floor.

Always sand with the grain, not across it.

Dents

Dents are caused by compression on the wood, often from high heels. Apply a few drops of water to the dent and then cover it with a clean, dry cotton cloth. Warm the area beneath the cloth using an iron, and this should flatten the dent to minimise or remove it.

Moderate or deep scratches

The best way to repair moderate to deep scratches is to use wood filler or wax to fill the scratches. Clean the floor first then mix the filler with wood stain that matches the colour of the floor. Fill the cracks but make sure the filler is level with the floor. Wipe off any excess with a lint free cloth.

If the scratches are deep, the area may need to be sanded with fine sandpaper and a new finish coat applied.

If the damage is extensive, you may need professional help. If there are cracks in the wood that expose the layers below the top wood veneer, a professional refinishing team can fix them.

When you purchase engineered wood, buy a few extra planks which can be used to replace any severely damaged sections of the floor.

Preventing scratches

There are steps you can take to prevent scratches. Grit and other sharp particles can cause minor scratches. Sweep the floor regularly with a soft brush to remove them, or use a vacuum suitable for hard floor surfaces.

Put felt pads on the legs of heavy furniture to prevent damage.

Buy good quality engineered wood from a Chester or North Wals flooring retailer. Make sure that it has been treated with a top coating that is scratch-resistant. This should last for many years in most households.

Engineered wood flooring – worth the extra?

Though engineered wood flooring is less expensive than solid hardwood flooring, it costs more than luxury vinyl tiles, laminate, and other hard surface materials. Lurii Kozak of Kozak Renovations, in an interview with House Digest, said that the extra cost is "worth every penny" and goes through the many benefits of engineered wood.

Engineered wood is made from layers of plywood with a top veneer layer of solid wood. It looks the same as hardwood flooring but, unlike solid wood, it is unaffected by humidity and temperature changes. This makes engineered wood suitable for basements and other highly humid rooms.

Engineered wood flooring is suitable for use with underfloor heating systems. If the existing hard surface flooring is being replaced with engineered wood, this is a good time to also fit underfloor heating.

Its durability also means it will last around thirty years, which is longer that most alternative flooring materials with the exception of hardwood. Good quality engineered wood flooring can last even longer with refinishing when it is sanded and coated with a protective solution. Due to the thin thickness of the top veneer layer, there is a limit to the number of times engineered wood can be refinished.

Available in a variety of wood shades, from light oak to dark burnt graphite oak, consult with a supplier of engineered wood flooring in the area to discuss the best engineered flooring options for your Wrexham home or business premises.

Why one carpet colour is no longer fashionable

According to carpet experts, grey is the one carpet colour that has fallen out of fashion. Once a favourite with those wanting a modern, stylish, minimalist look, grey is being replaced by nature-inspired designs.

Designer Clare Jenkinson, carpet marketing manager Becky Cash, design manager Jodie Hatton and carpet marketing director David Cormack unanimously agree that there is no longer a high demand for grey carpets. Plain light and dark grey carpets used to be popular for a modern look, but many now find this style to be dull and monotonous.

Grey is a neutral colour that goes with many decor styles, but consumers now prefer beige and cream for rooms with neutral shades. Textured neutral colour carpets add depth and character to a room. Bold colour cushions and curtains add a splash of colour to liven up the room. Adding a brightly coloured rug also provides a dramatic touch.

Grey goes well with a minimalist style, but there is a trend to a warmer aesthetic inspired by nature. David Cormack explains:

"There is a natural move away from cooler, steely tones, reflecting a growing preference for cosy, nature-inspired interiors that feel both stylish and timeless."

Grey carpets are still available from a local carpet retailer in the Chester and North Wales region, as many households still like this shade, particularly darker smoky greys that add drama and warmth.

For those who want any colour except grey, there are plenty of carpet colours and styles to choose from.

Captured carbon now being used to manufacture carpets

Flooring solutions company Interface has started manufacturing carpets that contain captured carbon.

Carbon capture systems are used to prevent carbon emissions from industrial processes from being released into the atmosphere. High carbon levels in the air are often linked to climate change.

From April 2nd, 2025, captured carbon has been used in carpets made in Interface's USA and Europe manufacturing plants. Luca Achill, the global innovation & sustainability projects director at Interface, said:

“Carbon is not only the problem – we also see it as the solution to making progress on our climate commitments. We need less carbon in the air and more stored in our products."

Interface says that storing carbon in its carpets does not compromise its design and performance standards.

This carbon storing process is part of Interface's goal to be a carbon negative company by the year 2040. They have already reduced the carbon footprint of their carpet tiles by 84%.

Interface has stopped investing in carbon offset projects. Instead, it now concentrates on direct carbon reduction in all aspects of the business, including decreasing carbon emissions in the supply chain and the raw materials used in carpets.

Interface is one of many flooring material manufacturers that are reducing their impact on the environment by creating more sustainable products. Manufacturers are including more recycled materials in flooring or making it easier to recycle floor coverings after they are worn or damaged.

For help in finding environmentally friendly flooring options, talk to a local flooring retailer in Chester or North Wales.

Old traditional Kashmir carpet designs becoming digitised in India

To safeguard the cultural heritage of traditional woven carpets, the Handicrafts and Handloom Department in Kashmir, India is creating digital copies of around 1,000 traditional carpet designs.

Kashmir carpets woven by skilled craftspeople have unique patterns, knots and dimensions. Designs are recorded manually on talim paper in the form of coded instructions that provide colour, knot counts and other information required to re-create traditional carpet patterns. However, over time, the talim paper documents are known to deteriorate. The solution to preserve them is to convert the designs to digital form. So far, the Indian project has digitised 500 carpet designs out of an estimated 1,000. The designs are available to view at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT).

The Director of the ICCT, Zubair Ahmad, says that these preserved traditional designs can be printed out and used as inspiration for modern carpet designs. He suggests that motifs, colours, size and patterns can be modified to create new unique modern designs.

Every year, carpet manufacturers launch new carpet styles and patterns. Carpet designers often take older patterns and update them for modern design tastes. This is why it is important that records are kept on traditional carpet designs.

Hand woven Kashmir carpets are colourful and typically feature vibrant patterns inspired by natural flower and plant shapes. However, purchasing these carpets for North Wales home or offices is very expensive. A more affordable alternative is to find a carpet or rug whose design is based on traditional carpets.