The key to any good stain job is the right sanding job, and the repair is no different. In order for the repair to blend in, the new boards need to be sanded, scraped and hand sanded ending with the same abrasive grit as the rest of the floor.With the right techniques,the boards can be blended in so that no one will ever know it was a repair. Necessary materials- stain, new abrasives, rags. Necessary tools- edger, hand-scraper.
Step one- The floor needs to be sanded down to the level of the rest of the floor. First the edger is used, feathering out substantially into the surrounding boards. Typically 80 or 100 grit is used Knowing your edger set-up is crucial to doing this well.
Step two- A sharp hand scraper is most important part of a good stain repair. It should be sharp-ended so that instead of flat blade, the edges are contoured. This keeps the tips from cutting in and gives you the ability to tilt the scraper to adjust how wide you want to cut. You will use this along with changes in blade angle and scrapers pitch to the floor to cut precisely where and how you need to.
Step three- In order for the stain or finish to blend in to the rest of the floor, it is helpful to "chase the grain." Scrape into surrounding boards, following the pattern of the grain and skipping about every other grain pattern. Start in the middle and work your way out.
Step four- Scraping the floor closes the grain. If left like that, the stain would not take as well and would appear lighter in the repair. To avoid this and open up the grain, abrading the floor continues. Use the same abrasive grit that was last used with big machine----usually 80 or 100. Edger paper works well for this. With this abrasive, stay within damaged area.
Step five- Just as you should on any sanding job, remember to clean diligently between each sending. If you don't the debris left will create more scratches in the floor. The next abrasive used for this floor is a maroon pad with abrasive strips. Typically grits 180 or 240 are used in this steps. At this point don't be afraid to overlap generously into surrounding boards.
Step six- The floor is again hand sanded (only in one direction) with this step go even further into the rest of the floor.
Step seven- Apply the stain and wipe it off just as you would with any other stain job. Of course it will apper darker then the rest of the floor while wet. After drying briefly the customer would never be able to pick out which ones you repaired.
