If your wood floors have been in your home for several years, you might be noticing wear and tear from traffic, children, water exposure and more. Scratches, gouges and gaps between the boards in your wood floors can be frustrating for homeowners. If your wood flooring has sustained too much damage to cover with an area rug, it may be time to undertake a repair job.

Repairing wood floors can be difficult and costly. There are ways, however, to mitigate the expense, such as using reclaimed wood to replace damaged boards. High-quality reclaimed timber can come from a wide variety of sources and is often cheaper to acquire than virgin flooring. Not only can recycled lumber save you money on repairing your wood floors, but it’s healthier for the environment; reclaimed wood both helps reduce deforestation and prevents usable wood from being discarded.

Here’s a look at how recycled lumber can be used to make common wood floor repairs:

Fill in Gaps with Reclaimed Timber

Over the years, gaps can form between the floorboards of wood flooring. While these can be filled in with wood putty, a more desirable solution is to fill them with strips of reclaimed wood. Use a table saw to cut matching strips, and apply wood glue to the sides. Then gently tap them in place with a mallet or hammer. Sand them down and finish them so they’ll blend right into your wood floors.

Replace Entire Boards with Recycled Lumber

If entire boards need replacing, pry them out with a utility knife, hammer and chisel. Then line up your recycled lumber replacement boards and install them the same way you would a new floor.

Repairing wood flooring doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Using reclaimed timber can help save you money while also protecting the environment.

[ Photo by: wheany, on Flickr, via CC License ]