Skip to main content

The question

The dummkopfs who wheeled a refrigerator into my kitchen recently left two deep gouges in a section of my new Italian wood flooring. It was glued down onto underpadding in variously sized pieces. Can the damaged boards be replaced without pulling up the whole floor?

The answer

Oh, those movers! The scratching of a new floor is truly heartbreaking, but it is fixable if a hassle. The size of the section to be removed will vary depending on the pattern and hopefully the installers are good so that the repair blends in. I am assuming these are prefinished boards so the entire floor does not require refinishing. If it isn't prefinished, the entire floor will require resanding, restaining and refinishing (and you'll have to remove all your furniture and belongings from the area). Yes, it's no fun sometimes being the kings and queens of our castles.

Follow architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace on Twitter: @ddtaylordd. Have a design dilemma? E-mail style@globeandmail.com .

Interact with The Globe