Is there a way to fill the gaps and refinish the abused hallway floor, even if it won’t be perfect?
Asked by Patrick Morris 
5 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
We’ve got this little area outside our bedroom that’s a mix of two different laminate floors and some carpet from the adjacent room. It’s been through a lot and is pretty beat up, considering it’s original to the house from 1950. There are big gaps between the boards and old paint drips everywhere. I was thinking, is there some kind of super-size filler we can use to patch it up and maybe sand it down to make it look better? I’m not expecting it to be perfect, but anything would be an improvement at this point, right?
I wonder if I could just sand down the rough, splintery spots and then stain and polyurethane it? What do you think? Thanks for any advice!
Oh my goodness! I am amazed that the laminate stayed intact with that edge exposed. I would trim the edge, replace the last two boards on that side, refinish, and seal it. It appears to be subfloor, not hardwood, someone will let me know if I’m mistaken. If it was my place, I would swap it out 💁🏼♀️
This is an old ranch style house that has been expanded and lengthened over time, which is why there are different heights where the original part of the house ends and the extension begins. I had a proper threshold piece on the edge of that laminate before I took the picture. The flooring is real, not subfloor, and it extends into other rooms but is covered by laminate and carpet elsewhere. I might replace it all when the laminate starts to wear out! Once we spruce up the appearance, I’ll post an updated picture. 🙂
It seems like the subfloor is made of softwood, but remember, that isn’t the only thing to consider when looking at a house. Good luck!