What is hardwood floor repair?
Hardwood floor repair is the process of fixing localised damage to a wood floor — broken boards, water damage, gaps, squeaks, loose planks — without redoing the entire floor. When done properly, the repaired zone blends seamlessly with the surrounding wood and the floor regains both its appearance and its structural integrity.
Replacing a whole floor is expensive and disruptive. In most cases it is unnecessary: localised damage can be repaired at a fraction of the cost, often within a day or two, with results that are practically invisible. Our work covers every kind of wood floor common in Lisbon homes — classic Portuguese board floors, herringbone and chevron parquet, mosaic blocks (tacos), and engineered wood.
Water damage repair — our specialty
Water damage is one of the most common — and most stressful — problems we are called for in Lisbon. Older buildings, ageing plumbing, neighbours upstairs and the occasional burst pipe mean that wood floors regularly suffer water exposure. The good news is that even severe water damage can usually be repaired without replacing the whole floor.
Common causes of water-damaged wood floors
- Burst pipes or plumbing leaks behind walls or under the floor — often slow and invisible until the wood blackens or cups.
- Leaks from the apartment above — particularly common in older Lisbon buildings.
- Bathroom and kitchen overflow — sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, showers without proper sealing.
- Window or balcony infiltration — rain ingress through poorly sealed frames or worn waterproofing.
- Flooding from external sources or major plumbing failures.
How we repair water-damaged hardwood floors
Our process is methodical because the wrong approach can make things worse — sanding a still-damp floor, or replacing boards before the subfloor has dried, will only delay the problem.
1. Locate and stop the source
Repair work is pointless if water is still arriving. We help identify the source (or coordinate with a plumber if needed) and ensure it is fixed before any floor work begins.
2. Assess the extent
We use moisture meters to map out the damaged zone — sometimes the visible damage is smaller, sometimes much larger, than the actual affected area. Subfloor and joists are also checked.
3. Dry the subfloor
If the subfloor is wet, it must dry completely before any new wood is installed. Depending on the case, this takes anywhere from three days to two weeks, sometimes assisted with dehumidifiers.
4. Remove damaged boards
Damaged boards are carefully lifted to avoid disturbing the surrounding sound wood. For tongue-and-groove floors, this requires precision cutting.
5. Replace with matching wood
New boards or parquet blocks are sourced to match the species, width, thickness and grain pattern of the original floor. Reclaimed wood is sometimes the best match for older Lisbon parquet.
6. Sand and refinish the repaired zone
The repaired area — and usually a generous surrounding zone — is sanded back, stained if needed to match colour, and refinished with several coats of varnish or oil. The goal is for the repair to disappear visually.
Insurance claims: If your water damage is covered by home insurance, we can provide detailed reports, photographs and itemised quotes suitable for your insurer.
Our general repair process
For non-water repairs the workflow is faster, usually completed in a day or two.
1. Inspection and quote
Send us photos on WhatsApp or invite us for a free site visit. We diagnose the problem, propose a solution (repair vs replace vs full refinish), and quote a fixed price.
2. Preparation
Furniture is moved if needed, and the work area is protected. For small repairs, adjacent rooms are unaffected.
3. Targeted repair
Damaged boards are removed and replaced; gaps filled; loose boards refastened; squeaks silenced. Where possible, original wood is salvaged.
4. Blending
The repaired zone is sanded and refinished so it blends with the surrounding floor in colour, sheen and texture. For older floors, we sometimes age the new wood with stain or technique to match patina.
5. Handover
You inspect the repair and we leave the home clean. We explain the aftercare needed for the refinished zone (typically 24 hours before light traffic).
Repair, refinish or replace — what do I need?
This is the most common question we get on WhatsApp, and the right answer saves you money. Use this guide:
| Your floor's condition | What you need |
|---|
| A few damaged boards, otherwise intact | Repair the damaged zone — usually 1–2 days, lowest cost. |
| Localised water damage, no widespread rot | Water damage repair — typically 3–7 days including drying. |
| A few deep scratches, finish otherwise OK | See scratch repair — sometimes no full sanding needed. |
| Worn finish across the whole floor, scratches everywhere | Full refinishing — sand and revarnish the entire floor. |
| Widespread rot, structural damage, wear layer too thin to sand | Replacement — full or partial, depending on extent. |
Not sure which one applies to your floor? Send us a few photos on WhatsApp. We'll tell you within two hours which approach makes sense — and which one doesn't.
How much does hardwood floor repair cost?
Repair costs are case-by-case because no two damages are alike. To give a useful range:
| Type of repair | Typical price (excl. VAT) |
|---|
| Small localised repair (a few boards, gap filling) | €150 – €600 |
| Squeak or loose board fixing | €100 – €300 |
| Water damage repair (small zone, no subfloor work) | €400 – €1,200 |
| Water damage repair (larger zone, subfloor drying) | quoted per case |
| Refinishing of the repaired zone | €20–€28 per m² of refinished area |
Quotes are always fixed in writing before work begins. The first visit is free across greater Lisbon.
Why people choose us for hardwood floor repair
- Specialists in wood floors — repair, refinishing, restoration, and installation. Not a general handyman service.
- 15 years of experience and 500+ projects across greater Lisbon.
- Water damage expertise — one of our most frequent intervention types in older Lisbon buildings.
- Invisible blending — our goal is that you cannot see where the repair was done.
- Single point of contact — we handle the whole project, including coordinating with plumbers for water damage.
- Insurance-ready documentation if needed.
- English, French and Portuguese spoken — comfortable communication for the Lisbon expat community.