What pet stain and scratch repair means in Des Moines
Claw scratching sits in the coating and sometimes just into the wood surface. A full sand removes it entirely and there is nothing else to do.
Urine is different. It penetrates, reacts with the tannin and leaves black staining that runs the full depth of the board and into the subfloor. It also holds the smell, which no coating seals in.
- How it is done
- sand test in an inconspicuous spot to see how deep the black goes
- What goes on the floor
- oxalic acid on iron-tannate staining, board replacement where it went through
- Ready to use
- follows the refinishing timeline
- Typical cost
- $2.75 – $5.50 per sq ft
- Service life
- permanent where the board was replaced
How pet stain and scratch repair is done
We map the affected area with a meter and, in a dark room, a UV light, because the stain is usually larger than what shows in daylight.
Lightly affected boards get sanded and can respond to an oxalic acid treatment, which pulls some of the darkening out of the wood. Heavily stained boards come out, and the subfloor underneath gets sealed with a shellac-based primer before new wood goes down.
Whether the room then gets stained darker is a decision worth making early, because a mid-tone stain hides remaining variation that a natural finish shows up.
What pet stain and scratch repair costs in Des Moines, IA
Priced as the sanding by area plus the board replacement by the job. The unknown is how far the staining goes, and we would rather look at it with a light on than guess.
Where pet stain and scratch repair goes wrong in Iowa
Where this catches people out is a floor that was cleaned well and looks fine, then smells again in August when the humidity comes up. The moisture reactivates what is still in the subfloor, which is why sealing under the patch matters as much as the patch.
Where we do pet stain and scratch repair
We cover Des Moines, the western suburbs, the Ankeny corridor and the older neighbourhoods inside the city, including and 18 more areas.
Questions we get asked about pet stain and scratch repair
Can pet stains be sanded out?
Surface scratching, yes. Black urine staining goes right through the board and usually needs replacement.
Will the smell go?
Only if the subfloor under the stain is replaced or sealed. Sanding the boards alone leaves the source in place.
Is a darker stain a good idea?
It hides the variation that remains after treatment, so on a floor with several affected areas it is often the practical answer.
Get a free estimate
Tell us what you need. We answer the same day, the free estimate is on site, and nobody chases you afterwards.
Get a price for your pet stain and scratch repair
Call and we will come out, measure, and leave you a written quote. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation afterwards.