Hello,

We are getting ready to refinish the wood floor in our house. It is Beech and about 50 years old. The filler that was used has mostly come out. There are many cracks that are there year round. They vary in size but there are many at 1/8" wide, many more narrower, and a few slightly wider. We plan to sand, fill the cracks then use 3 coats of clear semi-gloss oil-based poly.

I'm wondering what experience or advise you could give me for different types of filler. I'm considering the following:

1) Trowel in water based filler like Famowood. I think this is what is currently chipping out of the floor. It looks the easiest, but least durable too.
2) A solvent based filler like Famowood, DAP, etc. This is more difficult to apply, but I'm guessing more durable. I've used these for various projects and they seem ok, although floors take more abuse than most wood working projects.
3) An epoxy. There are a couple options here. Perhaps something like RayCrete. Alternatively I could use System Three with wood flour. I think one of these would be the most durable.
4) A home-made filler with wood flour and lacquer or wood glue. I've done this with wood glue, but not with lacquer.

Any advise? I don't want to do something stupid... again...

Thanks,
Pete.

Woodwise Wood Patch or Woodwise Full Trowel Filler. Timbermate is also popular but a little more money and trouble to use.

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the info. Do you have any experience with RayCrete or other epoxy on floors?

Thanks for helping a noob!

Nope, never heard of it. How's it take stain? Pro fillers need to be able to be stained.

Hi Gary,

I sent an email to a contact at www.raycrete.com. They said that you can color RayCrete with tints. They didn'tt say that it would NOT take a stain, but I'm asuming this is the case. I asked about adding wood flour, but did not get an answer. I also asked about the Polyurethane sticking to it and they said that RayCrete is a 2 part Polyurethane, so it sticks fine. I might experiment with it a bit just to see how it turns out. Since I don't plan on staining and the Beech is light colored, it might look good. I've used it in woodworking and know it's strong. Stronger than filler, but not as strong as a 2 part epoxy.

I'll play with it a bit, but might still use the fillers you recommended.

Best,
Pete.