How to Fix a Crack Between Hardwood Floor Planks

A crack or gap between two planks in hardwood flooring is caused by the natural movement of the wood as the seasons change and the home ages. Using wood filler to fix the crack won't work, because the gap will change sizes over time and the filler won't. Filling that gap with a piece of hemp rope will ensure that it stays filled, as the rope will expand and contract when the floor does.

• 1

  Clean out the crack by running a vacuum hose over it.

• 2

  Separate the hemp rope, if necessary, so that it's about 50 percent wider than the crack.

• 3

  Put a few inches of wood stain in the bottom of a bucket. Make sure the stain you use matches the color of your floor. Put on your rubber gloves. Curl up the rope and soak it in the stain, letting it get completely saturated.

• 4

  Take the rope out of the stain. Hold it above the bucket to let it stop dripping. Lay it out on newspaper. Let it dry overnight.

• 5

  Lay the piece of rope over the length of the crack. Press it into the crack with your hands. If you can't get it far enough down with your hands, use a putty knife to tuck it in the rest of the way. The rope should be even with the surrounding wood.