Laminate is a durable flooring option for any area of your home. Laminate wood flooring can stand up to day-to-day wear and tear with ease for up to 25 years, so it’s a popular choice for residential and commercial spaces. But it’s not immune to common problems such as scratches, scuffs, finish and water damage, accidents that happen, and wearing over time. Thankfully, the process of laminate floor repair is straightforward.
Laminate Floor Repair: How to Do It Right
How you repair damaged kitchen or bathroom laminate flooring depends on how severe the damage is. In most cases, you can prevent replacing damaged planks by using a repair kit. If the laminate is beyond repair, you’ll need to fit a replacement. And if you think it’s time to replace your laminate flooring, check out our collections of dark and light wood laminate.
How to Fix Scratches and Finish Damage
In most cases, minor scuffs, scratches, and finish damage can be repaired with relative ease. All you need is a simple laminate floor repair kit that you can buy online or in many hardware stores. They are available in different colors, so you should find the repair kit that most closely resembles the look of your laminate floors.
Scratches and scrapes can be repaired with either a wax pencil or wood putty. The wood putty is suitable for moderately deep and wide scratches, and wax pencils are best suited for narrow and shallow scratches. For major scratches, you’ll need wax filler sticks.
Here is how you can do it:
- To repair minor surface issues, you will first need to gently clean your floor and make sure it is dry. Dust and debris can impede the repair process.
- Fill in the damaged area or scratch using the marker, crayon, or colored putty. If you are working with colored putty, you should avoid using more than you need. And if you are working with a crayon or marker, you may need to add color in layers or go over your scratched area multiple times.
- If needed, you should use fine-grit sandpaper to ensure that the filled-in area is flush with the rest of your floors. It’s important to be careful during the process to avoid scratching other parts of your floors in the process.
- If you are happy with the color, clean the floor. Follow any manufacturer’s instructions if they recommend you use a certain type of cleaning product.
How to Replace a Damaged Laminate Plank
Sometimes, it’s impossible to avoid irreversible damage. Then, you may need to replace a plank in your laminate flooring. You can find a professional flooring fitter to do it for you, and if you feel confident enough, you can do it yourself.
To fix your floors, first of all, you need to decide which planks need replacement. If the damaged plank is close to the edge of the floor, it may be possible to partially disassemble the floor instead of pulling out the saw. Remove wood quarter round and lift out the laminate planks, beginning with the ones closest to the wall. Then replace the damaged plank and click it into place. Return the other planks to their original place, working in reverse order. Finish by replacing the wood molding trim you had to remove to fix your damaged laminate floor.
If you need to reach a damaged plank in the center of a big room, that can be very time-consuming. And it’s possible to further damage the floors or cause injury to yourself or others if you are not comfortable with a saw. So this procedure is best left to a trained professional.
Laminate Floors Care
Laminate floors need careful maintenance, and if you are cautious and take proper laminate floors care, it can stop the need to repair or replace it. Here are some tips on how you can ensure that your fabulous laminate floor stays in good condition.
Here are some steps you can take to prevent damage from occurring in the first place.
- Never push or drag furniture around on laminate flooring. If you need to move any piece of furniture, lift it.
- Always consult the manufacturer’s instructions about cleaning products that should be used on your laminate. Many companies provide detailed product guides and cleaning instructions on their websites. Remember that the wrong cleaner can eat away the protective upper layers of laminate flooring.
- Use floor mats and rugs by entrance doors to prevent wear and tear. Add furniture pads under the legs of tables and chairs to prevent scratches and dents, especially if you move them frequently.
- Remove shoes before walking on laminate. Small stones can get stuck in shoes and scratch your floor.
- Wipe up all spills ASAP and use a completely dry paper or cloth towel to remove all dampness.
- Vacuum your laminate flooring with hard floor attachment at least once a week or sweep it with a soft broom. After all debris has been removed, use a well-wrung microfiber mop to clean the floor with water.
Final Word
If your laminate flooring isn’t completely destroyed, repairing damaged floors can generally be a DIY fix. But if the damage is significant, it might be time to replace the
wide plank laminate flooring altogether, which is more pricey, but fortunately, not more difficult. If you decide to install a new floor, at Stone & Tile, you can find a huge selection of water-resistant and
waterproof laminate flooring and choose a beautiful option to match your home décor.
