Laminate Floor Repair

Ready damaged laminate flooring

Introduction

Laminate floor become a ding? Whether it'south a small chip or a big divot, you can repair information technology with unproblematic, DIY techniques that brand the flooring look as good every bit new.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Cleaning solvent
  • Extra flooring
  • Laminate floor patching material
  • Wood gum

Appraise the laminate flooring damage

You can prepare small chips and scratches in a laminate flooring with filler products.

Only if the harm is severe, you have to replace the plank (yous did relieve a few from the installation, right?). Information technology's a job y'all tin can do yourself in most two hours. In addition to a spare plank, you'll demand a circular saw, hammer and chisel, router or table saw, drill and woods mucilage.

Some flooring experts recommend removing the base molding and unsnapping and numbering every plank until you get to the damaged portion. That works if the damaged plank is close to the wall. But trust the states, if the damaged section is more a few rows out from the wall, it's actually faster to but cut information technology out.

If your laminate floor is glued together, the unsnapping routine won't piece of work at all. See "Replacing Glued Planks," below. Plus, check out our expert guide for installing laminate flooring.

Project stride-by-step (7)

Pace 1

Supercede 'snap-together' planks:

laminate floor repair

Remove the center section.First by drawing a cutting line 1-1/2 in. in from all four edges of the plank. Drill a three/8-in. relief hole at each corner of the cutting line and again i/4 in. in from each corner of the plank.

Cut out the centre section with a circular saw, cutting from hole to hole. Set the depth of your circular saw a tad deeper than the flooring thickness. Then lift the blade guard and dip the blade into the cutting line.

Step 2

Cutting to the corners

replace laminate floor damage

Next, cut from the center section into each corner, stopping at the drilled hole. Don't go whatever further! Finally, cutting a relief cut from the center section out toward the seam of each plank. Tap a chisel into each relief cutting to break out the uncut portion. Then remove all the cutting pieces.

Pace iii

Remove the bottom lip

remove bottom lip laminate floor plank

The new plank has a groove at 1 terminate and one side, also every bit a tongue at the opposite end and side. But you lot can't install it until you cut off the bottom lip of both grooves and the side tongue. Score the natural language several times with a utility knife. Then snap information technology off with pliers. Shave off any remaining scraps with your knife.

Here's a tip for cutting the groove: Stick the bract within the groove and cutting off the bottom from the inside (or use a tabular array saw).

Employ a bead of wood glue to all iv edges of the new plank. Insert the glued tongue of the new plank into the groove on the existing floor and drop the plank into place. Wipe off whatsoever excess mucilage and load books on the plank until information technology's dry.

Step 4

Replace glued planks:

replace glued laminate planks

Raise the floor to gain leverage.Nigh of the early laminate floors were fastened with glue. But that doesn't hateful y'all can't practice an 'in-place' patch on those floors too. Follow all the cut directions shown for a snap-together floor.

Slip a dowel or scrap slice of flooring under the seam. Grab the department with pliers and tilt it down until the glued seam cracks apart. Then snap it upward to break whatever remaining glue.

Step v

The old glue has to go

remove glue from planks

Apply a flat-blade screwdriver or small chisel to chip out the old glue. Go the surfaces every bit smooth as possible for a affluent fit and a skilful glue bond. Lay the new plank when done.

Stride 6

Repair small-scale harm in laminate flooring:

Repair minor damage in laminate flooring

Scratches on Laminate Floor or Chips?

Drib a knife or other precipitous-edged item and you lot'll get an instant chip in your laminate floor. But yous don't need to call in a pro, because this repair is strictly DIY. If you have the chip or an actress plank, take information technology to a abode center or flooring supplier and match it upward with a tube of laminate floor patching material. Yous may have to buy the 2 closest colors and mix them to match. While you're there, buy a matching brand of cleaning solvent.

Clean the flooring with the solvent and let it dry out. Next, clasp a dollop of laminate repair paste onto a scrap piece of flooring or a mixing board and mix it with a putty knife until it begins to dry. So press a shallow layer into the chip. Don't try to fill the unabridged scrap in ane application. Make clean off any backlog with solvent. Let the starting time coat gear up for one 60 minutes earlier applying the next.

Originally Published: September xxx, 2022