Laminate Repair

Laminate flooring is one of the most sustainable and practical flooring. This floor is reliable, durable, looks great and unpretentious in care. But sometimes, as a result of careless operation, various kinds of defects can appear on it - chips, swelling, scratches and so on. In this article, we will consider the main defects that you may encounter, and we will figure out how to make a laminate repair with your own hands.

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Damage Types and Laminate Repair Options

To begin, consider the most common damage:

• spots;
• surface scratches;
• slots and gaps between the laminate boards;
• chips, cracks and dents;
• swelling and bloating of planks.

Laminate repair, depending on the severity of the damage, occurs in two ways:

• with dismantling of lamellas;
• without disassembly.

Important! The option of repairing the laminate without disassembling is suitable for small defects and is suitable for independent implementation. The elimination of such damage is simple to implement and takes a little time.

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Stain removal

The most common laminate damage is stains. They appear due to careless or careless handling of the coating. Removing them, as a rule, is not difficult. To do this, apply such methods and means:

• small household dirt can be removed using a damp cloth;
• greasy stains are removed with a damp sponge using a dishwashing detergent;
• varnish and paint are removed with acetone or a solvent;
• Nail polish is washed off with washing powder and a damp brush.

Important! Be careful and careful when handling acids, stains from them, unfortunately, can not be removed.

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How to fix scratches on the laminate?

Small scratches can easily be masked and the entire coating will be restored to its original color using a wax pencil. If the scratches are deeper, you can use the special laminate repair kit.

Important! A great option is Quick-Step. With its help, even an amateur will be able to cope with the repair. The set includes a soldering iron, spatula, special wax pencils of different colors and two sanding wipes (green and gray).

Repair of the laminate in this case consists in the following actions:

1. Clean and degrease the surface to be repaired.
2. Use the color table to find the right pencil - you can mix several colors to get a more suitable shade.
3. Using a heated soldering iron scoop, scoop up the required amount of a pencil of the desired color, add pencils of other colors to obtain the desired shade.

Important! To prevent burns, do not touch the nozzle while the device is operating. The nozzle cools slowly even after turning off the device!

4. Fill the area to be repaired with molten mixture with a slight excess.
5. Remove excess wax with a special spatula that is included with the laminate repair kit.
6. To restore the texture of the damaged area, push or scratch the grooves with a sharp object and fill them with darker wax, remove excess wax with a spatula.
7. Use a gray cloth to degrease the surface.
8. Polish and polish with a green napkin.
9. Make sure that the melting end is completely cool, put the protective cap on the soldering iron.

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Repair of chips and cracks

Chips are more serious damage than scratches. You can mask them with a special compound, which is sold in specialized stores, or with acrylic sealant mixed with a suitable color dye.

Important! The sealant, when dried, gives a slight shrinkage, therefore, in the case of deep cleavage, it is necessary to apply several layers, allowing them to dry. On average, you need to make 3-4 layers. After complete drying, the repair site can be lightly polished.

Small chips can be tried to eliminate the above method, using the already known laminate repair kit.

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How to eliminate the gaps between the joints of the laminate?

The gaps greatly worsen the appearance of the flooring, and can also lead to further cracking or delamination of the laminate, the appearance of a characteristic creak. The reason may be improper installation or a change in humidity and room temperature.

Important! Acclimatization of the laminate in the room for at least 48 hours before installation will prevent the occurrence of cracks and gaps between the joints. Compliance with the requirements of laminate manufacturers is also important - the presence of a perfectly aligned floor. It is advisable to use a self-leveling screed for this.

How to repair a laminate with your own hands in the presence of gaps? There are several ways:

• The first is wedging. Wooden wedges are driven between the walls and the laminate.
• The second - fill the cracks with special putty or colored sealant of the corresponding color, level with a spatula and allow to dry.

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How to replace a laminate board?

Sometimes, with more serious damage, it is necessary to replace one or more laminate boards. You can perform such repair of the laminate without disassembling the entire floor.

How to do it:

1. Using an electric saw, it is necessary to cut out the external parts of the lock and remove the panel by prying it with a chisel.
2. In the new panel, previously cured in the same room where the repair is done for at least 48 hours, the lower edge of the groove is cut off, after which it is inserted into the damaged place and fixed with glue.

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Laminate swelling elimination

The cause of the swelling of the laminate may be a violation of the installation technology, when there is no technological gap between the coating and the walls of the room. In this case, the material can expand from external conditions and the planks will push each other. The result - the laminate will be lifted by the house. To eliminate this phenomenon, it is necessary to reduce the width of the strips located against the wall by a couple of centimeters.

Important! Do not fix the laminate to the base and do not fasten the baseboard to the floor - this will also prevent the coating from expanding.

When installing the laminate, it is necessary to leave gaps between the walls and the coating using expansion wedges or pieces of laminate, this will help to avoid swelling in the future and repair the laminate.

Another reason for this defect is moisture absorbed into the coating. It can be any liquid spilled on the floor, or flooding with water. To repair a laminate in this situation:

1. First you need to let the surface dry.
2. If there is deformation, damaged boards can be tried to be repaired.
3. Dismantle them and lay them on a flat surface under considerable weight.
4. Leave to dry completely for five to seven days.
5. Put them back in their place.

Important! This method is good in that the boards will not differ from the main coating, unlike new ones, which may not match in tone.

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How to avoid laminate repair?

In order to avoid unpleasant moments associated with the repair of your flooring, it is enough to follow the rules for caring for this flooring recommended by the manufacturer in a timely manner.

These rules are quite simple:

1. Keep the laminate clean; do not wash the floor with soap and water. Use only special laminate cleaners specified by the manufacturer.
2. In the care of the laminate, do not use products containing abrasive particles, and also avoid getting sand and dirt on it.
3. Put on or stick special rubber or other linings on the legs of your furniture to reduce pressure and prevent scratching the floor when moving furniture.
4. To avoid dents, do not walk around the house wearing high-heeled shoes.
5. Do not drop hard or sharp objects onto the laminate.
6. Instantly respond to any moisture on the coating, wipe and dry it.
7. Cover the laminate with a special varnish - this will additionally protect your coating from damage and give it shine.

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Stock footage

Now you know how to repair a laminate. Treat your flooring with care and care and it will last you a long time!