Repairing laminate flooring without disassembling: how to do it yourself

Necessary for repair

If heavy furniture was moved in the apartment without special pads or a heavy item fell on the floor, scratches may appear on the surface of the laminate. What to do? There is nothing terrible about this, everything can be fixed. If the scratches on the laminate are too deep, only then should you decide to replace the damaged board.

Scratch on the surface

To avoid scratches, you can place rugs under furniture legs. They are very relevant during a reshuffle. It is advisable to walk on laminate only in clean shoes, since various grains of sand stuck to the sole can damage the surface, and then even minor scratches will appear. You should also regularly clean the surface of the floor covering, using only products recommended by the manufacturer.

When purchasing materials for laminate flooring before repairs, you need to make sure that you are using exactly the right products, and that the work done will help correct the damage. Before doing this, it is important to carefully inspect the area and evaluate it to make sure that it is possible to carry out the repair yourself and that the work will be done efficiently. If the situation cannot be corrected, then the laminate board will need to be replaced.

Means for repairing damage to the laminate surface

The easiest method for eliminating minor damage to laminate flooring is to use wax chalk or special putties in case of deeper abrasions. The putty is also good if chips are found during repairs. Before covering up scratches, you should check if everything you need is available. After all, in order to repair a laminate floor, you need to have a repair kit, which includes:

painting spatula;
vacuum cleaner;
means for repairing chips;
clean rags.

It is also important to make sure that the lamellas match the shade of the purchased pencil or chalk, so that scratches on the laminate are not noticeable later.

Removing scratches from laminate surfaces

Removing chips and scratches

When rearranging furniture or falling heavy objects, scratches or chips may appear on the laminate.
It is simply impossible to completely eliminate damage to the coating, even with careful use. When repairing laminate flooring, the main thing is to follow the technology recommended by a specialist.

Advice! If you become the owner of a wooden covering, take care of its protection in advance. To do this, place rugs under heavy furniture. If tables and other massive products have legs, put rubber or felt protection on them. It is not recommended to walk on laminate flooring in shoes with heels; this will lead to multiple scratches or indentations. Special detergents are used to clean the coating.

Before repairing, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the entire coating. It is important to determine the extent of damage. For minor defects, it will be enough to cover up the cracks; if the damage is more global, it may be necessary to replace one or more covering boards.

One of the most affordable and convenient means for cosmetic repairs of chipboards is a wax pencil for laminate flooring. It is used for minor abrasions and scratches. For larger damages, thick putty is used.

If the scratches are shallow, you need to use a special wax pencil. It is enough to rub it over the scratch and the substance will fill the depression. After this, the damaged area is polished with a clean flannel cloth (more details: “How to repair scratches on laminate flooring using improvised means”). The color of the pencil should match the shade of the floor covering. To do this, it is recommended to come to the store with a sample of the material.

Laminate features

Laminate flooring is a decorative fabric made from multi-layered thin hard lamellas. More than 40 years ago, this flooring material was introduced as a cost-effective alternative to solid hardwood and plank flooring.

Initially, the laminate consisted of tongue and groove planks that were connected to each other using glue. However, more than 20 years ago, manufacturers developed a special form of coupling that allows you to assemble the coating into a single, solid sheet without the use of hardware, glue or other fixing agents. These are the so-called Lock and Click locks. Their effectiveness and usefulness were quickly appreciated, so today parquet and engineered boards, vinyl and cork modular coverings are produced with interlocking joints of complex shapes.

Click lock.

Lock Lock.

Thus, the classic laminate today is (from top to bottom):

Overlay is a protective polymer film that ensures the surface of the material is resistant to moisture, abrasion, heels, animal claws, etc.
Decorative kraft paper with a design printed on it. Depending on the collection, the image can realistically reproduce wood, ceramic tiles, natural stone, leather and many other traditional finishing materials.
Dense HDF core board. The base has a uniform structure, its thickness varies from 6 to 14 mm. It is along the perimeter of this component that the lock is cut. Some manufacturers perform additional waterproofing treatment on the connecting part of the laminate. For this purpose, special impregnations or synthetic wax are used.
A stabilizing layer consisting of paper impregnated with thermosetting resins. Protects the slats from residual moisture contained in the base, and also prevents warping, twisting and other types of deformation of the slats.

Laminate structure.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is particularly wear-resistant. However, when the laminate is exposed to mechanical damage, scratches, cracks, and chips may form on it. These problems most often arise if the installation technology of this material was previously violated. We will learn further about how to repair laminate flooring with your own hands and rid it of various types of defects.

There is a hole in the laminate - how to repair it
How to repair laminate flooring: chip or scratch
How to repair a laminate floor with your own hands
How to repair laminate flooring swelling from water
How to repair a laminate floor yourself: getting rid of divergent joints
How to repair laminate flooring - scuffs and surface defects

There is a hole in the laminate - how to repair it

In order to determine the procedure for restoring the laminate, it is necessary to study the nature of the damage. If there is an excessively large hole or defect on the board, it is best to replace it. When replacing the board, follow these steps:

if the board is the outermost one, then there will be no problems with its removal; disassemble a certain section of the floor, replace the board and put it back together;
if it is not possible to get to the board with the defect, then in this case it is removed using scraps; for this, using a circular saw, the board is cut into several parts, which are easily removed from the floor;
be careful when making cuts, the circular saw must be set to a certain thickness, in this way it will be possible to keep the substrate under the board safe and sound;
to cut the thickness, use a regular chisel;
take a new board and cut the keyholes on its surface, being especially careful to avoid damaging the front surface on the laminate;
install the new board in place, fixing it with liquid nails, to install the board evenly, place a heavy object on it;
Wipe off excess glue with a dry cloth.

Thus, if there is a hole on the surface of the laminate, it is enough to drill out the damaged area with a saw and install a new board.

In order to cut laminate without damage, follow these recommendations:

mark the daughter on both sides so that it matches each other;
masking tape installed around the perimeter will prevent the laminate from covering with cracks;
in relation to the marking line, cut the floor using a cutter;
Using an electric jigsaw, cut the coating at a thirty-degree angle.

Do I need to change the laminate strip?

First of all, think about whether you really need it. Damage can be minor or in “invisible” and impenetrable places. You can also often limit yourself to covering up the damage with a special putty or wood sealant that matches the color of the coating. Such compositions are sold in hardware stores and supermarkets.

In another case, if the damage is significant, or is located in a visible and accessible place, the laminate strip should be replaced. There are two ways to replace laminate:

with analysis of the coating to the desired strip,
and indiscriminately, by cutting out a laminate sheet.

Let's take a closer look at them.

The damage can be repaired with special wood sealants to match the coating.

How to replace part of the laminate: disassembling part of the floor

This option is good when the panel to be replaced is located a short distance from one of the walls of the room. With a dismountable type of connection, it is possible to dismantle the defective lamella and replace it with a new one. The sequence of actions is as follows:

Remove the corresponding skirting board.
Using a pry bar, pry up the end board and release the lock.
Carefully lift and remove the board from the lock.
Raise all lamellas in sequence until the damaged one.
Pull out the defective lamella and put a new one in its place.
Lay down all previously standing panels.
Install the baseboard.

But how to replace a lamella that lies far from the walls? Disassemble the entire floor down to the damaged board? Here it makes sense to use the second replacement option.

Preparation

In cases where the damage to the lamella is significant and cosmetic repairs without replacing it are not possible, you can locally replace the deformed lamella with a new one. First of all, you should purchase the required number of panels in accordance with what you already have. As a last resort, choose the most similar one, preferably from the same manufacturer.

Before installation, new dies should be given time to rest in the room where the replacement will take place. Stock up on everything you need: tools, adhesive if the laminate is laid on it.

Before purchasing a replacement panel, you should remove the baseboard and one laminated strip and purchase a replacement by showing the seller a sample.

Causes of laminate swelling and elimination of consequences

Practice shows that the situation when the laminate is swollen is not uncommon.

Many experts argue that it is impossible to eliminate this defect perfectly and recommend replacing the flooring or laying a new covering over the damaged one.

But this is again a large additional cost.

Why does laminate flooring swell?

Water getting into joints can cause swelling.

There are various reasons why laminate flooring can swell.

How to correct a defect is a separate question; initially, it is necessary to determine the nature of the damage. A certain defect may have several possible occurrences.

So, for example, if the laminate bulges at the joint or there is a divergent seam between the panels, the reasons may be the following:

incorrectly selected substrate for a certain type of material (when choosing a coating with a thickness of more than 9 mm, a cork or polystyrene substrate with a thickness of at least 3 mm should be used, see table);
poorly executed installation (wide seam, lack of tight connection);
low quality material;
there was not enough laminate of a certain thickness (supplement with panels of a different type);
the laminate was swollen from water (a large amount of water was spilled, which was not cleaned up for a long time; therefore, moisture penetrated into the structure of the material).

Swelling of the laminate and the formation of “waves” occur for the following reasons:

influence of temperature influence (absence of deformation gap during installation);
joint strips fixed flush to the panel (swelling flooring cannot expand due to lack of space and clearance).

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You can answer the question: “Why does the laminate diverge, what reasons caused the material to swell?” But you shouldn’t endlessly blame one of the family members if someone once spilled water, but you should calmly carry out repairs according to the suggested recommendations.

It should be remembered that laminated flooring will last a long time with high-quality installation, a well-prepared rough field and high quality material (of the appropriate brand for a particular room).

How to eliminate the effects of swelling of the laminate?

To fix the problem, you will have to disassemble the coating. “What to do if the laminate swells, and are there ways to fix the problem?” - these popular and frequently asked questions have a positive answer. It is possible to repair laminate flooring yourself.

If the laminate is swollen due to water, it is necessary to partially disassemble the cover and fix the problem. Having removed some of the panels from the damaged area, it is necessary to dry the substrate or replace it in the disassembled area.

When repairing a good quality laminate floor, the swollen element should be dried. If the lamella has not returned to its previous shape, it is necessary to replace it with a spare one (you must always have a spare one when installing a laminated covering) and assemble the floor surface.

Before asking the question: “What to do if the laminate swells like a wave all over the room?” and trying to solve the problem, you need to remove the baseboard around the entire perimeter of the room. The swollen floor should sit for several days and return to its original shape. After which, when repairing the laminate flooring, it is necessary to cut the panels adjacent to the wall by 1-2 cm, thereby creating a deformation gap.

It is worth knowing that the answer to the question of why the laminate is swollen may be the installation of a door latch or connecting strip. These attributes interfere with the natural expansion of the laminate surface and can cause swelling.

Therefore, if you observe swelling of the laminate, it is advisable to quickly dismantle all the joining strips and remove the door latches.

Related article: SNIP doors - installation requirements and characteristics

The need to partially replace the laminate

Partial replacement may be required if one or more lamellas are damaged

The interior layout of most rooms is standard - furnishings are located along the walls and in the corners, the center is free. Based on this, the passage area is most at risk of damage.

The need to replace the laminate may partially arise for the following reasons:

large dent from falling of a heavy object;
swelling due to spilling liquid or washing floors using the deck method;
long through crack due to temperature deformation;
consequences of a local fire;
damage to the front side by active chemical reagents.

Disassembling the flooring is the best way to change the defective part, but in most cases it is impossible for one simple reason - dismantling must be carried out from the wall, and there is furniture there that has nowhere to be removed. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the panels without disassembling the covering.

Possible malfunctions of the laminate

Do-it-yourself laminate flooring repair may be required in a number of cases.

And so that we can understand what actions to take when a particular malfunction is detected, we will first analyze the most common breakdowns.

Scratches on laminate
The most common defect in laminate flooring is various stains . However, it’s hard to call the procedure for removing them a repair – and on the other hand, many stains require serious effort to remove. And the stain significantly spoils the appearance of the floor covering.

The next most common problem is scratches and chips on the laminate . They occur when furniture is moved, heavy objects with sharp edges fall on the laminate, and also due to contact of the laminate with metal heels on shoes and the claws of pets. Simple cleaning is not enough here - you will need a repair compound for the laminate. We will discuss below what compositions are used and in what cases.
Next come the gaps between the laminate panels and the unevenness that appears on the floor . Reasons for this include laying the laminate on an uneven base surface, using the wrong underlay for the laminate, or lack of clearance between the wall and the laminate. All these problems can also be solved - however, such repairs of laminate flooring will require significant efforts.

Joint defect

Well, and finally - the most serious malfunctions. This includes swelling of the laminate after flooding (most often by neighbors above, but a burst aquarium can also “try”), as well as serious mechanical damage to the laminate panels. Perhaps only replacing damaged elements will help here. We will also tell you how to repair and install laminate flooring in such situations.

Click locks

This connection of panels is the simplest for local replacement, as it involves disconnection. The algorithm of actions looks like this.

Work begins with removing the section of the plinth located as close as possible to the damaged lamella.
Afterwards, the planks are dismantled: one after another in the direction of the damaged one until it is removed.
Replace the deformed element and begin installation in the opposite direction.

This method is simple and requires only time and accuracy.

When dismantling, number the slats in the order in which they were removed so that they can be placed in the appropriate place after replacement.

Necessary tools and equipment for work

Set of tools

The process of restoring a laminate floor in itself is not particularly difficult, but to carry it out you need to have some special equipment.

To replace laminate flooring in the middle of a room, you will need to buy or rent the following tools:

hand cutter or grinder;
nail puller;
pliers;
rasp;
ruler;
marker;
file;
chisel;
mounting gun;
mold glue.

The work is somewhat dangerous. Therefore, it must be performed with protective glasses and gloves.

Replacing material

If the previous tips did not help and scratches or damage are still noticeable on the material, you can use another option. To do this, you need to know how to replace one laminate board. When you have the necessary tools, this job is easy to do. It is possible to replace a laminate board using several methods.

The work of dismantling laminate flooring is simple, but lengthy. You need to start with the board that is closest to the damaged one. First you need to remove the baseboard and disassemble the slats until the damaged area is accessible. After the board is replaced, the disassembled laminate should be installed in place, covered with a plinth.

Dismantling boards

If you can’t remove the baseboard or the damaged boards are not on the edge, but in the middle of the room , you can try to do the work without thorough dismantling. This technique is not easy, but if you follow all the recommendations from specialists, repairs and installation work can be done with your own hands.

For this you will need:

new board;
circular saw;
electric drill;
wood glue;
sharp knife;
rubber hammer;
yardstick;
vacuum cleaner;
protective equipment: glasses and gloves.

Advice from experts for high-quality execution of all processes

Before installing new boards, all connections should be cleaned of dust using a powerful vacuum cleaner.
Newly purchased boards must match and be the same brand as the old ones.
Also make sure the color scheme is appropriate.
Be sure to wear glasses when cutting material.

In order for the laminate replacement to be carried out efficiently, it is necessary to disassemble the coating. To do this, carefully remove the baseboard from the wall to which the damaged board is located close. This work should be done carefully so as not to break the plinth, since it will not be possible to reuse it.

Removing the baseboard

After the baseboard is removed, it is necessary to carry out the work of dismantling the laminate. One by one, the panels need to be removed until you get to the broken area. To separate the boards, you need to lift each one at an angle of 45° and release the ends from the grooves. This should also be done carefully, remembering that later the boards will need to be connected.

Where do the cracks come from?

Now laminate is one of the most common floor coverings, which is used in apartments, offices, and other premises. It is not surprising that it has earned the love of many users. Practical, beautiful, so easy to install that anyone can handle installation if desired, and even an inexpensive laminate - what other characteristics are needed to consider it one of the best floor coverings of all existing ones?

With proper care and careful installation, this flooring option can last for many years. But sometimes unsightly gaps can appear between individual laminate planks - lamellas. They need to be eliminated as quickly as possible: they not only spoil the appearance, but can also lead to damage to the entire coating. For example, laminate does not like water, and the parts least protected from it are the end parts. And when a gap forms in the coating, it is the ends of the laminate that are open and are primarily susceptible to the negative effects of water. Also, various debris can get through the cracks under the slats, which becomes the main cause of floor squeaks and other defects.

A wide gap between the slats is the reason for debris getting under the laminate

On a note! What is a gap? This is the so-called unplanned gap, which appeared as a result of one reason or another between adjacent individual strips of material. The concept of a gap should not be confused with a chamfer - the latter is considered a technological solution, that is, specially made, and therefore is not a gap.

What causes cracks in laminate flooring?

Natural drying of the material. The laminate is based on fiberboard, a material made from wood waste. And a tree, as we know, can change its physical size due to changes in humidity and temperature conditions. Laminate also has these properties, like natural wood. And it is not surprising that it may decrease somewhat in size. This is one of the reasons for the appearance of gaps.

Important! Laminate flooring should not be laid immediately after transportation, especially in winter. The material should lie for a couple of days in the room where it will be installed. It is also prohibited to store slats in a damp or cold place - on a balcony, in a garage, in an unheated warehouse, etc.

Laminate with cracks and laminate with problems fixed

Violation of the geometry of the lamellas. Usually occurs as a result of improper storage of the coating, when individual planks begin to swell, dry out or bend. In this case, the lamellas can be curved in different ways: for example, with the ends up. Sometimes a warped laminate straightens itself over time and the gaps disappear, but in some cases it is better to refuse to use such a damaged coating.
Uneven base. In general, this reason can be attributed to a violation of installation technology. In this case, you need to blame either careless craftsmen or yourself for saving on floor leveling work. Unfortunately, in this case, you can get rid of cracks, creaks and other defects only by completely re-laying the covering, having first leveled the rough base.

On a note! If we talk about the unevenness of the base, then it is worth knowing that cracks can only appear when there are dips or protrusions in the screed horizon. If the base simply has a slope in one direction or another, but is generally smooth and neatly poured, then in this case gaps between the planks will not appear if all other installation conditions have not been violated.

Gradual concept of work

First you need to free up access to the coating. To do this, the baseboards on the walls adjacent to the repair site are dismantled.
After this, the corner board is unlocked with a chisel. This must be done first from the long side, and then from the small side. Carefully lift slightly and remove the board from the lock.
Then the remaining boards are dismantled until you completely free the damaged one.
The last stage is to replace the damaged part and reassemble the covering in the reverse order.

Note! If you did not buy the material in reserve, then you will need to go shopping and choose the right color. Before replacing the laminate, the material should sit in the room for some time in order to “get used” to the atmosphere and warm up to the room temperature.

Replacement of the entire floor covering

When the floors in your apartment have become worn out over time or some unforeseen situation has occurred, for example, your neighbors have flooded you, then you should begin to repair or replace them. There are two options for floor replacement: partial or complete.

With a partial replacement, the worn floor covering is removed, but the base - a wooden floor, screed or something else - remains the same. The base is cleared of debris, examined to see how strong it is and whether there are weak points that need to be repaired. Repair and, if necessary, apply primer before installing a new coating.
Complete replacement: carried out only if the base (wooden floor, joists, screed, etc.) is completely worn out and cannot be restored. Please note that with a complete replacement you will have to perform the following operations required by technology:

Dismantling and removing old flooring.
Dismantling the old foundation that has become unusable. This is an old wooden floor, joists or screed.
A new screed or wooden flooring is being installed.
If a perfectly flat surface is required, a new screed is sanded or covered with plywood.
The surface is primed.
New flooring is being installed.
Skirting boards are being installed.

Important:

When replacing the floor in a room with high humidity (bathroom, toilet or kitchen, etc.), waterproofing should be done.

Now you know how to replace the entire laminate flooring or one board with or without disassembling the floor. Using our recommendations and advice, you can restore the decent appearance of your flooring yourself, but do not forget that the surest way to get rid of defects is to prevent their occurrence.

Types of laminate damage

Before moving on to how to repair laminate flooring with your own hands, you need to figure out what kind of damage occurs most often.

Usually this:

Various spots. They are the most common material defect. Removing them cannot be called a repair, but this work also takes a lot of time. Leaving everything as is is not the best option, because stains spoil the appearance of the entire floor covering.
Scratches or chips. Such damage is also very common. Their appearance can be caused by: moving furniture and other heavy objects, walking in heels, claws of pets, etc. In this case, restoration of the laminate is required.
Various irregularities on the surface of the coating or gaps between adjacent panels. This can be caused by: failure to maintain the gap between the planks and the wall, unevenness of the base, or the wrong type of substrate.
Swelling of the laminate. This type of injury is not as common, but is quite serious. This defect may occur as a result of flooding. In this case, you have to completely replace the damaged elements.
Significant mechanical damage. If the planks are severely damaged, again, the only solution is to replace the damaged panels. Do-it-yourself laminate repair without disassembly is impossible in this situation.

READ MORE: Do-it-yourself beacons for self-leveling floors

Eliminating gaps between seams

When the installation is carried out poorly or there is the influence of high humidity, it happens that the boards move from their place due to a change in volume. This creates gaps that not only spoil the appearance, but also lead to delamination of the laminate over time. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to adhere to certain rules when connecting boards. These recommendations will help you avoid mistakes during installation, and cracks will not appear.

It is important to acclimatize the material before starting installation, as this is a common cause of gaps appearing between boards. The laminate packaging should be brought into the room two days before the start of work.
The base should be prepared very carefully so that it is perfectly level. Only in this case will the material fit correctly. Check evenness with a level.
If the base needs leveling, you can use a special self-leveling mixture.

If gaps do appear between the boards, you can solve this problem differently:

The places where the joints are located must be sealed with a composition that contains wood filler, or the coating must be dismantled.
Prepare some or all of the surfaces correctly and re-install the flooring, finishing with the installation of skirting boards.

Floor repairs without dismantling can only be done if the gaps are very small. Before disassembling the laminate and starting installation, you should carefully remove the baseboard. Only after this can you remove the boards.

Sealing gaps

After removing the baseboards, you should check their condition. This work is important; you definitely need to check the ridges and grooves. Good material can be reused. To reduce heat loss and smooth out minor irregularities, it is necessary to lay a special underlay before laying the laminate.

When performing installation work, you should carefully connect the boards , otherwise large gaps may form between the joints. It is important to thoroughly clean the ridges and grooves and remove all dust from the coating. The connection of the material must occur on a perfectly flat surface, otherwise displacement may occur and it will be impossible to continue work, since the displacement will only increase. Slats with defects should not be used at all.

Connection of lamellas

After installing the floor, to ensure that the connection is normal, it is important to maintain constant temperature and humidity in the house. After installation is complete, glue can be applied to the places where the joints are located on the laminate for strength.

A simple solution to eliminating the gap where there is a joint is to hit the board with a rubber mallet. To avoid damaging the connection, do not apply much force. In order for the work to be successful and not have to change the laminate frequently, it is important to regulate the microclimate in the room.

If this option does not work, you need to spray colored paste into the cracks with a syringe or completely replace the laminate after leveling the base.

You can see how to replace a damaged laminate board in this video:

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How to remove stains

During production, laminate flooring, an example of which can be seen in the photo, is treated with special compounds that protect the material from dirt penetrating deep into it. Therefore, to remove stains, it is usually enough to wipe the stained area with a dry or damp cloth. But sometimes difficulties arise in removing stains caused by varnishes, paints, and other building solutions.

Paint and varnish are easily removed with solvent or acetone. If the coating is stained with nail polish, it can be cleaned with a medium-hard brush using washing powder and a small amount of water.

READ MORE: Repairing concrete floors, potholes, cracks, cobwebs, unevenness

Traces left by rubber heels can be easily removed with a stationery eraser. Grease stains, after removing dried-on grease, are removed with a sponge soaked in dishwashing liquid.

How to replace laminate flooring in the center of a room without dismantling the floor