Repair laminate - holes, scratches and dents

• Remove black lines
• Eliminate streaks
• Repair small scratches
• Bigger scratches and holes
  • hard wax
  • wood Filler
• The lamination is damaged
• Repair dents in the laminate
• Replace damaged areas
  • spare laminate
  • Exchange of laminate boards
  • Cutting laminate boards
  • Lay new board optimally

Laminate is a popular floor covering, because it looks like real wood, but is much cheaper than parquet. Alleged difficulties arise, however, if the surface is damaged by scratches, dents or even holes. While parquet is sanded, other approaches are needed for laminate flooring. These depend on the severity and type of damage. Read about the possibilities and the best way to make the floor look perfect again.

In principle, laminate is resilient flooring that can withstand virtually all the challenges of everyday life. Even minor misadventures usually leave no visible residue. However, as with all materials, it can damage over time. Dogs and cats scratch the floor with their claws, the glass falls down and shatters or lockers go carelessly on the move. Dents, holes and other damage can occur, for example, when moving furniture, shoe soles or heavy objects. A repair ensures that the laminate floor becomes attractive again. Often smaller scratches can be repaired with simple means without having to replace individual boards. But the exchange of boards is done quickly with the right instructions.

Remove black lines

Black lines on the laminate floor are caused, among other things, by dark heels. These deposits look ugly, but can usually be removed by simple means. All you need is a good eraser or a special spot eraser.

Eliminate streaks

Streaks can arise when brushing. They can be removed by vinegar water. To do this, add a dash of vinegar to the mop water and wipe it over the floor. Make sure that the laminate floor is not too wet, otherwise it may swell.

Tip: If you add vinegar directly to the water during regular wiping, streaks in the run-up are already avoided.

Repair small scratches

Material:

• Baby oil / olive oil
• cloth
• Bodenwischer
• Wipes to wipe off excess oil

The correct procedure for removing scratches depends largely on the size of the depth of the damage.

Remove light scratches with oil 1 of 2

If it is only superficial scratches, then the use of baby oil or olive oil is sufficient. Proceed as follows:

1. Wipe the floor damp.

2. Let the surface dry again.

3. Apply a small amount of oil to a cloth and rub it over the scratches.

4. Wipe off excess oil again so that the floor does not become slippery.

Bigger scratches and holes

Material:

• repair
  • Hard wax and planer
  • wood Filler

In retail, various sets are offered for repair. These usually contain colored wax rods, a small planer and sandpaper. Hard wax is also available separately and can be selected in all common wood colors. Here it is important to make sure that you make an optimal selection so that the damaged areas are no longer visible after the repair. In order to eliminate the damage in the laminate floor, only a few steps are necessary:

Scratches and holes 1 of 3

hard wax

Step 1: Warm the wax.

First you have to heat the hard wax until it is liquid.

Step 2: Apply the wax to the damaged area.

Drop the heated wax into the damaged areas. In order to be able to work optimally, it is in some cases necessary to broaden the positions a bit. So the wax can be optimally introduced. However, this is usually only necessary with elongated cracks, deep and round holes are easily treatable.

Tip: The hard wax does not hold on to the lamination, so the damage must be deep enough for the wax to adhere.

Step 3: Use the planer to wipe off the excess wax residue, avoiding bumps. Alternatively, you can also use a trapezoid blade. However, this must necessarily be sharpened well, so that the surface is not damaged.

wood Filler

As an alternative to wax, you can also use special pastes. These are also offered in different shades.

Step 1: Roughen holes or remove the lamination.

Step 2: Moisten the affected areas with a little water.

Step 3: Fill in the damaged areas with the paste.

Step 4: Remove any excess residue with a razor blade or attached spatula.

The lamination is damaged

Leaking liquid or falling objects can damage the lamination. This can flake off, which looks ugly and at the same time represents a weak spot. If no repair is performed, moisture will penetrate and the material will be permanently damaged. Since the moisture can pass through several boards, the damage increases quickly. If it is a smaller spot, you can deepen it to then fill it up with hard wax as described above. Otherwise, an exchange of the board is necessary.

Tip: Note that the hard wax does not adhere to the lamination.

Repair dents in the laminate

Dents are characterized by the fact that the ground is dented, but the lamination is still present at the site. It is thus in principle a hole, in which case, however, an additional step is necessary when repairing. Carefully remove the lamination from the affected area with a knife so that the hard wax can adhere. Then you go like a classic hole.

Replace damaged areas

If holes or dents can not be concealed, it may be necessary to replace the affected boards. Previously, the laminate boards were glued, nowadays the click systems predominate. This facilitates an exchange. Repair work should be done as soon as possible. In the case of cracks and holes there is a risk that moisture will penetrate and thus lead to swelling of the soil. In general, minor damage can often lead to major damage if left for too long.

Tip: To avoid damage furniture should be equipped with felt glides. Roll splits under the shoes can cause scratches in the floor, so street shoes should be removed before entering the room. This is especially true in winter. Even narrow and high heels can lead to holes and scratches.

spare laminate

Point 1: get replacement material

First, you have to get the right replacement laminate. To make no difference to the old laminate after repair, the structure and color must match the existing floor. However, finding suitable boards is often difficult. Especially if several years have passed between laying and repairing or the floor has been taken over by the previous tenant, it may even be impossible to find the same series from the laminate floor again. Therefore, it is recommended to buy replacement laminate already when laying the floor and to keep it safe.

Tip: A rule of thumb is that you should buy one pack of spare laminate per room. However, if damage has already occurred and you do not have a replacement kit at hand, then it is an advantage if you know the manufacturer. This can often call you suitable alternatives on demand.

Point 2: store spare material

Replacement laminate should be kept in its original packaging if possible. It must also be well protected against weather conditions and moisture. If water penetrates to the boards, they swell up and can no longer be used. It is best to store the replacement laminate in a dry and dark cellar. Also, do not place objects on the boards to prevent cracks, dents and scratches. Heavy objects can permanently lead to material fatigue, even if the original laminate is packaged, causing the planks to sag. Store the boards horizontally, this is the most gentle.

Item 3: The laminate needs to acclimatize

Temperature changes also lead to changes in the material. In order for the planks to acclimatize, you should store the required planks for one day in the room in which they are to be installed before replacement.

Tip: If you use only a few boards from the previously sealed packaging, then you should cover the remaining material with a film and thus protect permanently.

Exchange of laminate boards

A step-by-step guide to replacing individual laminate boards. For this you need:

• new hallway
• hammer
• tapping block
• pencil
• Laminate cutter or jigsaw with attachment for laminate boards

Step 1: Measuring

The expense of replacing the boards is the lower, the closer the damaged boards are on the walls. Therefore, first of all measure the distances from the damaged laminate boards to the room walls. Now select the corner of the room which is closest to the boards concerned.

Step 2: Removing the Skirting

Next you have to remove the baseboards in the corresponding corner.

Step 3: Now, step by step, take the boards out to the damaged board.

Step 4: Replace the damaged laminate board with a new board.

Tip: If the damaged floorboard is directly against the wall, it was often cut in advance for the purpose of customization. Therefore, you must now also cut the replacement plank in the appropriate size.

Step 5 : Reposition the laminate. If the planks are still intact, you can use them again.

Step 6: Replace the baseboards.

Cutting laminate boards

To cut the new board to the right size, work best with the damaged board as a model. Lay the new board on the floor or on another level surface. Now place the old board on the new board and mark the required length with a pencil. For pruning you have the choice of different tools:

• Jigsaw with laminate saw blade
• laminate cutter

It is important that you pay attention to a solid and solid surface before cutting. There must be no damage to the already laid floor or on a table.

Lay new board optimally

Click laminate is easy and uncomplicated when laying. With the help of a special lock, the panels snap in and are thus optimally connected with each other.

1. Place the board to be laid as close as possible to its destination.

2. Now strike first longitudinally and then across the panels. It is important that no joints arise. Do not only work with a hammer, but also with a punch block to protect the material.

Tip: Not only after completion of the work must no joints remain. When laying, you must work carefully and avoid joints. Tilts transfer forces to the material, which can cause damage to the material.

Tips for quick readers:

• small scratches are repaired with oil
• larger scratches can be removed with wax or a paste
• For larger scratches, repair kits are offered
• replace larger boards with larger holes
• always pay attention to sufficient spare planks
• start at the side that is closest to the hole
• Cut boards if necessary
• Mark the length before cutting
• Avoid joints
• to work with lump
• Use installation sets
• Hard wax does not stick to the lamination
• Dents may therefore increase