Repair of laminate

Laminate is one of the most resistant and practical floor coverings. Such a floor is reliable, durable, looks great and unpretentious in the care. But sometimes, as a result of inaccurate operation, various defects may appear on it - chips, swells, scratches and so on. In this article, we will look at the main defects that you may encounter, and we'll figure out how to repair the laminate with your own hands.

to content ↑

Damage types and laminate repair options

First, consider the most common damage:

• stains;
• surface scratches;
• slots and gaps between laminate boards;
• chips, cracks and dents;
• swelling and swelling of the strips.

Repair of laminate, depending on the severity of the damage, occurs in two ways:

• with disassembly of lamellas;
• without disassembly.

Important! The laminate repair option without disassembly is suitable for small defects and is suitable for self-implementation. Elimination of such damages is easy in execution and takes a little time.

to content ↑

Stain removal

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

• small household contamination can be removed using a damp cloth;
• grease 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 a detergent and a damp brush.

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

to the contents ↑

How to eliminate scratches on the laminate?

Small scratches can be easily disguised and give the entire coating the original color for the wax pencil. If the scratches are deeper, you can use a special set for repairing the laminate.

Important! An excellent option - Quick-Step. With his help, even an amateur can cope with repairs. The set includes a soldering iron, a spatula, special wax pencils of different shades and two sanding napkins( green and gray).

The repair of the laminate in this case is as follows:

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

Important! To avoid burns, do not touch the nozzle while the unit is operating. The nozzle cools down slowly even after the appliance has been switched off!

1. Fill the melted mixture with a small excess of the floor area to be repaired.
2. Remove excess wax with a special spatula, which is attached to the laminate repair kit.
3. To restore the texture of the damaged area, press or scratch with a sharp groove and fill it with a darker wax, remove the excess wax with a spatula.
4. Use a gray wipe to degrease the surface.
5. Apply a green cloth and shine.
6. Make sure that the melting end has completely cooled down, put the protective cap on the soldering iron.

to content ↑

Repair of chips and cracks

The chips are more serious damage than scratches. You can disguise them with a special compound that is sold in specialized stores, or with acrylic sealant mixed with a suitable tonal dye.

Important! The sealant upon drying gives a slight shrinkage, so in the case of deep cleavage, several layers must be applied, allowing them to dry. On the average, you need to make 3-4 layers. After complete drying, the repair area can be slightly polished.

Small chips can be discarded in the manner described above using the already known laminate repair kit.

to Contents ↑

How to eliminate gaps between laminate joints?

The gaps strongly deteriorate the appearance of the floor covering, and can lead to further cracking or lamination of the laminate, the appearance of a characteristic squeak. The cause may be incorrect installation or change in humidity and room temperature.

Important! Prevent the appearance of cracks and gaps between the joints will allow acclimatization of the laminate in the room for at least 48 hours before installation. It is also important to comply with the requirement of laminate manufacturers - the presence of an ideally leveled floor. It is advisable to use a self-leveling screed for this.

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

• The first is a wedging. Between the walls and laminate wooden wedges are driven.
• The second - fill the slots with special filler or color sealant of the appropriate color, level with a spatula and allow to dry.

to the contents ↑

How to replace the 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 dismantling the whole floor.

How to do it:

1. It is necessary, using the electric saw, to saw out the outer parts of the lock and remove the panel by tilting it with a chisel.
2. In the new panel, pre-aged in the same room where the repair is carried out for at least 48 hours, the lower edge of the groove is cut off, after which it is inserted into the place of the damaged one and fixed with glue.

to content ↑

Elimination of

lamellar swelling The reason for the laminate blistering may be a violation of the installation technique 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 strips will push each other. The result - the laminate will be raised by the house. To eliminate this phenomenon, it is necessary to reduce by a couple of centimeters the width of the bars located near the wall.

Important! Do not fix the laminate to the base and do not fix the skirting to the floor - it also will not allow the coating to expand.

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

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

1. To begin with, the surface must be allowed to dry.
2. In case of deformation, damaged boards can be tried and repaired.
3. Remove them and lay them on a flat surface under a considerable weight.
4. Leave to dry completely for five to seven days.
5. Place them in their original place.

Important! This method is good because the boards will not differ from the main cover, in contrast to the new ones, which may not coincide in tone.

to the contents ↑

How to avoid laminate repair?

In order to avoid the unpleasant moments associated with the repair of your flooring, it is sufficient to comply with the rules for the care of this coating recommended by the manufacturer in a timely manner.

These rules are quite simple:

1. Keep the laminate clean, do not wash the floor with soapy water. Use only special tools for cleaning the laminate, provided by the manufacturer.
2. Do not use tools containing abrasive particles in the care of the laminate, and avoid sand and dirt on it.
3. Put on or glue on the legs of your furniture special rubber or other pads to reduce pressure and prevent scratching the floor when rearranging furniture.
4. To avoid dents, do not walk around the house wearing shoes with heels.
5. Do not allow hard or sharp objects to fall on the laminate.
6. Instantly react with any moisture on the surface, wipe and dry it.
7. Cover the laminate with a special lacquer - this will additionally protect your coating from damage and give it shine.

Now you know how to repair laminate. Treat yourself carefully and gently to your floor covering, and it will last you a long time!