Even though a laminate floor is extremely durable and is created to be able to withstand a high amount of foot traffic, from time to time it needs to be fixed. There may be nicks or scratches that need repaired or perhaps an entire board needs to be replaced. Many laminate floors will buckle or peak and this may be what the problem is. No matter which one is causing your laminate floor to look less than perfect, there are ways that you can fix the floor yourself.
You will need to purchase a laminate flooring repair kit and have that on hand. You will also need a hammer, screwdriver and the laminate flooring. The repair kit can be purchased at a local or large hardware store. Bring along a sample of your laminate so that it matches perfectly.
The easiest fixing would be the nicks and scratches. You can simply read the instructions on the repair kit and easily eliminate those unsightly scratches.
If you need to replace part of the laminate flooring boards, you will need to do more than just read repair kit instructions. Using a screwdriver or a hammer, loosen up the molding around the floorboard. Be very careful to not damage the molding because it needs to be put back once the floor board is replaced.
The next step is to remove the floor boards that are beside and that lead up to the board that needs to be replaced. Once you have taken up the board to be replaced, simply click the new board right into it’s’ place. After the new board is correctly positioned, the other floor boards that were taken up first can then be put back in their places. It is then time to hammer the molding back in it’s’ place. Pound it carefully to avoid accidentally harming the molding.
If you have the peaking or buckling problem, you need to reduce the tensions of the boards. The age of the boards and the weather can expand the flooring and that is what causes the buckling. Once again, it is necessary to take out the molding with a hammer or screwdrivers. Do this carefully and save it because it will need to be put back down. Then take out the spacers from the original installation of the floor. These are the units that give support between the wall and laminate board.
To replace the old ones by putting in much smaller ones. Then very gently, push down on the peak. If the peak does not go down right away, don’t panic. The floor may just need to settle on its own and without any force from you. It will have to expand by itself at some point. Then you need to carefully put back the molding by using the hammer.
If there is a gap that has formed between the boards themselves, this will also cause the buckling or peaking. In this situation you will need to put larger spacers in right along the wall and this problem will be solved.