How to Repair Laminate Flooring

As durable as laminate flooring is, it can still be susceptible to scratches, chips, and water damage. Often when homeowners are faced with damaged laminate flooring, their first question is whether to repair or replace the defective planks. Sometimes this can be a quick fix with a repair kit, and sometimes it may require some of the floor to be replaced.

The handy thing about laminate though is that it’s made up of multiple individual planks, so if one is damaged, you don’t have to replace the whole floor, just that one plank. This means it’s a much simpler task than you might think, so keep reading for a step-by-step guide.

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How to repair scratched or chipped laminate flooring

For smaller repairs like scratches and chips, you won’t need to replace any of the floorboards. This kind of damage can be dealt with using a flooring repair kit.

A laminate flooring repair kit will include multiple colours that can be mixed to get a perfect match for your boards. Then just apply it to the crack, scratch, or chip until it blends in with the rest of the board. You can then use a pencil to match the grain lines to help disguise the repair a little more.

For minor cosmetic laminate floor scratch repair, a furniture repair pen may be able to cover the affected area. However, for chips and deeper scratches, a laminate flooring repair kit is more appropriate.

How to repair water-damaged laminate flooring

To repair water-damaged laminate flooring, you’ll first need to address the cause of the damage. This may involve using a dehumidifier, opening a window in a particularly damp area or resealing your bath or shower, which may be leaking water onto your floor.

Next, check the planks for any discolouration or staining. Use a cleaning solution of bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice, or a specialised mould removal product, to clean the affected planks. If the damage persists, the planks may need to be removed.

It’s important that any moisture or damp is removed from laminate floorboards as soon as you notice it - prolonged exposure can lead to the boards lifting and becoming swollen.

Swollen, or lifting, laminate flooring is often caused by prolonged exposure to moisture or improper installation. This causes the boards to swell and buckle. While many homeowners will choose to replace swollen boards, if the cause of the lifting is addressed early enough, you may be able to repair the plank.

Simply use a dehumidifier to drain moisture from the air and dry out the boards. If the buckling has been caught early enough, you may be able to apply weight to the swollen board and flattened it back into place. However, if the boards continue to lift and swell, they may need replacing.

How to replace a laminate floorboard

If your flooring has some water damage, is lifting at the edges, or has sustained any other damage that can’t be repaired with a flooring repair kit, you’ll need to replace the damaged floorboard.

To make it clear which floorboard is damaged, either make a mark on it with a permanent marker or tape around the edges with painter’s tape.

Draw two diagonal lines from corner to corner, making an ‘X’. Use a long straight edge, like a spirit level, to draw these lines.

As laminate flooring fits together with a locking mechanism, you’ll need to cut your board into pieces to remove it.

Use a circular or plunge saw to cut along the diagonal lines you drew. Make sure to set the depth of the blade to the thickness of the floorboard so you don’t cut into the underlay.

Switch to a smaller multi-tool to make sure there aren’t any bits that have been missed. This is also good for cutting right into the corners.

Use a putty knife to lift up the pieces and pull them out.

Vacuum the area to clean up any sawdust.

Mark the floor to show where the surrounding boards currently sit. Using a tapping block and rubber mallet, tap these floorboards away from the spot you’re filling in until the gap is wide enough for the new board to slot in.

Top tip: if your existing floorboards won’t slide far enough back, you can remove the tongue at the end of your new board to allow it to fit.

Dry lay the new board to make sure it fits.

Secure a flat object like an offcut to the top of the surrounding boards. The best way to do this is by putting masking tape on the area and using instant adhesive to glue the offcut on top of the tape. This helps to prevent damage to the board. This offcut will then be used to tap this board back into place.

Apply wood glue to the side of the adjacent board and place the new board down.

Use the offcut you just attached to the surrounding boards to tap them back into their original position.

Carefully peel off the tape below the offcut to remove it.

If a part of your laminate flooring gets damaged, there’s no need to panic. With a flooring repair kit, a small scratch or chip can be gone in a few minutes. And for more significant damage, just repairing a board or two can be enough to make your entire floor look as good as new.

If you’re doing repairs to your whole room, take a look at our step-by-step guide on how to repair holes in the wall. Soon, your space will be looking just like it did when you moved in.

FAQs

Laminate flooring repair kits work in the same way as wall filler. Just mix the colours to match the shade of your flooring, and rub the filler into any chips or scratches to repair the damage.

To keep your laminate flooring looking its best, use mats and rugs in high-traffic areas and place protective pads under the legs of furniture to prevent scratches. You should also prevent any rooms with laminate flooring from experiencing high levels of moisture and clean up any leaks or spillages to prevent water damage.