What to do if the laminate is scratched. How to fix scratches on laminate flooring with home remedies

Well, so you went into the bottomless expanses of the Internet in search of an answer to the question: " How to remove scratches from laminate?", because your beloved husband just moved the sofa and left a huge strip on the new floor after that. Sooner or later this can happen even with the most accurate housewives, so you should not despair. In this article, unique tricks and secrets will be revealed to you , with which you can remove scratches and chips on the laminate without a trace.To make it easier for you to figure it out, there are several videos at the end.

To date flooring from a laminate is considered the most popular, because it has excellent characteristics, has high durability in operation and is very attractive.

But, despite the positive qualities of the laminate, it is not immune from damage, so it will be very useful to arm yourself with knowledge of how you can remove scratches on the laminate on your own.

I think you will agree with me that it is better to prevent damage than to puzzle over how to remove it. The main causes of scratches on the floor are small sharp particles that enter our apartments from the street, children's toys, the claws of our favorite animals and our heels. Even careless movement of the chair can cause significant damage.

How to care for laminate?

As mentioned earlier, even fine dust that is brought in from the street can cause minor scratches. Even if you clean every day, it is impossible to completely avoid dirt. Therefore, now, our neat hostesses, I will share with you the main precautionary methods, by following which you will significantly extend the life of the laminate and save it. appearance. Just don’t be scared and don’t think that there will be a long list of special care rules now, these measures are quite simple:

Lay rugs at the entrance to the apartment. Outside, place a rug with hard bristles, put a carpet of felt inside - they will perfectly absorb a huge amount of dust and dirt, which is usually brought into the house on shoes.
Do not use products containing abrasive particles when cleaning laminate flooring.
Purchase special stickers made of felt or polyamide for the legs of chairs and tables - this way you prevent the appearance of deep scratches when moving furniture.
Place a special computer chair mat otherwise, significant damage will remain from the casters on the laminate.

To further protect your laminate flooring, use special polishes, but do not take those that have beeswax in their composition, as such products will leave terrible stains on the floor.

Means that are designed specifically for laminate flooring, act on it as follows:

significantly enhance the brightness and colorfulness of the flooring;
remove minor scuffs and scratches;
provide gloss of a laminate for a long time;
create a slight film on the surface of the floor, which protects it from possible damage.

Processing of the laminate with such means should be done several times a year.

Well? Nothing complicated at all, right? But these minor tricks will really help to avoid significant damage to the laminate. Therefore, the choice is yours, which is better and more profitable: initially purchase special stickers on the legs of chairs and polish, or then “tear your hair out” and puzzle over how to remove these terrible scratches on your new laminate.

We remove scratches with the help of improvised means

If, nevertheless, you failed to save the flooring, and scratches and chips appeared on the laminate, I don’t advise you to be sad and discouraged, because only for you I have a couple of secrets in stock that will help remove damage with the help of improvised means.

There is nothing fatal in what happened, if you carefully read my instructions, you can permanently remove scratches on the laminate. Of course, the most the best option there will be a replacement of the laminate board, but there is no certainty that you will be able to match it in color and with such a texture, and this method is a bit costly and lengthy. Therefore, if scratches and chips are not very deep and noticeable, they can be easily masked. The very principle of action is familiar to you: the procedure is identical to masking skin imperfections with a foundation pencil. The main thing is to match everything!

In order to remove scratches on the laminate and carefully mask them, there are several types of "masking pencils":

1. Wax chalk. These crayons are like small pencils. They have a fairly wide range of tones, so it will be very easy to choose a color to mask a scratch. They are great for hiding minor scratches. In order to do this correctly and as efficiently as possible, the "masking" procedure takes place in several stages:

- before applying the wax crayon, vacuum the damaged area thoroughly and wash the laminate from dust, otherwise small particles will not allow the wax to “stick” well to the bare area of the laminate, and during operation it will easily fall behind;
- draw a wax pencil along the entire scratch, pressing it well;
- the light coloration will disappear, but a noticeable trace will appear in its place;
- now gently work the area to be restored with a dry cloth, slightly "polishing" the scratched area.

Well? Magic, you say? If the wax pencil is matched to the tone, then you won’t even be able to find the place where the scratch was left!

2. Special putties. If the scratch on the laminate is deeper, then wax crayon is no longer enough. In this case, it is necessary to use special pastes or briquettes. In order to choose the right shade when buying a repair kit, take a small piece of spare laminate board with you to the hardware store.

Masking putty should be handled very carefully. In order to more closely reproduce the texture of the laminate, you need to use several briquettes or pastes of those shades that form a cut of wood on your flooring.

After purchasing our magic masking putties, let's proceed:

- thoroughly clean the damaged area from dust and other contaminants, but rather wash the floors in the place where the "plastic surgery" will take place;
- take a small spatula or spatula and apply the putty of those shades that are closest to the scratch or chip;
- the required textured pattern and the required shade of a damaged laminate board can be obtained by carefully mixing masking pastes of various colors;
- after you have filled in a deep scratch, with a small piece of felt or a dry dense cloth, treat the area to be restored and remove excess masking material so that the floor surface is perfectly flat;
- more liquid putties are sold in tubes, to evenly fill a deep scratch with them, use a small spatula (before applying them, the restoring surface of the laminate should also be thoroughly cleaned);
- masking mask is necessary apply on the area itself and on the spatula;
- after the scratch is completely filled, the liquid mass should be leveled and slightly pressed deep into the damage;
- at the end of the restoration, the repair site should be wiped with a damp cloth or sponge, and then left to dry completely;
- in a few hours it will be possible to walk on the restored area.

If the damage to the laminate turned out to be deeper and more serious, then do not even try to start removing scratches using masking. In this case, only the replacement of damaged boards will help.

What to do if the scratch cannot be removed?

What to do if it is no longer possible to remove a scratch on a laminate with masking pencils and putties? In such cases, there is only one way to solve this problem - replacing the laminate board. If you choose the right tools and ways to replace the board, then this will not be difficult at all. Especially since now we will share with you and your men step by step instructions, with which you can easily replace the damaged area of the laminate and remove the scratch.

There are several ways to replace a laminate board. Dismantling is the most simple method but also the longest.

Now call your husband, son, brother or father to the monitor, and let them carefully remember the procedure for replacing the board by the dismantling method:

Remove the baseboard only on the wall closest to the scratched laminate board. It is necessary to act as carefully as possible, otherwise then you simply cannot reuse it and install it back.
Disassemble the floor until you reach the laminate board, on which there is an ill-fated scratch. To dismantle each of them, boards should be raised at an angle of 40-45 degrees.
Replace laminate board. Make sure that there are no gaps between them and even the smallest gaps. Boards should be installed tightly to each other.
Assemble the disassembled flooring.
Put the skirting board back in place and secure it well.

If it so happened that the board with a scratch is in the center of the room, or for some reason it is impossible to dismantle the plinth, then you can replace without completely dismantling the parquet floor.

This technology is a little more complicated, but if your men are smart about this issue and armed with the necessary tools, then it will not be difficult for them to replace the board and remove the scratch on the laminate.

So, let the husband go to the garage and take the following with him:

electric drill;
rubberized hammer;
cutter or clerical knife;
circular saw;
measuring tape;
protective glasses;
wood glue.

Purchase at a hardware store a new laminate board of the same company and the same color if you have a few boards left after laying the laminate, then you are just lucky!

Well, you ladies will need to take care of the cleaning before replacing the damaged board, so take a vacuum cleaner and a good mood with you to keep your man's morale up!

I want to give you some tips that you need to follow before you clean a scratch or chip on the laminate:

thoroughly vacuum the entire parquet floor and wash the floors well, wait for the surface to dry completely;
replacement laminate boards must be only from the same manufacturer as the main, since boards of the same color of different brands will have differences in the texture and shades of the wood cut;
be sure to wear protective goggles before starting restoration work.

And now your participation in this hard work is over, and all the reins of government are transferred to your man, so free up space near the computer and go cook a hearty dinner, and let your husband carefully delve into:

At a distance of a few centimeters from the edge of the laminate board, drill holes in each of the corners in order to avoid damaging adjacent boards. After that, along the damaged board, make holes every 25 centimeters from each other.
Now connect all the holes made with a pencil. Adjust the position circular saw so that it fully matches the thickness of the board being replaced otherwise you may damage the floor base and the laminate underlay.
Then carefully saw through the laminate board along the pencil line. Use a clerical knife to cut off small sections of it, and then carefully remove the damaged laminate board.
Carefully remove any remaining boards and vacuum the area to be restored thoroughly. Make sure you don't damage adjacent planks or you will have to replace them as well.
Using sharp knife, carefully cut the bottom of the key joint on the laminate board to be installed.
Around the perimeter of the board that you will be laying, carefully apply wood glue, do not crawl out only on front side laminate. Now put the board back in place and wipe off excess glue with a dry cloth if it does come out. Then place a small load on the newly laid board and leave for a few hours.

Well? Not difficult? This is much more economical than dismantling the entire floor covering. Thanks to this method, even the deepest scratches on the laminate can be removed without much effort and expense. Now clean up your newly restored floor and feed your crafty husband the delicious dinner he deserves! Good luck!

Repair and restoration of laminate after improper installation or aggressive use, the procedure for each problem.

The content of the article:

Repairing and restoring laminate flooring is a complex and painstaking task. Having correctly laid it and observing the operating technique, you can not remember your field for a long time. However, errors during installation, flooding the coating with water, walking on heels lead to inevitable damage. To eliminate them with minimal effort and money is the main task of the owner of the dwelling.

The main reasons for laminate flooring repair

They can be divided into two broad categories. The first is a violation of the laminate installation technique, the second is improper operation and poor-quality care. In both cases, a careful approach to solving the problem is required.

Mistakes when laying laminate flooring

The manufacturers of this flooring write that anyone can handle it, just read the instructions. In fact, in 70% of cases you can see a laminate, the floorboards of which creak, rise like a house, “breathe”.

All this happens with a new floor after a couple of months due to the following mistakes when laying the laminate:

Unprepared base. One of the main mistakes of those who think that "it will do." Such craftsmen think that it is possible to lay a substrate on an unrepaired concrete slab or an old wooden base, and you can do without putting the subfloor in order. This is a serious misconception! The substrate can only minimize minor imperfections in the substrate. Even a thick layer will not hide the bumps. The consequences of such negligence: quickly destroyed locks on the slats, creaking, irregularities, visible even on finishing floor. Solution to the problem: dismantling the entire coating, leveling the base. Only then can you start laying the laminate again.
Unacclimatized material. People who decide to do repairs for the first time do not withstand the purchased laminate in the room where it is supposed to be laid. Any coating requires acclimatization. For wooden products, this is especially important. They should not only be at room temperature, but also equal in humidity to the room where they will be laid later. Installation of non-acclimatized material is fraught with swelling of individual lamellas, creaking, destruction of locks. Solution to the problem: sort out the entire coating, remove the lamellas with broken locks and twisted ones, re-install the laminate.
Desire to save on substrate. Laminate should not be laid directly on the subfloor. The substrate is chosen the more expensive, the better the finish flooring. The use of an economy class layer for an expensive laminate is fraught with the destruction of lamella locks, creaking, and staggering individual elements gender. Problem solving: resurfacing, replacement of damaged slats, laying quality substrate and subsequent installation of the laminate.
No expansion gap. If the laminate is laid close to the walls, then when the temperature in the room rises, it is likely that some of the lamellas will “swell”. The result is a "humped" floor. It looks ugly, it is inconvenient to walk on it, a strong creak is heard, the locks on the floorboards are quickly destroyed. Solution to the problem: disassemble the coating, remove the damaged lamellas and repeat the installation, observing the compensation gap.

Improper use of laminate flooring

Laminate restoration may be required not only due to laying errors, but also due to improper operation. You can't walk on it in heels. They will leave dents, scratches, chips on its surface. Thick felt must be placed under the legs of the furniture.

If the laminate is chosen incorrectly, the load on the floor in a particular room or other characteristics (humidity) are not taken into account, individual lamellas may burst or swell, gaining moisture. For high traffic areas, it is recommended to choose especially durable types of coating. There is a waterproof laminate that is recommended for use in the kitchen, where the chance of accidentally spilling liquid is quite high.

Solution to the problem: observe the operating technique, purchase material in accordance with the parameters of the room. Chips and scratches can be restored with a special paste. Henceforth, so that new ones do not appear, it is necessary to regularly (according to the instructions) rub the laminate with special wax. Broken lamellas can be replaced with new ones, but it makes sense to remove the coating and lay a more durable one. Floorboards that are swollen with moisture must be replaced. It is also better to change the unsuitable coating for a moisture resistant one.

There are more than enough reasons why laminate flooring may need to be restored. In order not to waste time, follow the technology when laying the flooring and properly care for it. Despite its strength, laminate is a delicate material. Improper use can cut its lifespan in half.

Tools and materials for laminate repair

To repair the floor, you will need a few tools and materials:

Wax, paste for laminate restoration;
Various soft cloths (rags);
New slats, if you need to replace broken or swollen ones;
Special sealant for sealing joints between floorboards;
Hand tool.

Having put the surface in order, it will need to be maintained in this condition throughout the entire period of operation. A special wax to restore the laminate will help with this. It comes in different shades, so choosing the right color for your coating is not at all difficult.

Laminate repair and restoration technology

Laminate floor repair simple task as it might seem at first glance. On the one hand, knowing your mistakes, it is easy to correct them. On the other hand, it is a lot of work and additional financial costs. It is impossible to restore a laminate laid on glue!

Laminate repair with unprepared base

If the installation was carried out independently, then you can imagine what work was done and what was not. Do-it-yourself laminate repair, if the master laid the coating, you need to start with a diagnosis.

If you suspect a poorly prepared base, you need to carefully disassemble the floor into lamellas and carefully examine each one. Floorboards with broken or cracked locks should be thrown away and replaced with new ones.

Then proceed to cleaning and leveling the subfloor:

Clean the concrete slab of debris and dust and carefully inspect.
Remove the bumps with a chisel and hammer.
Cover the places of bumps and pits with mortar.
Make an alignment concrete screed if the level deviation exceeds 2 cm per 1 meter.
Be sure to let the screed dry well, do not rush to lay the laminate.
Lay the plastic film, connect the joints with construction tape.
Cut and lay the substrate, also fix the joints with adhesive tape.
Lay the laminate according to the instructions.
Be sure to seal the joints with a special sealant.
Apply protective wax to the finished floor.

If you had to completely sort out the floor covering, carefully inspect each lamella. On the “humpbacked” base, the locks of the floorboards loosen, “go” with cracks. Having laid such a marriage again, it is likely that after some time you will again have to do repairs - to change the failed lamellas.

How to repair raised edges of laminate flooring

The edges of the lamellas can rise due to the fact that the coating is laid close to the walls. In this case, you will have to disassemble the floor.

We do the work like this:

Carefully remove all lamellas and number them so that you do not get confused when re-laying. If the floorboards are mixed up, gaps will appear between them.
Replace damaged slats with new ones, be sure to select similar ones in color or use the remaining ones after laying, which will be ideal.
Mount the floor, leaving expansion gaps up to 0.5 cm along the walls. Use a damper tape for this.
Treat the joints between the floorboards with sealant.
Apply a protective coating on top.

Laminate restoration due to poor-quality substrate

The elimination of such an oversight will result in complete dismantling coatings, removing the old and laying a new high-quality substrate:

Carefully disassemble the floor and number the slats so as not to get confused when re-laying them. Replace floorboards with “broken” locks with new ones.
Remove the old substrate, clean the subfloor from debris and dust.
Lay a new substrate, connect the joints with construction tape.
Lay the floorboards following the numbering.

If during the restoration of the laminate you have to completely dismantle the finish, do not be lazy and carefully inspect the base. It's better to eliminate everything at once possible problems so that after some time you do not have to start repairing again.

Fixing scratches on laminate flooring

The least of the troubles that can happen to a coating. Among modern means, allowing the restoration of the laminate from scratches quickly and with a minimum of labor, a wax-based pencil stands out. Run it over the scratch several times until it disappears. Now rub the floorboard to be restored with a soft cloth. Defect no matter what!

Deep scratches and dents from heels must be repaired with a special compound - putty (paste) for laminate. She happens different colors, you need to choose the one closest to the coverage. Apply a little putty to the defect with a rubber spatula. Hammer the scratch or dent flush with the floor surface. Remove excess with a rag. Polish the dried putty with a dry cloth.

Elimination of scuffs on the laminate

Appear in places of frequent use - corridors, kitchen, hallway. This is due to two points: laying a floor covering with poor wear resistance, or if special protective equipment was not used when caring for the floor.

The simplest answer to the question of how to restore a laminate from scuffs is to use wax. Apply it to the rubbed area, slightly going beyond the borders of the rub. Let dry and polish with a dry soft cloth. If protective layer the laminate is badly damaged, one wax, even if used regularly, is not enough.

More stringent measures will have to be taken:

Take the smallest sandpaper. Treat "bald spots" with it.
Remove dust with a dry cloth or use a vacuum cleaner.
Take sandpaper-zero. Walk through the already processed places. Again carefully remove all dust.
Take a laminate varnish and work on the cleaned areas.
After the varnish has dried, cover the entire surface of the floor with wax.

How to remove swelling of the lamellas due to water ingress

If water spilled on the floor, and you didn’t notice it in time, individual floorboards will swell, their edges will twitch. The solution in this situation is simple: dismantle the coating as quickly as possible, reaching the wet lamellas.

Before restoring laminate after blistering, prepare clean sheets of paper. Lay wet floorboards on them and let them dry naturally. When they take on their original form, reassemble the flooring, and lay the previously wet floorboards in another place (where water cannot reach them in case of leakage).

Even the most waterproof laminate will not be able to withstand moisture if the joints between the lamellas are not closed by anything. Be sure to use a special sealant to close the joints and regularly (according to the instructions) wax the surface of the floor. This is the only way to extend the life of the floor!

Restoring laminate from chips

This is one of the main problems. Even if they walk on the floor in soft slippers, no one is immune from the fact that something heavy will not fall on him - a plate, a cup or a lid from a cast-iron cauldron. If the object hits the corner of the lamella, a chip will inevitably appear.

Before you restore the laminate from chips, purchase a special paste. Then proceed as follows:

Clean up the crack. Try not to grab nearby undamaged parts of the slats.
Apply the paste to the chipped area with a rubber spatula. Work carefully, trying to ensure that the composition is only at the site of damage.
Remove the paste if it accidentally gets near the chipped area.
Level it flush with the floor surface, wipe with a dry cloth.
Cover the restored area with something so you don't accidentally step on it.
After a few hours, cover with a protective coating.

Pastes for the restoration of chips on the laminate come in different colors. It is not always possible to accurately “hit” the desired shade. Therefore, purchase several types of products, while working, mix them to get the desired color.

How to restore laminate - look at the video:

Now you know how to repair laminate with my own hands. This coating is very responsive to proper care. It extends its service life and allows you to keep the flooring in its original form for the entire period of operation.

Laminate has long been one of the most attractive floor coverings, it can be of any color and look both discreet and very rich. But at the same time, laminate is considered one of the most difficult floor coverings to use. He does not like moisture, and it is also quite easy to damage him by accidentally dropping some sharp or heavy object on the floor. Localized damage can occur on the laminate in the form of chips, overlay, abrasions and other defects. In most cases, the coating can be easily restored.

Positive qualities of the coating

Laminate is flooring, which includes individual lamellae, which have a multilayer structure. The basis of such material is a fibreboard, which is covered with decorative and protective layers on top. The decorative layer is a special pattern - the one that gives the lamellas a special color. For example, a laminate flooring can look more like parquet or a wooden floor, imitate marble, wild stone and other materials.

Also, laminate is considered popular because of other qualities. We need to consider them a little better, to see how good it is to use.

Relatively budget price. Laminate in comparison with solid wood or simple parquet costs a little - at least the cost for such material is acceptable for a person with an average or low income.
Ease of installation. The process of mounting such a coating occurs quickly and in a short time, provided that the master is prepared.
Easy to care for. Laminate flooring is quite easy to clean - to eliminate contamination, the coating can be simply vacuumed and wiped with a wet cloth. It does not need to be coated with a special varnish or other composition to make it look more dignified. The coating is especially important for families with small children: stains from paint or marks from a felt-tip pen from a laminate are simply and quickly removed with a cotton pad dipped in acetone solution.
The presence of a special system of locks. The slats are aligned with each other using a special locking system, which helps to obtain an almost uniform coating.
Ease of dismantling. To disassemble the laminate, you do not need to make too much effort, because glue is usually not used during installation.
High level of noise isolation.
The operating time is guaranteed by the manufacturer from 10 to 15 years.

Laminate flooring will look good in the office, children's room and even in the kitchen. There is only one limitation in the use of such material - this is an indicator of the humidity of the air in the room. That is, it is not advised to lay a laminate in the bathroom, since the coating does not like water and can quickly lose its appearance - it can be damaged and rear up strongly.

During the entire period of use of the coating, noticeable chips and scratches may occur on it. From this, the floors in the house of even the most accurate person are not insured. If you accidentally drop a knife on the floor, stumbling on your heel, you can easily damage the material. But you don’t need to be upset because of such a scratched coating - you don’t need to completely re-lay the floor, as there are many ways to get rid of such an error.

Among the reasons for the formation of scratches on the floor can be identified:

Damage results in noticeable scratches on the laminate. There are two ways to eliminate defects on the floor covering:

replacement of a damaged lamella;
restoration with the help of special tools.

Since the first method may not be suitable for everyone, the most optimal way restoration of a damaged floor will be a selection of a masking agent that will qualitatively retouch the surface to match the entire floor. The fact is that there is no way to completely eliminate a scratch from a laminate. This is not an array, but a multilayer floor material, the decorative part of which is paper and a pattern printed on it, which is covered with a protective layer of thermosetting resin. That is why you can only hide the hole, chip and other possible damage.

What resources can be found modern market construction chemicals and laminated products?

Hard wax pigmented

To eliminate chips and scratches in the place of special load, special repair kits are used. They include:

small bars of high-density mineral wax, colored in different shades;
PVC spatulas or scotch brite to eliminate excess funds.

Because waxes are distinguished by their good adaptation to all types of coatings, they are well suited for the restoration of materials and furniture made of wood, fiberboard, MDF, chipboard, plastic and plywood. At the same time, they seal superficial and deeper scratches, chips, creating a wear-resistant, elastic coating that can withstand direct sunlight and temperatures down to minus twenty degrees Celsius.

The way to use the marker is pretty easy.. Laminate flooring must be well cleaned of splinters, dust and other dirt. Using a special electric soldering iron or lighter, the edge of several or one bar must be melted (using a temperature of at least +110 degrees Celsius), mixed and applied to the deformed area. After hardening, remove excess residue with a spatula.

Tinted fine wax crayons

Many cannot understand how to cover up scratches on a laminate. The best choice for an unloaded surface, there will be a mixture of mineral wax compositions that are pressed into cylindrical bars. A mixture is created for indoor work, effective when working on solid wood, chipboard, MDF and plywood laminate. The main advantage is ease of use. To do this, you just need to wipe the place of damage, remove the excess with a spatula or rag, polish it. You can combine several pencils at once to get a more suitable color palette. Melting point reaches 60 degrees Celsius.

Repair compositions of semi-liquid type

How else can you repair a hole in the floor, restore damaged edges, scuffs and deep chips? For this, special storage agents are used, which, after polymerization, create more stable coatings that are protected from abrasion, chemicals and liquids. Polyester compositions are one- or two-component synthetic resins (acrylic, epoxy and others). These are usually white or colorless quick-drying grouts that can be painted over in the future.

Water filling mixtures are one-component. They go on sale in the form of one or more shades (there are 24 tones in total). You can mix the products together to get the color you want..

All preparations are suitable for laminate, parquet board and furniture that is inside the room. Use outside the home is allowed only when carrying out subsequent varnishing or staining. The method of use is simple - a chip or a hole in the parquet is filled with putty, after which the mixture is carefully and evenly equalized with a spatula. Excess residues of the product are best removed with a special adhesive tape or sanding paper.

To restore small scuffs and scratches on the laminate with a single movement of the hand, use a special color retouching felt-tip pen or corrective tool. With their help, you can easily mask small surface damage, as well as darken the edges of chips and holes before applying a layer of sealant, putty or special wax to them. This tool is considered very convenient and will definitely come in handy in every home.

Main advantages:

A thin corrective brush or marker rod helps to accurately treat all defects, without streaks or streaks.
Dries very quickly.
Continues to maintain shade for a long time.
Possesses property of frost resistance and tightness of packing.

Enamels and clear lacquer

In case of defects on the surface of the laminate, the user must first remove the protective transparent layer - the overlay. The floor is restored with:

If there is a large number of minor or significant damage to the floor, then it is best to completely replace the defective area. There are two ways to do this:

1. Floor renovation. If you no longer have spare slats, then start looking for more suitable slats. The main thing is that the shade and pattern of the coating completely match, and the locks, if necessary, can be easily adjusted with sanding paper or a special file. Remove the skirting boards, then disassemble the laminated parquet to the replacement area. On the reverse side each removed lamella in without fail put down the number so that you can assemble everything in the reverse order. Remove damaged plates, install new ones, excluding everything, even small gaps. Gather the remaining canvas and mount the baseboard back. Use sealants to seal joints.

2. Replacement of a defective board. Clean the floor well with a vacuum cleaner, prepare the necessary materials:

a new laminate plank, wood glue and adhesive sealant;
grinder or circular stove;
a pencil for a laminate from scratches, a construction knife and a measuring tape;
vacuum suction cups, screwdriver and mallet.

If additional material not available, you will have to change the damaged fragment to another, taken from an inconspicuous area of the floor, for example, from under the furniture. The scratch will simply be hidden from view. You can rearrange the room to hide the flaw.

Attention, only TODAY!

Laminate flooring is a cleanliness and comfort in the house. But due to the fact that the panels have a layered structure, damage to the floor in the form of scratches or chips is possible. Over time, there are more of them, and the question of how to remove scratches on a laminate can become an edge. Therefore, it is better to take care of nice view artificial parquet, repair small scratches without delay, rather than changing the floor completely or partially, especially since some types of laminate cannot be painlessly replaced.

Causes of scratches on the laminate

Among the reasons for the appearance of scratches on the floor, the following factors can be distinguished:

Quality. The initial quality of the coating greatly affects its wear resistance. A cheap floor can become scratched after six months of improper use. As a rule, the instructions for use indicate for which rooms this product can be used.
Humidity. At high humidity in a room, the top protective layer of the laminate flooring can move away from the base. This situation leads to large cracks or chips on the surface. To avoid such a fate, you should purchase a coating of better production or monitor the level of humidity in the room.

Furniture. Moving furniture without protective coatings automatically damages the entire floor plane, and the task of how to remove furniture scratches from the laminate becomes paramount.
Shoes. Walking in high heel shoes around the room can lead not only to scratches, but also to the fact that the coating becomes like a sieve.
Toys. Children's toys that have sharp parts can also be one of the causes of damage to the laminate floor.
Pets. The long claws of animals tend to leave microscopic damage to the laminate, which become very noticeable over time.
Misaligned tiles. If you neglect all the rules for laying laminate flooring, then in the near future you can expect trouble in the form of damage. Due to moisture and during operation, edges that do not fit correctly tend to crumble and crack.

Types of laminate

According to the manufacturing method, the laminate can be divided into certain markings, which can be found when purchasing the material. The type of laminate is indicated on the product label or on the packaging. But you can always get competent advice from a specialist who will take into account all the factors in the use of floor material and advise which brand is best suited for this particular room.

HPL- high pressure technology.
DPR- technology for printing a picture on a printer.
CPL- continuous pressure technology.
DPL- direct pressure technology
caching method.

A certain technique for making flooring involves the use of certain materials, and, accordingly, certain methods of how to remove scratches on a laminate at home.

HPL marking

The cost of this material is quite high, but this is justified by its high wear resistance. Laminate of this brand is used to cover the floor with increased load. This brand is also used for the manufacture of countertops or furniture facades. The method of manufacturing the product consists of separate pressing of the top layer of decorative paper, plastic and kraft paper, and after the press, the resulting blank is glued to the chipboard.

How to remove scratches on the laminate of this brand? You can’t call the method easy, simple wax is not an assistant here. To remove scratches from this laminate, you need to use a putty designed for this purpose. As a rule, these are mixtures that are preheated and evenly distributed on the damaged surface, previously cleaned of dust and degreased with alcohol, with a spatula.

DPR marking

The latest technology for the production of laminate is that the image on the material appears immediately on a slab of wood and chips. Such a floor covering can be varied in color, which greatly complicates the task of repair. You can remove minor scratches from a laminate of this production using putty and a suitable color.

Scratches on the laminate how to remove improvised means in this case? Here you can use special repair kits for laminate, which are sold in any building supermarket. They have the whole set necessary tools in order to solve the problem with a positive result.

CPL marking

The production method of this material practically copies the production of the DPL coating, but due to the additional layers of paper, the surface has a greater strength.

How to remove scratches on CPL brand laminate? You can use wax pencils or a special tool based on mastic.

You can also remove small scratches from CPL brand laminate with ordinary wax. In order for the mass to acquire a suitable shade, some craftsmen mix wax and shoe polish. This procedure adds moisture resistance to the mass and increases its protective properties.

DPL marking

Plates made by this method are the cheapest. This coating consists of four layers that are pressed simultaneously:

Papers impregnated with melamine and corundum.
Decorative paper.
Pressed wood chip board.
Phenol resin impregnated kraft paper.

How to remove scratches on the laminate of this brand? The method differs little from the main methods, but it is worth remembering that moisture is contraindicated for this material due to the use of paper in the process of its manufacture. Therefore, before removing scratches from the laminate with your own hands, the entire necessary surface must be degreased with alcohol and use ordinary wax, painted to match the tone of the coating.

Caching Method

Caching laminate production consists of gluing resin-impregnated paper onto chipboard. Therefore, the resulting material is not durable, but it is very easy to repair. Scratches on the laminate how to remove improvised means in this case? It is enough to peel off the old paper and replace it with a new one, or disassemble the floor and replace the coating with new parts of the laminate. If there are no spare tiles, then with the help of wallpaper and PVA glue or a suitable color film with a self-adhesive base, it is quite possible to repair small plot gender. This is the only brand of laminate with which you can solve the problem without much investment.

Repair kits

Can scratches be removed from laminate flooring? The answer to this question can be considered in the affirmative with the availability of special kits for repair work. Reliable and versatile means for such purposes can be mixtures based on wax or putty intended for wooden surfaces.

Laminate kits typically include:

Tube with putty.
Spatula made of plastic or rubber.
A couple of elements with paint.
Wax based pencils.

After applying the ingredients from the repair kit, you should take care of the presence of a colorless varnish. It is he who will completely saturate the tiles and will not allow cracks and scratches to appear again soon.

Repair method

Any damage should be removed while they are small. This will allow the wood chip composition of the laminate to not fall apart and will not lead to a complete replacement of the flooring. If the repair kit is assembled in full, then the repair should be carried out in the following order:

Cleaning the area from dust and dirt by any means of household chemicals. But it is worth remembering that not all brands of coating tolerate water well. Some types of laminate before repair should simply be wiped with a damp cloth.
A dry cloth should be degreased with alcohol or a special preparation for degreasing and wait until the alcohol composition has completely evaporated.
Thoroughly wipe the entire surface with putty or wax pencil, followed by cleaning of excess putty.
After the composition has hardened, the smeared surface should be opened with varnish, preferably in several layers. It is the varnish that will not allow the surface to crack and hide all visible defects.

If all the rules are followed in accordance with the instructions for the repair kit, then the scratches will be almost invisible. In the event of major damage to the laminate, you can always go for a complete replacement of the site.

Laminate has become one of the most commonly used flooring materials. It is used everywhere both in the decoration of housing and for various public buildings. Like any other material, laminate is subject to wear. Over time, scratches, chips and other minor damage appear, which significantly affect the appearance of the floor. Therefore, it is important to have knowledge of the rapid and timely elimination of such defects.

Causes of defects

There are many reasons for scratches on the floor. They can be systematized highlight the main factors:

Material quality. This factor is of great importance, since, based on the characteristics of the laminate, it is possible to determine the service life and purpose of the material. The lower the quality, the faster the traces of use will appear.
Humidity. The indoor climate plays an important role. In conditions advanced level humidity, there is a high probability that the top protective layer of the coating will move away from the base. As a result, deep cracks and irregularities appear.

Mechanical damage. These include traces of moving furniture, the effects of walking in shoes with heels, scratches from the claws of pets, as well as scuffs from sand that can be brought in from the street.
Wrong styling. If during the repair work the laying rules were ignored or the size of the boards was chosen incorrectly, then over time these nuances will make themselves felt, and your floor will become unusable.
Wrong care. If you take care of the floor covering incorrectly, clean it with inappropriate products, do not follow the operating conditions, this will significantly reduce the life of your floor.

After the main damage factors have been identified, these damages can be classified according to the complexity of the repair. You should divide them into three groups and figure out how to eliminate each of the subtypes.

Elimination of minor damage

The first group includes small scratches, abrasions, minor cracks. To eliminate these defects, you can purchase special means or cook them at home from improvised materials. To hide minor damage, it is best to use a wax pencil or marker for laminated surfaces. These tools can be purchased with the flooring, and the sales assistant in the store will help you choose the right color. It is enough to cover the damaged area with chalk.

The easiest option is a marker or corrector. Thanks to special components, they can be used to hide shallow, superficial damage, as well as darken the edges of chips or holes before applying the repair mixture.

The advantages are ease of use, convenience, savings - the corrector lasts for a long time, however, please note that subsequent varnish processing of the defect area is necessary.

To get rid of minor damage, you can use polishing materials. Unfortunately, their effect is short-lived. If you decide to use improvised means, rinse the floor with a small amount of water and detergents and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Apply a little on dry damaged areas. olive oil then polish.

Correction of deep visible defects

In order to get rid of significant damage, deep scratches and cracks, you need tools that can close up the gaps that have formed. For these purposes, a wax pencil or crayon, paste, putty, sealant and other repair mixtures are suitable.

Wax pencil or chalk

An easy-to-use and practical wax crayon will help hide noticeable defects. Due to its structure, it gives the place of damage water-repellent properties. With the help of a wax pencil, you can even restore light laminate. The method of use is simple: clean the scratch from dust, paint over with chalk, and then polish with a soft, dry cloth. It is important to choose a crayon that is a tone darker than the color of the coating.

A wax pencil is a little more difficult to use as it requires preheating to a paste. Use a spatula or spatula to fill the crack with the mixture and rub it with a soft cloth.

It is important to remove the excess immediately, because the hardened wax is more difficult to remove.

Sealant or paste

It is necessary to choose a mixture to match the coating. Do a match test first on an old board or piece of laminate. Fill the cleaned crack with paste or sealant, remove the excess with a dry cloth, sand with a special cloth and cover with a colorless varnish.

putty

Putties come in different densities: solid, paste or powder. A rich palette of colors will allow you to choose the shade you need. Pastes or putties are applied to the cleaned scratch, smoothed out with a small spatula, and the excess is removed with a sponge. After the putty is completely dry, the treated area should be polished with a dry cloth. To avoid further embarrassment, excess putty must be removed immediately because removing the dried putty is a very laborious process. To prevent the repair tool from getting beyond the damage, the area can be pasted around with masking tape.

putty

Putty is a universal tool that can process not only laminate, but also wood floors, parquet, stairs and other wood items. The main thing is to remember safety precautions when working with heating elements in order to avoid burns and other troubles.

If there is a need to hide chips or fill deep cracks, you can apply a special putty. A wide range of colors will make it easy to choose the right shade, and if there is none, you can mix it yourself. The grout is easy to use, as it can cover up cracks and crevices without much effort. When working with putty, the problem area is cleaned and degreased, the edges are pasted over with masking tape. The heated putty must be quickly and carefully applied to the defect, while the surface must be leveled so that there are no "bumps".

For heating, you can use a special high-temperature melter, which can be gas or battery type. Outwardly, it looks like a trimmer.

The handle, like a screwdriver, has a heat button. A heating element resembles a small narrow spatula. In order not to buy this device, it can be replaced with a conventional soldering iron.

Unlike repair paste, putty hardens very quickly, so you need to avoid getting the mixture on the floor. If this happens, you need to immediately remove the excess with a damp cloth, otherwise after hardening you will need a solvent. After the putty has completely hardened, the treated area must be carefully sanded.

Special formulations

If you have scratched your laminate, you can purchase a special repair kit from the store to repair the damaged area. The price of a laminate repair kit is above average, but it varies depending on the variety of substances included in the composition. There are simple kits in which you can find a spatula, wax crayon and a polishing sponge. The average price makes the set affordable for everyone, and the ease of use contributes to the quick solution of coating problems.

To remove scratches and cracks, you can find repair kits for laminate flooring in hardware stores, which are slightly different in composition from the previous version. In this set, in addition to instructions for use, there are about twenty wax briquettes for laminate repair, a special heater. This kit is a little more expensive, but also more diverse. With it, you can eliminate most damage, and due to the long shelf life, you can use it for a long time.

Something in between the composition of the previous two options - a set that includes a spatula, wax crayon and a special putty or putty. This allows you to use the tool that is most suitable for a particular damage.

Repair kits are recommended to be purchased together with laminate, because the appearance of scratches is a matter of time, but the means to correct defects will always be at hand. It will also allow you to optimally choose the color and composition that is suitable in a particular case, and help correct the resulting defects.

varnish

Another means of repairing damage to the flooring is varnish. It is used as a finish, they cover the treated areas. Acrylic varnish is also used to remove scratches from a glossy laminate. Carefully treat the problem area with varnish, without going beyond it. Wait for complete drying. Additional processing is not required.

Gypsum

If the damaged area is big size and depth, plaster can be applied. If you do not pay attention to the sufficient complexity of the process, then if done correctly, the damage will become invisible, and the floor will last for a long period. Gypsum can be purchased at hardware stores or made independently. Both options allow you to repair the floor and restore damaged areas without high costs.

To create gypsum at home, you need gypsum powder, water and sawdust. To work, you will also need a small wooden block that matches the size of the damage. First you need to clean the damage site. While it dries, you can prepare the repair mixture. To do this, mix gypsum with sawdust in a small container and fill it with water. You need to achieve the consistency of thick toothpaste.

Fill the place of damage with a bar, fill it with gypsum and level the gypsum with a spatula. After waiting for complete drying, sand with a sponge and varnish. To achieve the desired color, use a dye that can be purchased at the store.

Damage prevention

The likelihood of your flooring remaining undamaged is extremely low as everything wears out over time. This cannot be prevented, but this moment can be delayed. In order for the laminate to last longer, there is