How to Repair Laminate Flooring

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Whether your laminate flooring has minor chips and scratches or water-damaged boards, repairing it is a project you can do yourself with the right tools and technique. To fix minor damage, all you need is a laminate floor repair kit with putty to fix big chips or a floor repair marker to hide small scratches. [1] To replace a board, remove the surrounding boards or cut out the damaged board before laying a new one in place.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Repairing Minor Chips and Scratches

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  1. [2] Wipe the damaged part of the floor with a clean, damp cloth. Let the floor dry completely before you proceed. [3]
  2. [5] Get laminate floor repair putty for larger chip repairs or a floor repair marker for smaller scratches. Take an extra piece of flooring with you to the home improvement store, if you have one, to find the closest color. [6]
    • You can mix multiple colors of putty together to get a matching color if you can't find one close enough.

    Tip : If you don't have a spare board to take shopping to color match, then take a picture on your phone of the damaged area and use it as a reference to find the closest color or colors.

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  3. Take off the cap of the marker and carefully color in the scratches. Let the marker dry for 30 minutes to 1 hour. [7]
    • Add more coats of the marker after it dries if the scratch is still visible.
  4. [8] Scoop out a bit of putty on a putty knife and spread it into the chipped area. Use the putty knife to smooth it out so it's level with the rest of the board, then let it dry for 1 hour. [9]
    • If the chip is particularly deep, then apply several thin coats of the putty until it is even with the floor.
  5. Carefully wipe around the repaired area to remove any marker or filler that got on the undamaged flooring. If you used putty, be sure to do this before it dries. [10]
    • Use a cleaning solvent designed for laminate flooring if you need something stronger.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Replacing Damaged Boards Near the Edges

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  1. Start at the side closest to the damaged board or boards. Carefully pry away baseboards and molding from the wall and pry thresholds up from any doorways with a pry bar. [11]
    • This method works when the damaged boards are close enough to the edge of the floor that it is possible to remove a small number of surrounding boards to get to the damaged boards and replace them.
    • Try your best not to damage any of the pieces that you pry away so that you can replace them afterward.

    Tip : If you don't already have a replacement board, then you can remove the damaged board first and take it with you to a home improvement center or flooring supply store to help you find a matching one.

  2. Insert a pry bar under the boards at their seams and press down on the end of it like a lever to pop the joints loose. Work from the edge where you removed baseboards and molding in towards the site of the damage until you can remove the damaged boards.
    • Set aside the boards that are still good, in the order you removed them, so that you can replace them afterward.
  3. Line up the tongue and groove of the new board the same way as those of the board you removed were lined up. Snap the new piece into position. [12]
    • Save the damaged board so that you can use it for future repairs. For example, if you need to match the color to repair scratches and chips, you can take it with you to the home improvement store when you go looking for the repair kit.
  4. Work in reverse order as when you removed them, starting with the boards that surround the replacement board. Line up the tongues and grooves, then slide or gently tap them back into place with a hammer if there is a lot of friction. [13]
    • If you use a hammer to tap any boards into place, use the damaged board you removed as a buffer between the hammer and the good boards to prevent damaging them.
  5. Line up the baseboards, molding, and thresholds in the same order you removed them to reinstall them around the edges of the floor. Gently tack them back into place with baseboard nails and a hammer using the same nails and holes as before.
    • Use new baseboard nails if any of them got damaged when you pried them out earlier on.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Replacing a Board in the Middle of the Flooring

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  1. Mark a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) line along a straight edge with a pen or pencil in from each corner of the board diagonally towards the center. Connect the inner ends of the lines with straight lines to make a rectangle that you can cut out from the center of the board. [14]
    • This method works to replace a single damaged board in the middle of your laminate flooring, where it would be too difficult to replace by removing surrounding boards starting from an edge.
  2. Use a 3 ⁄ 8  in (0.95 cm) drill bit to make a relief hole at the inner ends of the lines you marked for the cut lines. Make another set of holes 1 ⁄ 4  in (0.64 cm) in from the outer ends of the relief lines.
    • Make 8 relief holes in total so that you can cut in 2 phases—1 to remove the center section and 1 to remove the sides.
  3. Set the depth of the saw a bit deeper than the depth of the flooring. Lift the blade guard and plunge the saw into the board, starting at 1 of the inner relief holes. Cut from hole to hole in a rectangular pattern to connect the inner section of relief holes you made and remove the center section. [15]
    • You will be left with the edges of the damaged board still connected to the good boards around them.

    Tip : If you don't already have a replacement board, then you can take this center cutout with you to a home improvement center or flooring supply store and buy a matching board.

  4. Cut with your circular saw from the middle diagonally out along the remaining cut lines. Stop when you reach the relief holes. [16]
    • This will separate the remaining edges of the board at the corners so you can remove them.
  5. Pry up each side where it is connected to a surrounding board with your hands or pliers if they are stuck. Discard these pieces. [17]
    • If there is any glue on the tongues of surrounding boards, then scrape it off with a flathead screwdriver before installing the replacement board.
  6. Your replacement board will have 2 tongues and 2 grooves. Carefully cut off the tongues and bottom lips of the grooves with a utility knife so that you will be able to drop the new board into place. [18]
    • To cut off the bottom lips of the grooves, sick the blade of the knife inside the grooves and cut them off from the inside.
    • Make several passes with the utility knife to score the parts you are cutting off, then snap them off with pliers.
  7. Put a bead of floor glue along the edges where you cut off the tongues and underneath the top half of the grooves where you cut off the bottom lips. [19]
    • You can get floor glue at a home improvement center or flooring store if you don't have any.
  8. Match the top half of the grooves on your new board with the tongues on the surrounding boards. The board will now fall into place because you removed the tongues from the new board. [20]
    • If the board is not fitting right, then use your utility knife to shave off any rough parts until it drops nicely into place.
  9. Wipe away any glue that squeezes out of the seams. Use a damp cloth so that you don't spread it around on the surrounding boards. [21]
    • Keep the cloth handy so you can wipe again after you weigh down the board if any more glue squeezes out.
  10. Stack some heavy books or another heavy object on top of the newly fitted board to help the seams adhere together. Keep the weight on the board for 24 hours to ensure the glue is completely dry. [22]
    • Check if any more glue squeezed out of the seams after you placed weight on the board, and wipe it away with a damp cloth.
    • If you use something that could scratch the laminate, like a brick, place a towel underneath to protect it.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    I've heard hardwood flooring is difficult to install sometimes. What makes it hard?
    Mitchell Newman
    Construction Professional
    Mitchell Newman is a Construction Professional based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the Principal at Habitar Design, an interior design firm that specializes in floor plans, kitchen and bath design, furniture layout, custom built-ins, custom and semi-custom cabinetry, staging, models, and facades. Habitar features a strong design-build capability, utilizing Mitchell’s sister company, Stratagem Construction. Mitchell is the General Contractor at Strategem, and has 20 years of experience in construction, interior design and real estate development. Mitchell’s two companies seamlessly combine interior design with construction, allowing him to design with synchony for the client. He received an M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
    Mitchell Newman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    It isn't always super difficult, but it can be. When you do hardwood flooring, you have to also think about the base around the flooring. So very often you have to take the base up, the shoe needs to come off, when you do hardwood flooring, you have to also think about the base shoe and the base around the flooring. So, very often you have to take the base up, and you have to take the base shoe off. If you're floating a floor like you would with a laminate floor, you wouldn't take it right to the wall, you would take it about a quarter of an inch off of the wall. Then, you would put the base over it. The whole process can just get kind of convoluted depending on how you need to deal with the base.
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  • Question
    How much will it cost to have a contractor replace part of my floor?
    Mitchell Newman
    Construction Professional
    Mitchell Newman is a Construction Professional based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the Principal at Habitar Design, an interior design firm that specializes in floor plans, kitchen and bath design, furniture layout, custom built-ins, custom and semi-custom cabinetry, staging, models, and facades. Habitar features a strong design-build capability, utilizing Mitchell’s sister company, Stratagem Construction. Mitchell is the General Contractor at Strategem, and has 20 years of experience in construction, interior design and real estate development. Mitchell’s two companies seamlessly combine interior design with construction, allowing him to design with synchony for the client. He received an M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
    Mitchell Newman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    It really depends on the material and the contractor. So, some laminate floor is really cheap; it can cost as little as 80 cents a square. The nicer stuff can run you $2.00-3.00 per square foot, but then there's the installation cost. That can run anywhere from $1.75-4.00 a square foot. Then, on top of that, it depends on the shape of the floor and how much space you're covering. Even then, there's still going to be the visit charge for the contractor, so the price can end up varying quite dramatically.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I repair bigger gouges?
    Kevin Schlosser
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Kevin Schlosser is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Home Tech Handyman Ltd. With over 20 years of experience, Kevin specializes in age-in-place installations, flooring, roofing, and general remodeling handyman services. Kevin holds a blend of construction and in-home technology-related certifications including NAHB Certified Age-in-Place Specialist, CEDIA membership and certifications, and a Certification from the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals. Also, he is in training to receive certifications in Construction, Project Management, and other CEDIA qualified system integrator certifications. He is fully-insured in the state of Colorado.
    Kevin Schlosser
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If it's quite a big gouge, then sometimes replacing the board is required. You'll have to disassemble the floor from one end of the room towards wherever the damaged piece is, replace that piece, then put the floor back together the way it was.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Things You'll Need

      Repairing Minor Chips and Scratches

      • Laminate repair kit
      • Damp cloth
      • Dry cloth
      • Putty knife

      Replacing Damaged Boards Near the Edges

      • Replacement laminate floor board
      • Pry bar
      • Hammer
      • Baseboard nails

      Replacing Boards in the Middle of the Flooring

      • Drill
      • Circular saw
      • Replacement laminate floor board
      • Utility knife
      • Flathead screwdriver
      • Floor glue
      • Pen or pencil
      • Straight edge
      • Damp cloth

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      References

      1. ↑ Jon Gholian. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 December 2020.
      2. ↑ Jon Gholian. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 December 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      4. ↑ Jon Gholian. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 December 2020.
      5. ↑ Kevin Schlosser. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.
      6. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      7. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      8. ↑ Jon Gholian. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 December 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      1. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      2. ↑ Kevin Schlosser. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.
      3. ↑ Kevin Schlosser. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.
      4. ↑ Kevin Schlosser. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.
      5. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      6. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      7. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      8. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      9. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      10. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      11. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      12. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/
      13. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/floor-repair/laminate-floors-how-to-replace-a-flooring-plank/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Laminate flooring is attractive and easy to install, but it can get scuffed, chipped, or water-damaged over time. If you need to fix minor scratches or chips, purchase a laminate floor repair kit that matches the color of your floor. You’ll need to clean the area around the scratch or chip, then fill in the area with the putty or crayon that comes with the kit. For more serious repairs near the edges of the floor, you’ll need to remove the baseboards or molding so you can lift out the boards closest to the wall. When you reach the damaged board, take it out and put a replacement board in. Replace the other boards and any baseboards or molding you removed. Read on to learn how to repair damaged boards in the middle of your floor!

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