How to remove scratches on laminate flooring at home

What are the dangers of damage to laminate flooring?

The main rule is that laminate flooring repairs should be carried out immediately after a defect is discovered. Otherwise you will have to change the board. Emergency measures are needed to prevent damage to the internal layers of the material.

This type of flooring consists of four layers:

• Nizhny.
• Carrier.
• Decorative.
• Protective.

Mechanical impacts most often damage only the top protective coating. It is this that is key in the system, because it protects other layers from negative influences.

Damage to the laminate is not only an aesthetic defect. This is a serious obstacle to the further exploitation of the material. Liquid can penetrate into scratches, causing the fabric to swell. The coating will no longer be beautiful and hygienic.

Laminate in the interior of the room

Why do scratches appear on laminate flooring?

To find a solution to a problem, you need to understand the reasons. Let's look at three classifications of damage.

What are the types of scratches on laminate flooring?

In addition to scratches, cracks may form on the laminate. This happens if you install the material on an uneven surface. Defects often appear after years of use and are difficult to disguise.

Minor defects on the laminate

Noticeable defects on the laminate

Severe deep defects on laminate

Advice! Don't forget that it is important to choose high-quality flooring. Questionable material will completely lose its appearance after the first minor damage.

Surface preparation

First you need to prepare your work surface well. Therefore, the damaged panel must be thoroughly washed to remove stains and other contaminants. After this, it is important to degrease the laminate with detergent.

The area to be repaired must be clean and dry. Even a small speck of dust can cause the putty to lie unevenly and ruin the appearance of the floor. Before applying the putty, you can stick masking tape along the contour of the damage.

This will protect the undamaged area of ​​the floor from excess grout (see how to remove scratches on laminate flooring ). When applying, you need to be very careful and attentive so that the putty lays evenly.

How to restore laminate flooring from minor scratches and abrasions

Restoring flooring is much easier than it seems. We offer proven methods for eliminating minor defects:

• Vegetable oil. This simple product is suitable for masking very minor scuffs. Wipe the floor with a damp cloth and wait until it dries completely. Apply a little oil to the sponge and rub it thoroughly into the scratches. Make sure there are no abrasive particles on the sponge.
• Furniture polish. You should use the product in the same way as vegetable oil - just apply a small amount of the substance to the scratch and rub thoroughly. The only negative is the strong smell of polish.
• Nail polish. You can cover up scratches on laminate flooring at home using a clear coat. If you can choose the exact shade, you should also use colored varnish. We recommend applying the product with a thin brush in several layers.
• Technical aerosol WD-40. The product acts on the principle of a polish. It must be carefully sprayed onto the defect, wait until it dries completely and repeat the procedure.
• Silicone mastic. The plastic product helps make damage virtually invisible. You need to take a little mastic with your fingers, knead it thoroughly and gently rub it into the coating. It is important to choose the right shade, otherwise you can make the situation worse. A universal option is a translucent product in a natural beige-brown color. For reliable fixation, you can coat the surface with a special protective varnish.
• Walnut. Remove the kernel from the shell and rub it firmly against the scratch. After the procedure, polish the coating with a soft cloth.
• Masking marker. Choose a marker of a suitable color. Shake it thoroughly and carefully paint over the defect on the board. If the shade is too pale, repeat the procedure several times.

Masking scratches on laminate flooring with nail polish

Important! Nail polish can be used to remove minor defects in cork flooring.

How to avoid gaps when laying

Any of the grouting agents will do for this. What needs to be done for prevention:

• the base of the floor must be prepared in accordance with the requirements for laying the covering;
• a special substrate is placed on it;
• select lamellas according to size, taking into account the compensation gap;
• gel, putty or sealant is applied to the longitudinal and longitudinal sides of the upper edge of the lock ridge;
• The lamellas are connected, avoiding the grout from drying out.

After the required amount of time, the excess amount is carefully removed.

How to remove deep scratches

Severe damage can be dealt with using special tools and available materials. We offer 12 effective ways.

Wax pencil

You can paint over scratches on the laminate with regular craft chalk. Procedure:

• Choose a pencil to match the color of the laminate. Please note that after some time the material will lighten a little.
• Grate the chalk on a fine grater.
• Thoroughly clean damaged areas of the flooring.
• Apply beeswax to the scratches and thoroughly rub the material into the indentations.

To make wax application easier, use a soft, natural cloth. You can preheat the fabric with an iron - the rubbing process will go faster.

Wax chalk for masking scratches on laminate flooring

Beeswax

Medium deep scratches can be treated with beeswax. The procedure is the same as in the case of wax chalk. The material must be grated on a fine grater and the damage must be polished.

Beeswax for masking scratches on laminate flooring

Advice! Instead of rubbing the wax, you can melt it. However, in this case, it is important to use it as soon as possible.

Paraffin

Paraffin is the most popular material for renewing wood flooring. To restore the laminate, you should finely grate the briquette and add a dye of the required shade. The resulting crumbs should be carefully rubbed into the scratch. It is most convenient to do this with your fingers. After the procedure, remove excess crumbs with a soft cloth.

Transparent paraffin to remove scratches on laminate flooring

Advice! The dye can be replaced with crushed colored pencil lead.

Repair kit for removing scratches on laminate flooring

Wood putty

To mask scratches on light-colored laminate, we recommend using putty. How to proceed:

• Thoroughly clean and degrease the floor covering.
• Prepare putty paste according to instructions.
• Cover the area around the scratches with masking tape.
• Using a syringe or a polymer spatula, fill the recesses with putty.
• Quickly remove excess material.
• Polish the surface with a dry cloth.
• Apply a protective varnish or clear liquid wax to the laminate.

Wood putty for masking deep scratches on laminate flooring

Advice! To avoid wasting time preparing the solution, use paste putty. It is sold at any hardware store.

Acrylic varnish

The material will help if you scratched the glossy laminate. It is necessary to fill the recesses with varnish and remove excess with a rag. Wait until completely dry. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

Acrylic varnish for removing scratches from glossy laminate

Advice! It is better to choose universal acrylic varnish. This material is compatible with any type of surface and has antiseptic properties.

Polish

You can restore laminate flooring from scuffs using a polish that contains silicone, wax and composite additives. An additional bonus is that the solution creates a protective film on the coating to prevent subsequent defects.

Most often, the liquid is sold in the form of a viscous concentrate. Before polishing the laminate from scratches, the material must be diluted with water according to the instructions. The resulting mass must be carefully applied to the damaged area.

Polish for masking scuffs on laminate flooring

Gypsum

Using plaster you can get rid of wide cracks on the board. The repair process will be labor-intensive, but the results will last a long time. To work you will need: a piece of wood the size of a crack in the laminate, plaster, water and wood shavings.

Step-by-step instruction:

• Clean the damaged area of ​​the coating.
• Mix gypsum powder with sawdust and dilute with water to the consistency of thick sour cream.
• Place a piece of wood into the recess on the floor and fill the structure with plaster mixture.
• Level the material with a spatula.
• Wait until the plaster is completely dry and polish the surface with sandpaper or a sharp knife.
• Wipe the repair area with a damp cloth and coat the floor with a protective varnish.

The disadvantage of this method is that the plaster takes a long time to dry. Therefore, use this method only in case of serious damage to the coating.

Gypsum for laminate repair

Retouching pencil

Retouching pencil with stain is a special tool for effectively masking medium scratches. To get the coating in order, it is important to choose the right shade.

The pencil does not contain toxic substances, so you can safely use it on the floors in your children's room. To mask defects, it is necessary to apply the product strictly according to the scratch pattern.

Pencil with stain to remove scratches on laminate flooring

Powder putty

Colored paste for masking scratches can be purchased at hardware stores. Sometimes it is sold in powder form, which must be diluted to the required consistency. There is a more convenient option - putty in special syringes. To decorate abrasions, you need to fill the recesses with paste, level the material with a staple and remove the excess.

Putty for masking defects on laminate

Enamel for wooden surfaces

The product will do an excellent job of removing scuffs on the flooring. For convenience, it is better to purchase the material in an aerosol. Operating procedure:

• Sand the edges of the scratches with sandpaper.
• Shake the can of enamel.
• Gently spray the product onto the damaged area and remove excess.
• Wait until completely dry.

Colored enamel for masking scratches on laminate flooring

Important! The aerosol smells quite strongly, so after treatment it is better to leave the room for a while.

Acrylic sealant

You just need to fill the scratch cavities with sealant. For the best effect, acrylic material should be mixed with paint of a suitable tone.

The sealant hardens very quickly, so it is necessary to apply it correctly to defects. To do this, use a plastic spatula.

Acrylic sealant for masking scratches on laminate flooring

Advice! This method is suitable for repairing light-colored floors, especially a striking gray floor.

Putty for laminate

Print 09.19.2018 — Stroika.ru

CONTENT:

1. Possible causes of laminate damage.

2. How to protect the laminate?

3. Types of putty for laminate repair.

4. The process of repairing a scratched area of ​​laminate flooring.

5. How to avoid defects on a laminated floor surface?

6. Video.

Whatever one may say, such a floor covering cannot be called absolutely reliable, since it is not completely resistant to mechanical influences, especially abrasive and scratching ones. Even minor damage can be clearly visible. Moreover, a violation of the integrity of the coating in one place can often lead to further serious damage to the material over time. Therefore, if scratches or chips appear, they must be repaired immediately. In addition, in order to preserve the original condition of the laminated coating, it is advisable to treat it with a special agent immediately after installation.

1. Possible causes of laminate damage

Laminate is a very aesthetically pleasing, but rather “capricious” floor covering that requires careful use. The fact is that its protective top layer, although designed for a certain mechanical load, is very unstable to some external influences. When purchasing this material, you need to know what effects are detrimental to it.

• Most often, damage to laminate flooring occurs if it is laid in rooms with high levels of human traffic. At home, this is the hallway and corridor, since this is where dirt and sand are carried in from the street on shoes. And this not only stains the coating - small hard particles of dirt act as a very aggressive abrasive, abrading and scratching the surface of the laminate floor.
• Overmoistening of the coating plays a destructive role. Water seeping into the seams between the boards leads to damage to their structure - they can begin to delaminate or swell. Moisture also has a negative effect on the design of locking joints. The entire coating may become noticeably deformed at the seams or even go into waves.
• Rearranging pieces of furniture is one of the most common causes of deep scratches on laminate flooring. Such defects can expand over time, which can lead to deep damage to the board and the need to replace it.

• The wheels of an office chair are also the “sworn enemy” of this coating, as they can completely erase the protective layer of the laminate over a fairly large area.
• Heels, especially those with metal heels, can also cause serious damage to laminate flooring. They can cause not only abrasions on the coating, but also serious scratches and even chips. This is another reason why it is undesirable to use laminate flooring in the hallway.
• The claws of large pets can also cause deep scratches on the surface.
• Falling objects can damage not only the protective coating, but also the hard layer of the board, leaving a dent in it. Heavy or sharp objects are especially dangerous for this material.

2. How to protect the laminate?

Is it possible to protect laminate flooring from the threats that lie in wait for it? Manufacturers of various protective products claim that yes, this is possible if special compounds are periodically applied to the floor covering.

On sale you can find various types of mastics that are designed to extend the life of this coating while maintaining external decorative qualities.

The mastic is applied immediately after installing the coating on the base. Having completed laying the laminate, it should be cleaned of dust using a vacuum cleaner, and then a layer of protective composition should be applied to the surface. This treatment of laminate flooring should be done two to three times a year. In this case, the coating will acquire the following qualities:

• The joints between adjacent boards will become more resistant to moisture penetration.
• The strength of the laminate joints will increase.
• The surface will not accumulate static electricity, which means it will not attract dust and dirt. That is, contaminants will not linger on the coating.
• The laminate will be protected to a certain extent from abrasion and minor mechanical influences.
• Mastic can also restore the former shine to worn out old surfaces.

Mastic is produced in a colorless version or in different color shades. Therefore, it will not be difficult to choose the right color or even, if desired, make the coating a shade darker.

Wax is used to strengthen the joints of the laminate, and is applied to the locks when installing the flooring. Using a wax composition will prevent moisture from entering the seams between the boards.

In addition, wax and wax-based putties are also used to repair chips and cracks.

3. Types of putty for laminate repair

In stores you can find a lot of products for masking cracks and chips in laminate flooring. Moreover, they are produced in different forms. All such materials can have different shades, which can differ by one or two tones or even differ significantly from each other.

Therefore, when going to the store, it is recommended to take a small fragment of the board with you so that the sales assistant can choose the exact shade to fill the crack. As a last resort, if a sample piece has not survived, you can take a high-resolution photograph, although such an image can often be deceptive.

• Wax pencil is used to mask cracks, crevices or shallow scratches. A restorative pencil is made from wax and polymers, which increase the adhesive properties of the composition when it adheres to the protective layer of the laminate. The crack must be thoroughly cleaned of dust, and then pressed over it with a pencil. The wax will fill the depression, after which the repaired area is polished until the coating returns to its original appearance.

• Hard wax is sold in the form of bars that resemble plasticine. This material is convenient in that it can be used both in solid and molten form. In this case, different colors of wax can be combined with each other to achieve the desired shade, or, if necessary, darker colors can be applied to light putty. This type of wax can be used to repair deep scratches and chips in the decorative top layer of laminate flooring. In addition to wax, the bars may contain materials such as silicone, paraffin, various polymers, and dye.
• Mastic for laminate is used in cases where the surface is not fundamentally damaged, but has serious abrasions. It is applied with a brush and then rubbed with a soft cloth, or a small amount is poured onto the surface and then rubbed with a napkin.

• Laminate repair paste containing wax. This version of the formulations is sold in transparent tubes, which makes it easy to choose the desired shade. The convenience of this form of putty is that it does not have to be brought into the state necessary for application, since it already has the desired consistency. The paste is also produced in various shades.
• The polish, intended for tidying up the laminate, is used if abrasions appear on the surface of the coating, as well as after restoring the boards using a wax pencil, solid or molten putty. This restorative composition is sold in paste or liquid form.

• To eliminate serious damage to the laminate, special kits are used, which may include putty, latex or acrylic compounds, wax pencil, etc. The composition of the kits may vary, so it is possible to choose the most suitable one.

It should be noted that some Internet users, accustomed to relying on their own ideas, offer other budget options for repairs. For example, using ordinary felt-tip pens or markers, you can give the scratch the desired shade, and fill the indentation with natural wax, melting it with a soldering iron. If necessary, the wax is melted and dye is added to it, and then applied to the damaged area of ​​the coating. After hardening, the repaired scratch is sanded and varnished.

There are quite a lot of other home recipes, but all of them do not guarantee that the desired result will be achieved. Using untested means can completely damage the coating, which will lead to the need to replace several boards.

Industrially produced laminate repair products are designed taking into account the characteristics of protective coating materials. Therefore, they have excellent adhesion to the laminated surface, making the resulting defects almost invisible for a long time.

However, each master chooses the most convenient and affordable method of repairing surfaces. Therefore, if you want to experiment, it is better to do it on a fragment of the laminate left after its installation, or, as a last resort, in an inconspicuous area of ​​the coating.

4. Which putty is better?

The domestic market offers a sufficient range of various materials for repairing and maintaining the laminate surface. Almost all of them do an excellent job. One of the most important points to achieve the desired result is choosing the right shades of wax or other repair products.

The most popular materials for laminate restoration are German and Dutch “Quick-Step” products. Both companies produce putty in the form of paste, wax bars and pencils, as well as in special kits.

Companies present on the market 24 shades of wax putties that mix well with each other. Therefore, if desired, you can achieve any color that will effectively mask the flaws that have appeared.

5. How to avoid defects on a laminated floor surface?

Having chosen a laminated covering for flooring in an apartment or house, you should immediately provide for its protection. It would be a good idea to do this after the surface has been repaired, so that you don’t have to work on scratches and chips again.

These activities are simple and consist of the following steps:

• When cleaning the coating, do not use detergents containing abrasive ingredients.
• If laminate is laid in the hallway, then you should definitely lay rugs on both sides of the front door, that is, outside and inside the home.

• To protect the laminated covering from the wheels of the office chair, it is recommended to lay a thin but durable flooring that fits well to the surface in the area where it moves. This can be a rubber-based mat or acrylic glass.

• It is also necessary to protect the laminate from the legs of furniture, especially those that are frequently moved (chairs, tables, stools, etc.). To do this, felt, vinyl or polyamide pads are glued to the ends of the legs. You must remember to periodically use polish or mastic for the laminate to treat the surface. These products create a protective film on the coating, which additionally protects it from minor mechanical influences.
• 6. Video

Reads: 5132 Print

Share: Facebook

Replacing a damaged board

If the defect cannot be eliminated, the damaged element should be replaced. Find a board that is identical to the others in texture and shade. It is better to purchase exactly the same floor covering.

It is easier to replace if the damaged element is located close to the wall. Step-by-step algorithm:

• Use a screwdriver or pry bar to remove a piece of baseboard near the damaged area.
• Pry up the elements closest to the damaged board and carefully pull them out of the lock. It is important that the defective board is free on the left and front.
• Carefully remove the damaged board and place a new one in its place.
• Install adjacent boards, moving from right to left. The corner element should take its place last.
• Reinstall the baseboard.
• Check that the boards fit snugly against each other at the fastening points.

This method is suitable if the laminate is equipped with combination or twist locks. In this case, the work will require simple tools: a new block, a screwdriver or a pry bar.

If the damaged laminate board is located in the center of the room, it is easier to cut it out using a grinder. A new element must be installed into the resulting recess. To secure it thoroughly, use special glue.

Replacing scratched laminate boards

Important! Before installation, the new board must be kept for 1-3 days at room temperature.

Preventing floor damage

To avoid having to think about how to restore laminate flooring, follow simple preventive measures. Useful tips:

• To prevent scratches from falling objects, place a rug or carpet over your laminate flooring. It is not necessary to cover the entire area of ​​the room - it is enough to protect the central space. Try to choose an original carpet to match the style of the interior.
• Do not drag furniture or other heavy structures. If the process is unavoidable, first stick soft silicone pads on the legs of cabinets, sofas, tables and beds. They minimize the risk of damage to the coating.
• Try not to walk around rooms wearing high-heeled shoes. Almost always, after such fashion shows, micro-scratches remain on the laminate, which become more and more visible over time.
• Monitor your pets' behavior. Their sharp claws regularly damage laminate flooring, leaving it unattractive. If you have a cat, provide a scratching post. The pet will be busy and will not spoil the floor covering.
• Handle sharp and heavy objects more carefully. Try not to drop them on the floor. If this happens, immediately take measures to eliminate the defect.

If you've already scratched your laminate flooring, don't delay repairs. The longer you delay solving the problem, the less chance you have of getting your coverage restored.

Light laminate without scratches