Once in awhile a laminate floor may need repair due to high traffic usage. While they are normally durable, laminate flooring will undoubtedly need repaired at some point. Below is a list of common problems with laminate floors and how to repair them :
Scratching
Scratching in a common problem for laminate floor and happens as furniture is move around, or from pet claws or heel of shoes. Use felt castors on furniture to reduce inevitably scratching the floor or paw socks on pets. To fix a minor scratch in laminate floor, purchase a laminate floor repair kit from most hardware stores. Make sure to take a piece of flooring with you so you can match up the colors. Follow the directions on the package.
Peaking
This happens when the laminate floor boards push up against each other, resulting in high points at the joints. Common cause of peaking is a lack of expansion space between the laminate floor and the walls around the perimeter of the installation, or a lack of expansion space between the laminate floor and laminate moldings. If moldings in the doorways or around the perimeter of the room have been fixed to the floor, this prevents the laminate floor from expanding as it is a floating floor and must not be fixed to the sub floor or moldings at any point. This does not allow the floor to expand and contract, as these floors naturally do. If the continuous area of flooring is too long in one direction (generally happen in areas where the floor runs for over 40 foot) it is without an expansion joint to relieve the pressure. As this number differs per manufacturer, check the manufacturers recommendations if the area is very large in one direction. This can be remedied by following the peaking board’s perpendicular to the wall or molding and remove the necessary molding. Decrease the tension among the boards. Remove the spacers that were set in place during installation. These provide support between the wall and the first board of laminate. Install smaller spacers and then gently press down on the peak by placing a weighted object on the peaking areas. If it does not disappear, allow the floor to settle and expand on its own. Replace the molding using a hammer to pound it back into place.
Buckling or warping
High moisture content in the air or excessive water on the surface of the floor can lead to buckling or warping. It is important never to wet mop a laminate floor. Laminate floor installed without sufficient moisture barrier (especially if it’s on a concrete sub-floor) leads to water or dampness to rise from the sub-floor, thus causing buckling/warping. Inferior product construction may also be a cause. Ensure that a moisture barrier is installed between the floating floor and sub-floor during installation.
Gapping
When laminate flooring boards pull away from one another it results in gaps between the boards. This situation occurs if the temperature drops to a point way below what is considered normal. Always acclimatize your flooring to the room temperature and conditions of the room in which the laminate is to be installed. As oppose to removal of spacers to remedy peaking/buckling, if there are gaps between boards, increase the spacers at the wall.
Mold and mildew
In order to prevent, control, or eradicate mold and mildew, one must first identify, evaluate, and eliminate the source of excessive moisture. Prior to removing an existing flooring or installing a new floor or repairing an existing laminate floor, if there are visible indications of mold or mildew or the presence of a strong musty odor in the area where flooring is to be removed or installed, the source of the problem should be identified and corrected. Remediation options range from clean-up measures using gloves and biocide to hiring a professional mold and mildew remediation contractor to address the condition. It may also require structural repairs such as replacing underlayment and/or sub-floor contaminated with mold or mildew as a result of prolonged exposure to moisture.
Two publications on mold guidelines from the EPA are “A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home” (EPA 402-K-02-003) and “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings ”(EPA 402-K-01-001). These publications can be located on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/
Chipped corners
Excessive chipping on corners can be as a result of wrong method of installation used. For instance, a laminate floor utilizing the click mechanism of installation does not require a tapping block or mallet for installation. Using a tapping block and mallet to install this type of floor will result in marks, indentations and chipping. Cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner that contains a beater bar or even a poor quality laminate floor will cause chipping.
