How to Repair Laminate Floors

Is your floor damaged? Does it seem impossible to fix? Most of today's laminated flooring has an integrated tung and grove locking system, versus earlier laminated flooring which were only glued together. The locking system will to allow the tung and groove system to unlock which will allow for the initial repair work.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Small pry bar
• Laminated flooring for the repair
• Wood putty
• Finish nails
• Sand paper
• Pneumatic nailer(optional)

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Instructions

Removal of Baseboards or Trim

1. 

   Remove baseboards and or shoe mold. Use the hammer and small pry bar to remove these items carefully, trying to achieve as little damages as possible. If multiply pieces of trim need to be removed it is a good idea to number them in the sequence they are removed.

2. 

   Lift upwards on the furthest edge of the flooring on the first row and it will unlock. If possible leave the row together and the end to end joints. Repeat to additional rows until you reach the damaged area. Remove the damaged piece or pieces.

3. 

   Replace damaged boards. Start locking the the flooring back together a row at a time or a piece at a time if necessary. This is achieved by lifting the piece or row to a 45 degree angle with a slight upward and downward motion to re-lock the tung and groove. If necessary, lay the pieces flat side by side and carefully use a block of wood and a hammer to force the joints together being careful to locate the wood block as not to damage the tung and grooves. Install the rest of the flooring in the same manner until the floor is completely back together.

4. 

   Replace the baseboards and or shoe molds securing them to the walls with nails. The best scenario for this is air compressor and pneumatic finish nailer. If this is not available, common finish nails and a hammer will do the job. Set nails with a nail set putty sand and refinish for a completed job.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time. When flat tapping joints together with the tapping block it does take some persuasion.

• Be as careful as you can with the tung and grooves they will snap off easily, if one should snap off a replacement piece will be needed.

Resources

• Ketring Designs