How to remove scratches on a laminate?
Today, laminate flooring is in great demand. Due to its technical characteristics and a variety of structures, it makes parquet worthy of competition. The price of this coating is several times lower, but it has the advantages of no less expensive flooring. How to remove scratches on a laminate, because they occur quite often, and every time I don’t feel like changing a damaged die? You will learn all methods of removing defects from the laminate surface from this article.
to contents ↑Advantages of the laminated coating:
- Laminate coating at low cost has high wear-resistant properties.
- Laminate does not require special care, painting or varnishing. It is enough to carry out cleaning in a timely manner.
- A special anti-static coating prevents the accumulation of dust and dirt.
- Traces of a felt-tip pen or ball-point pen are easily removed with acetone or a more gentle solvent.
- A variety of textures makes it possible to lay the laminate not only at home, but to choose a pattern that matches the design of a cafe or office.
- A simple locking system for laying makes the installation process quick and easy.
- Excellent sound and heat insulation. If necessary, you can optionally install a waterproof laminate.
- The term of operation is more than 10 years.
Given such a long service life, it is very difficult to protect the coating from scratching dents or chips. Therefore, information on how to remove scratches from a laminate at home will be very relevant. We have selected the simplest, but user-tested methods.
If it so happened that scratches appeared on the surface of the laminate, do not despair. You do not have to completely reposition the floor. You can solve this problem at home. The only thing that needs to be done is to evaluate to what extent the laminate flooring is damaged. This will determine which way to eliminate the defect you apply.
to contents ↑Wax pencil
An inexpensive and practical tool than glossing over scratches on the laminate. In addition, after applying it to the damaged area, a thin protective film forms on the surface, which prevents the ingress of moisture and dust, which significantly extends the life of the material. Large color gamut makes it easy to choose the right shade of the pencil, which will fully match the color of your laminate.
Important! Before using the product in the visible area of the coating, test it on a barely visible area of the floor.
Benefits
You can buy a pencil for a laminate in any hardware store. In addition to its protective properties, this tool has a number of positive qualities:
- The small dimensions of the pencil make it possible to store it in small cabinets.
- A long shelf life allows you to save a pencil in case of new damage.
- Simple instructions for use, which even children can easily handle.
Mode of application:
- Pick a pencil to match the shade of your flooring.
- Clean the floor surface from dirt and dust.
Important! The presence of dust or small debris can cause the wax to peel off from the laminate.
- Apply the product with gentle pressure on the damaged area.
Important! Make sure that the pencil tightly covers the entire scratch in depth and length.
- Finally, polish the reconstructed area of the laminate with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Wax
A wax pencil is used when scratches on the laminate have already formed. But wax can cover the entire surface of the floor, even before any damage appears on it. After processing, a protective film forms on the coating, which will prevent scratches.
Mode of application:
- Before processing, clean the floor of fine debris, sand and dust.
- Apply a thin layer of wax to the entire surface.
- Let the laminate dry well.
to contents ↑Important! Never cover the laminate floor with varnish. Under its layer, bumps and dust will be more noticeable.
How to restore laminate flooring in case of deep damage?
Due to the frequent rearrangement of furniture or walking on the floor in shoes, especially on heels, scratches can appear on the laminate much deeper than from the claws of an animal or ordinary debris. To mask such defects on the floor is much more difficult. How to restore laminate from scuffs or deep scratches?
In this case, you will have to apply a tool that will be more effective than a wax pencil. In building stores you can buy special putty.
Important! In order to choose a product suitable in color, take a small lamella from the laminated board with you. Thanks to the huge range of shades of the special drug, you can choose the color that suits you.
If the structure of your floor is not monophonic, but there is a wood texture or pattern, you can mix several shades of the product to obtain the desired color.
The tool is available in several consistency options:
- Solid in the form of a briquette.
- Viscous in a tube.
- Powdery.
Important! Regardless of the type of product you have chosen, when applying it on the floor, you should be especially careful and strictly adhere to the proportions and recommendations of the manufacturer for use.
Briquette putty
Not sure how to fix scratches on the laminate? Perfectly cope with unattractive defects on the floor of the putty in the form of a briquette. The special composition of the agent penetrates well into the structure of the flooring and masks all flaws.
Mode of application:
- Clean the damaged area from sand and dust.
- Apply the product in small portions, following the pattern on the laminate.
Important! To apply the paste in a quality manner, use a plastic or metal narrow spatula.
- Finally, use a soft sponge to go over the restored scratch and remove excess funds.
Important! If during processing the paste has gone beyond the verge of a scratch, it must be urgently removed. Otherwise, when it dries, it will be much more difficult to remove. With a worse outcome, bumps will remain on the surface.
Viscous putty in a tube
To use this tool, it is necessary to prepare a spatula made of wood or plastic.
Mode of application:
- We clean the surface of dirt.
- Put a little putty on the scratch and the same on the spatula.
- Squeezing the putty lightly into the damage, level it evenly with a spatula.
- Wipe the treated area with a damp cloth. We wipe the putty marks that go beyond the scratch.
Important! You can walk on the floor and make furniture the room only after the agent has completely dried. This takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the amount of scratch.
- Finally, polish the repaired area with a dry, soft cloth.
The use of a special kit for repairing a laminate
Many of us are busy people, and most have virtually no free time. And if it does appear, then there is no particular desire to engage in repair work. It is for this reason that technologists have come up with a special kit for repairing laminate flooring.It includes all the necessary tools that you will need to repair damage of any complexity. Experts recommend that before installing the laminate, it is imperative to purchase this repair kit so that the question of how to remove scratches on the laminate at home is permanently resolved.
Mode of application:
- As in previous versions, we clean the flooring from dirt and dust.
- Glue the scratch on all sides with construction tape or masking tape.
Important! If the putty gets on the laminate, new scratches may appear during its removal.
- Using the spatula that comes with the kit, apply the product by carefully pressing the raw material into the scratch.
- Allow the surface to dry well.
Replacing a damaged board
All of the options described are suitable for eliminating not too voluminous and shallow defects of the floorboard. But in the case when the laminate under the weight of the furniture was completely sold or the scratch was too deep, nothing remains, how to replace the board with a new one. Replacing the board is a simple process in itself, unless the locks on the boards are glued together or the damaged board is in the middle of the room.
Instructions for dismantling:
- Using a hammer or other tool, carefully dismantle the baseboard.
- With unhurried movements, disconnect all the trims to the damaged place.
Important! To not confuse the sequence, number them.
- Replace the old spoiled board with a new one.
Important! In order for the shade of the strips to match, it is desirable to have several spare laminate boards.
- Assemble the floor following the sequence of numbered slats.
- Fasten the baseboard into place.
Tips for protecting your laminate from damage
In order not to encounter the problem of how to remove scratches on the laminate, you should follow extremely simple rules:
- Do not use metal brushes and products containing abrasive materials to clean the laminate flooring.
- In the department of household chemicals, purchase special fluids for the care of such flooring.
- Remove the stain from wax or chewing gum after it has completely hardened.
- After wet cleaning the floor, wait until it dries completely. Thus, you prevent the appearance of stains.
Important! Laminate in the wet state is very slippery, so it is undesirable to walk on it so as not to slip.
- Before laying the laminate, purchase special covers for furniture and legs from the chair.
- Before entering the room, lay a rug - dust and dirt from shoes will remain on it.
- It is undesirable on such a floor to defile on stilettos.
- To keep the floor longer from scratches and other defects, lay a thin carpet.
Stock footage
We should remember that it is much easier to prevent scratches and dents on the coating than to look for ways to repair scratches on the laminate. Leave a note on the methods suggested in the article, and your laminate coating will retain its novelty and pleasant shine for a long time.
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