Laminate, like any other material, wears out over time. I myself had such a problem, and since almost everywhere in the house it is this covering except for the bathroom, kitchen and corridor, I had to study a lot before starting to repair it. There was not a lot of money, but I had a three-room apartment, the floor was already 20 years old at the time of restoration, repairs were done in the late 90s. I hope that this article, in which I will share my experience, will be useful to you.
Among the most common problems that arise with long-term use of laminate flooring are:
- the surface loses its old shine, the colors fade;
- scratches appear;
- floors begin to sag;
- the seams between the boards diverge.
Apart from scratches, the main problem for me was precisely the divergence of the seams. So I'll start with them.
Elimination of seam divergence
When cracks form between the boards, you first need to understand why this happened. The options are:
- due to too dry or humid air;
- irregularities at the base of which the laminate is based;
- installation errors.
In the first case, with small gaps, it is enough to put a humidifier, especially if you are using a "warm floor" system.
In the second case, if the seams have parted a little and the gaps are small, it is not necessary to disassemble the panels, it is enough to treat the joints with a special sealant or a mixture of sawdust and gypsum (1: 1).
If significant gaps appear in this way, the problem cannot be solved, you need to completely sort out the coating and purchase or rent a special repair kit in the store. It includes wedges, tie straps, block and padding.
In the third case, it is necessary to determine the width of the gaps and substitute the wedges, hiding them under the skirting boards.
Eliminate scratches
To get rid of scratches will help:
- wax pencil;
- polish (Quick-Step, Pronto).
Next, I will describe what needs to be done depending on the type of scratch.
Elimination of small (superficial) scratches
Thoroughly clean the site from dirt, dry well and apply a polish that is most suitable in color to the main tone of the coating.
Elimination of deeper damage to the laminate
Laminate putty (Homastic, Quick-Step), which is applied with a special trowel, can get rid of deeper scratches and cracks. Coating restoration products are sold in powder form, which must be diluted with water (see package instructions).
Care should be taken to ensure that when the putty is applied with a spatula, it does not fall on other surfaces and places on the laminate that do not need to be repaired. After all, this product after drying is almost impossible to wipe off.
Elimination of floor deflection
If an unevenness has formed under the coating itself, for example, plywood has rotted, the floor begins to bend, dents form on it. In order to get rid of this, you will have to remove the laminate in this place and put a lining under it. Such a repair is suitable for a floor laid with a lock type. Plastic or Styrofoam is the best lining material. They do not form mold and they also prevent moisture from entering.
Shine an Old Laminate
At the last stage of renovating an old laminate floor, I would suggest giving it a shine. So it will really look like new. To do this, you need to cover the floor with a special mastic or polish in the form of a solution, spray. The best are: HG, Grass, Bagi.
Before applying them, pre-prepare the floor:
- wash well, remove all dirt if possible, especially at the joints;
- let it dry (it is better to leave it for 8-10 hours, for example, overnight);
- Spread the purchased product evenly over the laminate, using only cloths or rags.
Move your hand with a rag in a circle, so the product will be distributed as evenly as possible.