Laminate is finishing material, which has sufficient wear resistance. But sooner or later, scratches, chips and other defects may appear on it. For these reasons, it is necessary to periodically make repairs to eliminate the damage that has occurred. The likelihood of similar problems occurring may be high due to violation of installation technology or operating rules. But you shouldn’t despair, since it is possible to repair the laminate yourself to return the flooring to its original appearance.

Necessary for repair

If heavy furniture was moved in the apartment without special pads or a heavy item fell on the floor, scratches may appear on the surface of the laminate. What to do? There is nothing terrible about this, everything can be fixed. If the scratches on the laminate are too deep, only then should you decide to replace the damaged board.

Scratch on the surface

To avoid scratches, you can place rugs under furniture legs. They are very relevant during a reshuffle. It is advisable to walk on laminate only in clean shoes, since various grains of sand stuck to the sole can damage the surface, and then even minor scratches will appear. The surface should also be cleaned regularly flooring using only products recommended by the manufacturer.

When purchasing substances for laminate flooring before repairs, you need to make sure that they are used exactly necessary products, and the work done will help correct the damage. Before doing this, it is important to carefully inspect the area and evaluate it to make sure that it is possible to carry out the repair yourself and that the work will be done efficiently. If the situation cannot be corrected, then the laminate board will need to be replaced.

The easiest method for eliminating minor damage to laminate flooring is to use wax chalk, or special putties in case of deeper abrasions. The putty is also good if chips are found during repairs. Before covering up scratches, you should check if everything you need is available. After all, in order to repair a laminate floor, you need to have a repair kit, which includes:

• painting spatula;
• vacuum cleaner;
• means for repairing chips;
• clean rags.

It is also important to make sure that the lamellas match the shade of the purchased pencil or chalk, so that scratches on the laminate are not noticeable later.

Repairing scratches

To do everything correctly and be satisfied with your work, you must adhere to the following sequence of work:

• Buy a colored chalk that exactly matches the color of the laminate. This is not difficult to do, since such things are sold in any hardware store, and they can also be ordered online. If you don’t know how to remove scratches on laminate flooring, you can ask the store manager, he will tell you and help you choose the right shade.

• Clean the scratches from dirt, vacuum the area and paint over it with a wax pencil.
• Then take soft cloth, remove excess around the damaged area and polish.
• If this repair does not work, you can fill the damage with putty.

Sealing with putty

To purchase a suitable repair kit, you need to take a small piece of laminate as a sample and go to the store to choose the appropriate color of putty.

• If the scratches on the surface are deep enough, you shouldn’t skimp on putty - it’s better to choose a high-quality one.
• To fill the gap on the board, you need to prepare a rubber spatula.
• Test the color on a small piece of laminate to see if it suits you.
• After making sure that everything is in order, cover the scratches with the purchased substance.
• Remove excess paste with a clean rag and allow time to dry.

Replacing material

If the previous tips did not help and scratches or damage are still noticeable on the material, you can use another option. To do this, you need to know how to replace one laminate board. When in stock necessary tool, this job is not difficult to do. It is possible to replace a laminate board using several methods.

The work of dismantling laminate flooring is simple, but lengthy. You need to start with the board that is closest to the damaged one. First you need to remove the baseboard and disassemble the slats until the damaged area is accessible. After the board is replaced, the disassembled laminate should be installed in place, covered with a plinth.

If the baseboard cannot be removed or the boards with damage are not on the edge, but in the middle of the room , You can try to do the job without thorough dismantling. This technique is not easy, but if you follow all the recommendations from specialists, repair and installation work you can do it yourself.

For this you will need:

• new board;
• circular saw;
• electric drill;
• wood glue;
• sharp knife;
• rubber hammer;
• yardstick;
• vacuum cleaner;
• protective equipment: glasses and gloves.

Advice from experts for high-quality execution of all processes

• Before installing new boards, all connections should be cleaned of dust using a powerful vacuum cleaner.
• Newly purchased boards must match and be the same brand as the old ones.
• Also make sure the color scheme is appropriate.
• Be sure to wear glasses when cutting material.

In order for the laminate replacement to be carried out efficiently, it is necessary to disassemble the coating. To do this, carefully remove the baseboard from the wall to which the damaged board is located close. This work should be done carefully so as not to break the plinth, since it will not be possible to reuse it.

After the baseboard is removed, it is necessary to carry out the work of dismantling the laminate. One by one, the panels need to be removed until you get to the broken area. To separate the boards, you need to lift each one at an angle of 45° and release the ends from the grooves. This should also be done carefully, remembering that later the boards will need to be connected.

Laminate repair

When you can get to the damaged board, it should be removed and a new one installed. When connecting, it is important to ensure that there are no gaps between the boards. Then you should continue installing the remaining laminate and install the baseboard in its original place.

Replacement using a circular saw

You can fix the broken area in this way:

• In each corner of the damaged lamella, make holes with a drill at a distance of 1.5 cm from the edge so that the board laid next to it is not affected.
• Then make holes along the length of the board at intervals of 25 cm.
• Using a pencil or marker, draw a line connecting all the holes. Adjust the circular slab to the required depth, which should be equal to the thickness of the laminate, so as not to damage the base.

• Make a cut along the intended line, starting work in the middle. Use the knife so that the short sides are cut.
• Remove the part that is inside the damaged laminate board.
• Remove dust with a vacuum cleaner and make sure the connections are strong.
• With help sharp knife cutting down bottom part from the lock side of the new panel on both sides: long and short.
• Apply glue along the entire perimeter of the laminate and make the connection, laying it on the prepared place.
• Wipe off excess glue with a clean cloth and place a heavy object on top so that the board can be fixed in the correct position.
• Install baseboards.

Sometimes the question arises: how to replace several damaged laminate boards in the floor? To do this, you should follow the same procedure as described above, only replace several damaged boards.

Eliminating gaps between seams

When the installation was performed poorly or there was an impact high humidity, it happens that the boards move from their place due to changes in volume. This creates gaps that not only spoil appearance, but also lead to delamination of the laminate over time. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to adhere to certain rules when connecting boards. These recommendations will help you avoid mistakes during installation, and cracks will not appear.

• It is important to acclimatize the material before starting installation, as this common reason the appearance of gaps between the boards. The laminate packaging should be brought into the room two days before the start of work.
• The base should be prepared very carefully so that it is perfectly level. Only in this case will the material fit correctly. Check evenness with a level.
• If the base needs leveling, you can use a special self-leveling mixture.

If gaps do appear between the boards, you can solve this problem differently:

• Places where connections are located should be sealed with a compound that contains wood filler, or dismantle the coating.
• Prepare some or all of the surfaces correctly and re-install the flooring, finishing with the installation of skirting boards.

Floor repairs without dismantling can only be done if the gaps are very small. Before disassembling the laminate and starting installation, you should carefully remove the baseboard. Only after this can you remove the boards.

After removing the baseboards, you should check their condition. This work is important; you definitely need to check the ridges and grooves. Good material can be reused. To reduce heat loss and smooth out minor irregularities, it is necessary to lay a special underlay before laying the laminate.

When performing installation work, you should carefully connect the boards , otherwise large gaps may form between the joints. It is important to thoroughly clean the ridges and grooves and remove all dust from the coating. The connection of the material must be perfect flat surface, otherwise a displacement may occur and it will be impossible to continue working, since the displacement will only increase. Slats with defects should not be used at all.

After installing the floor, to ensure that the connection is normal, it is important to maintain constant temperature and humidity in the house. After installation is complete, glue can be applied to the places where the joints are located on the laminate for strength.

A simple solution to eliminating the gap where there is a joint is to hit the board with a rubber mallet. To avoid damaging the connection, do not apply great strength. In order for the work to be successful and not have to change the laminate frequently, it is important to regulate the microclimate in the room.

If this option does not work, you need to spray colored paste into the cracks with a syringe or completely replace the laminate after leveling the base.

You can see how to replace a damaged laminate board in this video:

This method allows you to replace a damaged board without disassembling the entire floor. You can do all the work yourself. The method may not be ideal, but it can help you out in a situation where a complete floor replacement is impossible or too labor-intensive.
You will need:
Replacement board; special vacuum holders (2 pcs);
marker;
ruler;
cutter (or jigsaw with saw function);
bit;
hammer;
wooden blocks, wedges;
glue for laminate
First of all, apply markings to the damaged board - you will need to cut and remove only the middle part, leaving the areas where the locks are attached.

According to the intended markings, cut out a section of the laminate board. The easiest way to do this is with a jigsaw with hand saw, but you can use a grinder, parquet saw or mounting knife.


Make cuts along the edges, extending beyond the boundaries of the basting. In this case, the cut line should not reach the lock itself.


Using a hammer and chisel, separate the remaining pieces of board from the rest of the laminate flooring. Work carefully to avoid damaging adjacent floorboards.


After this procedure, parts of the board can be easily removed.


For further work you will have to disassemble the part of the plinth into which the board rests, vertically adjacent to the damaged one.


Using a hammer and a wooden wedge, move the row of boards in which the area is changing an inch towards the wall. This distance will free up room for maneuver.


While resting the chisel on the part of the board adjacent to the lock, use hammer blows to move it towards the center of the resulting gap.


Now you should remove top part boards from this area using a jigsaw. This coating holds the board's components together. Once removed, the wood can be easily disassembled. Remove part of the board from the other side in the same way.


Carefully remove traces of glue from the locks using a scraper or chisel. Now we begin to prepare the board that will be used for replacement. Part of the lock along its length should be removed, leaving only the central part (1/3 of the length of the lock).


Apply laminate glue to the surface of the locks and install the board in its place. Now you should attach vacuum holders to the board being replaced and the one adjacent to it in the lock area. After this, both boards need to be pulled slightly towards you so that the lock falls into place.


Move the row of boards, hitting the baseboard area with a hammer, returning them to their original place.


All that remains is to install the press on the repaired area and leave the glue to dry for at least 30 minutes. You should not walk on the floor at this time.


Detailed instructions in the video:

Laminate is one of the most durable floor coverings. But this material is still subject to deformation and damage. This can happen due to the purchase of low-quality coating or after a long period of use. It is possible to replace one laminate board under some circumstances. Let's talk about this in more detail.

Laminate structure

How to replace one laminate board? To do this without problems, you need to know the structure of this material, especially the types of locks and forms of connections. Let's remember what laminate boards are made of.

1. The top layer is protective film, made of aluminum oxide, corundum or melamine resin.
2. Decorative layer made from furniture foil or paper.
3. The basis of the material is fiberboard, plastic or HDF boards.
4. The stabilizing layer (substrate) is made of foamed polymer or balsa wood.

Note! All material components play an important role in ensuring decorative quality and the practicality of this flooring. Therefore, damaged laminate must be replaced in such a way that none of the layers is damaged during operation.

Types of connections

Before work to replace the damaged area, it is necessary to consider one more nuance - the types of connections. There are several options on the market.

Adhesive connection

This connection method is a kind of relic that laminate inherited from parquet. But today this option is becoming less and less common and various locking connections are most in demand.

Straight lock

This connection does not require gluing the boards. Reliability is achieved by fixing the tenon of one board into the groove of the next. Replacing a board here without damage is very difficult, and only a professional can handle it.

Corner, twist lock "click"

A coating with such a connection is more progressive and gives craftsmen a certain freedom of action during repairs. The design of the connection is designed in such a way that with certain skills it can be disconnected. This is very convenient and allows owners to disassemble the coating and replace damaged panels without problems or damage.

Combination t-lock lock

Such connections also allow for disassembly and replacement of the laminate with subsequent assembly.

Thus, two types of connections can be distinguished.

1. Collapsible. These are rotary and combined connections of laminate locks.
2. Non-separable. These include adhesive connections and straight locks.

Now it’s easy to guess that there are two options for replacing a damaged board.

• The first humane option, based on dismantling the coating and replacing the board.
• The second is only possible when using a cutting tool.

Note! If you purchased a secondary home and already had laminate flooring in the apartment, then before replacing it you need to find out how to connect the covering. Ask the previous owners of the apartment or try to find scraps of material.

Option one - disassemble the coating

When turning or combined version connections, you will simply have to remove the damaged board and replace it. It would seem that everything is quite simple: they dismantled the baseboard, lifted the board, released the lock, pulled it out, and replaced it with a new one. But what to do if you need to replace a board located far from the baseboard?

In this case, before changing the laminate in the center of the room, you will have to disassemble the entire covering until you get to the damaged area. Here it would be more advisable to use the second replacement option, which will be discussed below.

Consider this case: the board that requires replacement is located on the edge in the upper corner. What is needed for repair.

1. Mount.
2. Chisel.
3. Wooden block.

Step-by-step work plan

• First you need to free access to the coating. To do this, the baseboards on the walls adjacent to the repair site are dismantled.
• Then the corner board is unlocked with a chisel. This must be done first from the long side, and then from the short side. Carefully lift and remove the board from the lock.
• After this, the remaining boards are dismantled until you completely free the damaged one.
• The last stage is replacing the damaged part and assembling the coating into reverse order.

Note! If you have not purchased the material in stock, then you will have to go shopping and choose the right color. Before replacing the laminate, the material should sit in the room for some time to “get used” to the atmosphere and warm up to the room temperature.

Option two - sawing

The first option for replacing a laminate board can be done by anyone, but if you need to replace a board with an adhesive joint, then you cannot do without a special tool.

What you will need:

1. Circular parquet saw.
2. Mount.
3. Pliers.
4. File.
5. Chisel.
6. Marker or pencil.
7. Glue.

Replacement instructions

Mark the location of the cutout. To cut out the damaged part, it must be marked. This is done from the four corners of the board, departing 5 cm from their edges. Then, along the longitudinal axis of the board, lines are drawn from these marks at an angle of 45°, they form triangles, the vertices of which are connected by a longitudinal line.

Note! To accurately cut a board, you need to have skills in working with a parquet saw; it can be adjusted to the required cutting depth, this will allow you to make the cut more accurately. When working, be as careful as possible so that the cut line is smooth.

We remove the remaining laminate. When the main part of the board is cut, all you have to do is remove the butt parts. A chisel and hammer will help you do this. Carefully pry the first segment from below with a chisel, and lightly tap at the junction. As a result adhesive connection It should crack and you can easily remove it.

In version with lock connection it will be much easier to do this.

We are preparing the board for replacement. Before installing a new board, it must be prepared. To do this, the connecting tenon is filed with a file. It needs to be shaped into a wedge. Now it can be inserted without problems.

Clean the surface. Before installation, the cut area is thoroughly cleaned of debris with a vacuum cleaner. If there is glue or fragments of the old connection left at the joints, they are carefully cleaned with a chisel.

Installation of a new board. By inserting new board and making sure that it fits exactly, we treat all sides with glue and immediately insert it into place. Then the repair site needs to be recorded. This can be done with a board of the appropriate size, on which you can place something heavy.

Remains of glue must be removed immediately, and the coating can be used after 12 hours.

If necessary, replacing one section of the coating will not be difficult. But before carrying out such work, you need to inspect the repair site. Maybe the problem is not too radical and it will be enough to restore the laminate , without resorting to repairing it.

Video

This video shows how to replace a laminate flooring board.

 Replacing damaged laminate boards– it’s quite a troublesome task, although not entirely difficult in terms of physical labor. In order to begin replacing a damaged board, you need a variety of specialized tools. First you need to find the center and carefully cut it out with an electric jigsaw, then you need to carefully cut out the corners, then knock down the edges and remove them. Having gotten rid of the edges, you need to get rid of the remnants of the end boards, and then slightly knock the adjacent planks to the side. Afterwards, you need to clean the keys of the surrounding planks and insert a new plank. At first glance, everything seems quite simple and easy, but partial replacement of laminate flooring is not an easy task. This task is easy to cope with qualified specialists, which you can call by calling the number or leaving them your request on the website. They can easily tell you how to change the board in the laminate.

 Why you should use our services:

• Our craftsmen can quickly and easily replace one laminate board or
  and go through the entire cover
• Payment is made only upon completion of work
• The most optimal price/quality ratio
• Work throughout Moscow and the Moscow region
• You can easily agree with the master at any time convenient for you
  and graphics

The benefits of replacing laminate boards by a master

When you replace a damaged laminate board with a specialist, you will have the guarantee that he will do all the work quickly and accurately. This negates such scenarios as damage to the new sheet or the entire floor area within the radius of which the damaged board is located. In addition, there is a complete set of necessary for quick and quality repairs tools. An attempt to repair the damaged area yourself can lead to damage not only wooden base floor, but also a thermally restraining surface, as a result of which the floor will begin to transmit heat and moisture. Under the influence of such people, the entire floor quickly becomes unusable.

Partial replacement of laminate and its reasons

Some types of chemical damage, as well as the presence of the sheet in liquid for a long period, can lead to partial replacement of the laminate. In addition, it may be a consequence of an attempt to fix the laminate on your own without having the necessary tools. The way out of this situation can be to call a specialist at the above number or by request on the website.

The most popular floor covering in the form of laminate does not last forever, and sooner or later the question will arise of how to replace a laminate board or a certain part of it.

This is explained by the fact that laminate flooring, like any other finishing flooring material, is subject to deformation processes.

In addition, during operation, for one reason or another, the laminate board may be mechanically damaged.

What you need to know about laminate flooring if there is a need to repair it

First of all, this is its structure. As you know, a laminate board consists of several layers:

• top layer in the form of a protective film coating;
• a decorative layer that creates a board pattern; it can be made either on the basis of furniture veneer or paper pattern;
• main part made of fiberboard or HDF boards, as well as plastic;
• and the lowest one, which is the substrate; Foamed polymer or balsa wood is used for its manufacture.

For your reference, here is a laminate classification table:

Knowing the structure of the board will allow you to carry out replacement work without causing damage, that is, the replacement of the laminate will be done efficiently.

The second thing you need to pay attention to when doing repair work– what type of joints is used on the existing laminate flooring.

Basically, all types of locking connections for laminate flooring can be divided into two conditional groups. The first is LOCK locks and the second is CLICK locks. Initially, all plates came with LOCK locks. Now preference is given to CLICK locks.

Having decided on the type of locking connection, you can begin replacing the damaged laminate board.

Features of replacing panels with LOCK locks

A connection using LOCK locks is characterized by a direct lock connection, when the tenon of one board fits tightly into the grooves of another in a straight line.

Disassemble flooring, and even more so, it is very difficult to remove one of the laminate slabs without damaging it and its neighbors. Experts have developed a whole technique on how to replace laminate boards without dismantling the floor.

They suggest using the method of sawing out the damaged board from the rest of the flooring. In this case, the order of work is as follows:

Remove the glue that has been squeezed out onto the surface with a rag. This way, you can replace a single board without dismantling the entire flooring.

If it is difficult to carry out such work yourself, we recommend contacting specialists.

Features of replacing panels with CLICK locks

Laminate flooring with a CLICK connection is easy to disassemble.

Especially if during installation the rule was observed that the board closest to the wall should be located no closer than 15 mm from it.

The procedure for replacing individual or several panels is as follows:

• the plinth is first dismantled from the side of the wall closest to the board to be replaced;
• Using a chisel or hook, pry up the end board and, lifting it 45 degrees, snap it apart, pressing slightly at the junction;
• thus understands required amount panels until we remove the one that needs to be replaced. To learn how to replace one board, watch this video:

The assembly order is reversed. The same work is carried out if the question arises of how to completely replace the laminate flooring in a room.

Experts advise taking a replacement panel from that part of the floor covering that is hidden under the furniture. In this case, the pattern of the replaced panel will not differ from the rest of the floor.