How to remove scratches from a laminate

Laminate has firmly entered our lives. It is increasingly being used as a floor covering and there are several reasons for this.

What are the benefits of laminate flooring?

  • Beautiful appearance, almost indistinguishable from a parquet board or stone.
  • A lot of different colors and patterns, which easily allow you to choose the right color solution that is suitable for the planned design.
  • Ease and simplicity of laying does not require professional knowledge. Sex can be laid on by any person without much difficulty.
  • It does not require special and complex care. It is enough to wipe it with a damp cloth. Thanks to the protective layer, it does not absorb stubborn stains (for example, from wine), and traces of felt-tip pens or paint are easily removed by acetone.
  • Thanks to the substrate lined under the laminate, its sound-absorbing properties are improved.
  • It is a durable and fairly abrasion resistant material.

However, despite all the ease of maintenance and durability, the laminate floor may be damaged. A scratch may occur, for example, when moving furniture with legs. Scuffs also form. But it is possible to restore the laminate.

Where do the scratches and scuffs come from?

Any floor covering is subject to attrition.

  • Reason 1. No matter how the owner tries to monitor the cleanliness of the room, there is always the possibility of bringing coarse sand or tiny pebbles into the apartment.

REFERENCE! If you do not remove it in time, they can lead to the appearance of small scratches on the laminate, first completely invisible, but growing over time.

  • Reason 2. Sometimes you have to move furniture, and if large objects, such as cabinets and sofas, are trying to raise higher, then an ordinary chair or stool is sometimes moved directly on the floor. From this, medium or fairly deep scratches may occur on the coating.
  • Reason 3. Poorly hinged door leafs during daily passage on the floor can cause quite deep and wide scuffs.
  • Reason 4. Studs and claws. Long and sharp heels of ladies' shoes take on all the weight of the hostess. Walking in a laminate in them is not a good idea, since such shoes can damage the protective layer, form small holes or chip panels. The long sharp claws of large domestic animals act similarly.
  • Reason 5. The fall of heavy or sharp objects can lead not only to the appearance of an unpleasant scratch, but also to break off a piece of lamella.

How to repair small scratches

When minor scratches occur, do not panic. You can eliminate them quite easily and quickly. It is only necessary to act promptly, without waiting until a minor nuisance grows into a big problem.

  • When removing a small defect, varnish or enamel on wood of a suitable color can be used. Gently apply the substance on a thoroughly wiped surface and wait until it dries.
  • Special wax crayons are well suited.
  • Or you can use regular olive oil. To do this, it is enough to put a few drops of such liquid on the floor and rub them thoroughly with a clean and dry rag. The result will appear within 10-15 minutes. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated after a couple of days. The coating before the procedure should be thoroughly washed and dried.

How to repair deep scratches

Deeper scratches will require more complex actions, however, they can also be fixed.

  • Wax pencil. Such a tool will not only eliminate the emerging marks, but also prevent the emergence of new ones. Such pencils are produced in different colors, so it’s convenient to choose the right color with them. You can buy them in the same hardware store where the laminate itself was bought. The technology for using a pencil is quite simple - a cleanly washed and dried floor is painted over with a wax pencil and polished with a soft and dry rag. In addition to the simplicity of such a procedure, one can note several more advantages of a wax pencil - affordable cost, large assortment, long-term storage without limitation of shelf life.
  • Lacquer. Small and medium scratches are completely eliminated with a special varnish for wood. When using it, it is necessary to apply the material only to a scratch, avoiding the ingress of varnish to neighboring areas. After drying, the floor will become like new.
  • Repair paste. It is used to eliminate large scratches and small chips. It is also sold in hardware stores and has a wide range of colors. The paste should be selected more carefully than a wax pencil, since in a fairly large area, the difference in colors can be noticeable. You will also need to purchase a special spatula to apply the product and remove excess. Before the first use of repair paste, it is recommended to practice on an unnecessary board.

IMPORTANT! The floor must be clean and dry before repair. A small amount of paste should be applied to the damaged area of ​​the laminate and rubbed thoroughly into the floor.

Excesses must be removed quickly, preventing them from drying out. To do this, you can use the same spatula or a dry clean rag. After applying and hardening the paste, the surface can be treated with a special varnish for wood or a colorless varnish for nails. This will smooth out possible irregularities and give the material a natural look.

  • Putty. The use of this type is similar to the previous one, it is also necessary to carefully apply, rub, remove excess and wait. To isolate damage from good areas, the latter can be covered with masking tape, which is easy to remove after the repair is completed. After complete drying, grinding of the putty may be required. This action must be carried out very carefully so as not to damage neighboring areas.

For large chips or very severe damage, it may be necessary to repair the panel with gypsum, replace one panel or completely re-arrange the floor. All these are quite complex and labor-intensive processes, so it is better not to bring the floor to such a state.

Recommendations - how to prevent scratches on the laminate

As in all other cases, the problem is easier to prevent than to fix. Moreover, in this case there are several simple but effective measures:

  • The entrance mat will collect dirt and dust from the street. The rubber base of this coating will not allow water to penetrate the laminate.
  • Regular cleaning will remove sand and debris from the floor before they cause scratches.
  • Furniture legs should be provided with soft linings, and under the often moved objects lay a rug.
  • Poorly closing doors should be raised slightly to allow clearance between them and the floor.
  • Outdoor shoes will feel better in the hallway than in a laminated room. It’s easier to take off your shoes before going into the living room than to eliminate troubles on the floor in the future. Also, you should not abuse shoes with heels, it is better to buy cozy slippers with soft soles for the house.
  • Claws of pets should be regularly sheared, by the way, this is very useful for the dogs themselves.
  • Well, of course, do not throw sharp or heavy objects on the floor. And if this is impossible (a small child, an elderly person), you should also use a protective coating - a carpet or carpet.

Laminate will answer the care with a long service life.

Watch the video: How to Remove Scratches & Scrapes on Laminate Flooring : Working on Flooring (March 2024).

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