DIY laminate repair

Recommendation points

• Minor defects
• Small scratch
• Deep scratches
• Extensive irreparable defects
• Method 1. From the edge
• Method 2. From the inside

The article will tell you how to fix small and large defects in the flooring made of laminated MDF boards (fiberboard). You will learn how to remove a panel for replacement from the edge or from the middle of the array. We will also describe a simple device that makes it easier to work with piece floor coverings..

The advantageous difference between laminated MDF board (hereinafter referred to as laminate, LMDF) from linoleum is that the coating consists of separate relatively small parts. This allows damaged areas to be replaced without sacrificing appearance. We will consider several cases of repair of large and small damage.

Minor defects

Damage can be of any nature – burning from a butt or a soldering iron, a scratch from furniture, chipping during unloading, a dent from constant pressure, etc. There are several effective and proven methods of repair, depending on the depth and nature of the defect.

Small scratch

It often happens that the MDF coating or plywood has been damaged during operation. If the damage is through (the panel material is visible), then repair is required. Moisture trapped inside the stove will soak it over time, and it will become unusable..

If the width and depth of an individual scratch is small (hardly noticeable to the eye, but palpable by hands), then it can simply be masked. In all cases of repair, a fixing furniture varnish-aerosol (hereinafter referred to as varnish), preferably transparent, will be required. The price of such a cylinder is about $ 10. e.

Remedy:

1. Choose a marker (felt-tip pen) that matches the color.
2. Paint over the scratch and remove any marks with a dry cloth.
3. Apply varnish.

Deep scratches

For repairs, you can use special compounds that are produced by the same firms as the laminate.

In an economical way, especially when it comes to cheap thin laminate, you can use an “adapted” repair method. To do this, you need furniture wax of a suitable color, a marker and varnish.

“People’s” elimination manual:

1. Paint the body of the panel with a marker.
2. Heat the wax with a candle, a torch, a soldering iron or a hair dryer, preferably to a liquid state. Ideally, use a melter, but not everyone has such a tool. If thermal tools are not available at all, warm up the wax ball in your hands.
3. Fill in / cover up the scratch with a knife or fine spatula and wait until the wax hardens.
4. Clean up the place of repair, remove excess wax.
5. Cover the repair site with varnish.

Of course, a professional approach implies a more complex tool and consistent technology..

Professional repair of laminate scratches on video

The effect of such a repair is several orders of magnitude higher than that of the described “folk method”. We can say that the method shown in the video provides the highest quality scratch repair.

Extensive irreparable defects

If a relatively large area of ​​the floor is damaged by multiple scratches, acid or temperature, it must be replaced. This is easy to do, since the panels are sold also by the piece.

Correctly laid laminate or parquet board is a continuous flooring with tongue-and-groove fastening system. In other words, such a plane is not intended for parsing. Therefore, you should resort to special means and methods of disassembly.

Method 1. From the edge

If the affected area is near the wall, you can resort to partial disassembly by removing one or more rows from the wall.

Procedure:

1. Dismantle the skirting board.
2. If the technological gap has disappeared and the laminate has reached the wall, you should create it on a new one, cutting it with a grinder, multi-tool or just a chisel. The last method, although long and laborious, is the cleanest.
3. Then the start (or finish) panel should be carefully removed as appropriate..

Attention! When removing, be careful – the panel lock must remain intact. Label the panels from the back to avoid confusion during assembly.

4. Disassemble the affected area.
5. Reassemble the panels, replacing the damaged one with a new one, and install the skirting board.

This method is the most gentle – it ensures maximum safety of the panels. The trimmed edge is hidden by the skirting board.

Method 2. From the inside

The main problem when replacing the affected area in the middle of the room is removing the panel. Crimped from all sides with locks, it is very difficult to dismantle and here you should be very careful not to damage the panel. There are two ways to deduce it from an array..

Panel sawing. To do this, you need a mini-saw with a dust extractor. This is a fairly rare tool, but it provides a quick and easy disassembly from the middle.

Operating procedure:

1. Mark the panel, in the middle there should be a rectangular “window”.
2. Cut a section along the markings and cut across the panel to the locks.
3. Dismantle the skirting board installed across the panels and tap the panels against the wall along the ridge until it stops.
4. Remove the cuttings and chamfer with a chisel from the lock.
5. On the new panel, partially remove the lock – 1/3 on each side.
6. Apply D-3 joiner’s glue or similar to the locks.
7. Raise the plane with a vacuum handle and bring the panel locks to the design position.
8. Press the row along the groove from the wall, preferably with a shock method.
9. Using wedges and vacuum handles, press the panel for 30 minutes.

How to remove a laminate panel on video

Spreading the plane. In this case, you need a relatively simple tool that you can do yourself. To do this, it is enough to weld the stops on the gate hinge and glue the clamp with polyurethane glue. The device is shown in the video. With its help, the disassembly and assembly of the laminate will become convenient and quick..

Video: Tool for laying / dismantling laminate flooring

In conclusion, it should be noted that “patient” panels of laminate and parquet boards of the middle and expensive segment lend themselves well to repair. Cheap panels have a loose base and their locks do not always withstand dismantling. However, all the rules and techniques described in this article are also true for them..