Laminate Flooring Repair
Laminate flooring has taken home improvement to the next level. This type of floor covering comes in a wide range of styles and colors. The best part about laminate flooring is that it is inexpensive, long-lasting and functional. People get laminate floor covering installed in their homes for the look and feel under the feet it offers. Laminate flooring is known for its look, which is similar to that of hardwood, tile or stone. Plus, it is affordable and durable.
Laminate flooring is not just highly durable, but it is also scratch-resistant. So, you don’t have to worry if you have dogs, cats and kids at home. Installing laminate floors is easy and there is a range of realistic designs to choose from.
First, we’ll shed some light on what laminate floors are, and then we’ll talk about flooring water damage and laminate flooring repair.
What are Laminate Floors?
Laminate flooring is a type of durable floor covering, which consists of multiple layers. All the layers combine to create a solid type of flooring. Usually, laminate flooring has 4 different layers. However, laminate floors can have more layers as per their specific style and the formation.
Each layer of the laminate flooring serves a specific purpose or function. For example, the backer layer provides a strong base to the flooring. The core layer is designed to preserve the internal structure of the flooring. The decor layer, as it is evident from the name, is the style layer. This layer lends the appearance of hardwood, tile or stone to the laminate flooring. There is another layer, known as the wear layer. The function of the wear layer is to protect the laminate flooring from everyday wear and tear. This layer makes laminate floors scratch-resistant.
There are different types of laminate floors. This type of floor covering can be installed in living areas, hallways, kitchens, dining areas etc. Style-wise, laminate floors can be broadly categorized into – engineered wood laminate and plastic laminate.
If your laminate floors are in need of repair, get it done right away to save costs and prolong the life of your floor covering.
Laminate Flooring Damage and Repair
No matter how strong and hard a material is, it is natural for every type of material to get damaged over time through daily wear and tear. Provided the installation is done by a professional and proper maintenance is done, laminate floors can last for several years in a row. It is important to keep the laminate floors from getting wet or exposed to heat for a longer duration of time.
Often, laminate floors get worn and damaged over time because their installation is not incorrect. When you are planning to install laminate floors in your home, you should always get in touch with a reputed company which specializes in the installation of these floors.
If the installation of laminate floors is correct and perfect, they can last for a much longer period of time. The second most important step is to take proper care of the floor covering. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to give a long life to your laminate floors.
Still, wear and tear is a natural process. You may need the help of professionals to repair your laminate floors from time to time. Below, we’ll talk about different kinds of flooring damage and how they can be fixed.
Scratches and Chips: These types of wear and tear are quite common. If you have kids and pets at home, you can expect to have a couple of scratches and chips here and a couple there. Scratches and chips can appear even when sharp or pointed objects fall on to the laminate floors.
It is important to get this type of flooring damage repaired as soon as they happen. If you leave them unrepaired for a long time, these scratches and chips can grow bigger and ruin the look of the flooring. There are some useful tips that you can follow in this regard. For example, make sure your pets don’t have sharp nails. Get their nails trimmed. Also, you can use mats or rugs in areas where you have high traffic. Likewise, you can take other such precautions to reduce the extent of damage to your laminate floor covering.
What is the Best Flooring for Pets to Prevent Damage and Scratches?
Moisture or Water Damage: You should clean splashes and spills quickly to prevent damage to the laminate floors. However, prolonged exposure to moisture and water can cause damage to the flooring. Improper cleaning methods, water leaks, plumbing leaks and flooding can damage the laminate flooring. Concave bow, convex bow or doming are some signs of moisture or water damage. If you notice this type of flooring water damage, you should get in touch with a flooring maintenance company and get the damaged plans replaced.
There are some small things that you can do to prevent damage to laminate floors from water or moisture. You should see to it that there are no water leaks in the appliance you use in your home. Don’t postpone plumbing tasks. If there are issues with pipes, call the plumber and get it fixed quickly. When cleaning the laminate floors, use only those methods that are recommended by the manufacturer. If there are spills, respond immediately and have it cleaned up.
Cracks, Dents or Breaks: Laminate floors can also crack, dent or break when heavy and sharp objects fall on to them. If your laminate flooring has smaller cracks, you should get the repair done as quickly as possible. If left unrepaired, these small cracks can become large cracks over time. As a matter of fact, cracked or broken planks can’t be repaired. You’ll need to call the installation company and get the affected planks or boards replaced altogether.
To prevent laminate flooring from getting cracked or broken, you should try not to fall sharp objects on the floor. Most importantly, you should get the small cracks repaired before they become worse.
Warping: Warping of floors is a serious problem. In fact, warping does more harm to floors than cupping. In the event of warping, laminate floor plans lose their original shape and get disfigured. As soon as you notice warping on your laminate floors, you should get it repaired. Warping usually happens when the floor has water or moisture below it for a long time.
Warping can also happen due to temperature change. When the temperature changes, the planks contract and expand and they need space to adjust. If the planks don’t get enough space warping happens.
You should always choose to work with expert laminate floor installers. Professionals have deep knowledge and experience about laminate floors and they install the floors correctly to avoid warping in future. If warping is moderate, the professional can fix the flooring without replacing boards. In the case of severe warping, replacing the affected planks or boards will be necessary. If you want insights or advice on warping, don’t forget to talk to experts at Minuteman Floors.
Professional Help vs DIY Flooring Repairs
Whether you got the laminate floors installed yourself or it was already there when you moved in, you may have issues with the planks or boards from time to time. This happens due to lack of proper care or improper installation in the first place. Many problems with the laminate flooring arise only because the installation was not done by a professional. Whatever may be the reason, it is possible to fix many flooring issues on your own. There are special techniques and methods that you can use to solve the problem with planks without having to replace the entire set of floorboards. You just need to follow the necessary steps.
Before a problem or damage can be fixed, it is crucial to find the source of that issue as well as the extent of damage. If the damage is not severe, you can fix it without having to replace the planks. For serious damages, you may need to replace the affected planks or boards with new ones.
Peaking, creaking, buckling, warping are some of the problems that can happen with laminate floors. Peaking occurs when the planks lack enough space to contract or expand when required. If peaking is the issue, the laminate floor repair needs to be done as soon as possible. Any delay in this regard can lead to further damage to other areas of the flooring over time.
When repairing these problems, you’ll first need to fix the underlying problem and then fix the boards. Whatever kind of flooring damage it is, you can fix it by following a step-by-step procedure or you simply take the safer route and call the laminate flooring specialist to fix it for you.
There are minor flooring issues that you can fix yourself. For other severe damages, you need to get in touch with a professional. In case the damage is extensive, complete uninstallation of floors may be required. This is something that you should always get done by experts. If you have a need for floorboards repair in the middle of a large room, it is always advisable to seek the expert help of a flooring professional. It is not a bad idea to have a couple of skills up your sleeve. However, severe damages should always be left for professionals to fix.
How Long will the Laminate Floors Last?
What is the longevity of laminate floors? This is a common question that anyone who has this type of floor covering may ask.
The answer depends on multiple factors. The lifespan of your laminate floors depends on the quality you choose in the first place. Then, it is the quality of installation. If the installation of your laminate floors was done by a flooring specialist, you can expect your flooring to last a long time. Apart from that, it is also the amount of wear and tear that plays a crucial role. Compared to plastic laminate, engineered wood laminate floors are stronger and last for a much longer period.
When talking about the longevity of laminate floors, the kind of maintenance you do plays a critical role. Regardless of what type or style of flooring you choose, you should take proper care of the floors.
Laminate floors need cleaning on a regular basis. The cleaner you keep your laminate floors, the longer you can expect them to last. You can sweep or vacuum the floors and you can also use a mild solution to clean the floor. In any case, it is important to adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions. Most importantly, you should keep your laminate floors safe from water or moisture. Even if the floor coverings are water-resistant, you should avoid leaving spills or water on the floor for too long. Clean spills and splashes as quickly as you can.
Get Your Laminate Floors Repaired Today!
If your laminate floors need repair, get it done without any delay. Putting off repair tasks can cost you more in future. When ignored, minor laminate floor damages can become worse and may need complete uninstallation and reinstallation of floorboards. Our expert team of professionals is always eager to help you and fix your flooring damages.