Laminate has long been considered one of the most beautiful floor coverings; it can have any color and look both discreet and quite expensive. But it doesn’t like moisture, and it’s also quite easy to damage if you accidentally drop something sharp or heavy on the floor. As a result, scratches appear on the laminate. How to remove defects yourself? We'll tell you later in the article.
Scratches on laminate flooring - how to remove
What are the dangers of damage to laminate flooring?
The main rule is that laminate flooring repairs should be carried out immediately after a defect is discovered. Otherwise you will have to change the board. Emergency measures are needed to prevent damage to the internal layers of the material.
This type of flooring consists of four layers:
- Nizhny.
- Carrier.
- Decorative.
- Protective.
Mechanical impacts most often damage only the top protective coating. It is this that is key in the system, because it protects other layers from negative influences.
Damage to the laminate is not only an aesthetic defect. This is a serious obstacle to the further exploitation of the material. Liquid can penetrate into scratches, causing the fabric to swell. The coating will no longer be beautiful and hygienic.
Laminate in the interior of the room
Why do scratches appear on laminate flooring?
To find a solution to a problem, you need to understand the reasons. Let's look at three classifications of damage.
What are the types of scratches on laminate flooring?
| Type of damage | Cause |
| Small | Minor scratches can occur if small particles get on the coating: dust, sand, glass fragments, stone chips. By themselves, they are not dangerous for the laminate. However, the substances stick to the soles of shoes and damage the floor when household members move between rooms. |
| Average | Such damage occurs from shoes with heels or when sharp objects fall. Another threat to laminate flooring is the claws of pets. |
| Large | Such scratches are formed as a result of significant mechanical stress on the coating. For example, defects may appear during the process of rearranging furniture and as a result of falling heavy objects. |
In addition to scratches, cracks may form on the laminate. This happens if you install the material on an uneven surface. Defects often appear after years of use and are difficult to disguise.
Minor defects on the laminate
Noticeable defects on the laminate
Severe deep defects on laminate
Advice! Don't forget that it is important to choose high-quality flooring. Questionable material will completely lose its appearance after the first minor damage.
Using plaster
This option is not used often; it is suitable for removing serious defects. The procedure is labor-intensive, but quite effective if performed correctly.
For work you will need: plaster, water, sawdust and a small block of wood, which should be cut out in exact accordance with the size and shape of the damage.
Restoration stages:
- Clean the damaged area, rinse, dry;
- Prepare the mixture: prepare sawdust, mix it with gypsum and add water. When stirring, follow the consistency of thick toothpaste;
- Place a wooden plank over the defect that matches the damage in shape and size;
- Pour the prepared mixture over the surface and level it thoroughly;
- Cover the damaged area until it dries completely.
The method is rarely used, as it is complex and requires skills. Success is not guaranteed, so assess your abilities before you begin.
It may be easier to replace one laminate board (but the coating will need to be rebuilt) or still try to repair it.
How to restore laminate flooring from minor scratches and abrasions
Restoring flooring is much easier than it seems. We offer proven methods for eliminating minor defects:
- Vegetable oil. This simple product is suitable for masking very minor scuffs. Wipe the floor with a damp cloth and wait until it dries completely. Apply a little oil to the sponge and rub it thoroughly into the scratches. Make sure there are no abrasive particles on the sponge.
- Furniture polish. You should use the product in the same way as vegetable oil - just apply a small amount of the substance to the scratch and rub thoroughly. The only negative is the strong smell of polish.
- Nail polish. You can cover up scratches on laminate flooring at home using a clear coat. If you can choose the exact shade, you should also use colored varnish. We recommend applying the product with a thin brush in several layers.
- Technical aerosol WD-40. The product acts on the principle of a polish. It must be carefully sprayed onto the defect, wait until it dries completely and repeat the procedure.
- Silicone mastic. The plastic product helps make damage virtually invisible. You need to take a little mastic with your fingers, knead it thoroughly and gently rub it into the coating. It is important to choose the right shade, otherwise you can make the situation worse. A universal option is a translucent product in a natural beige-brown color. For reliable fixation, you can coat the surface with a special protective varnish.
- Walnut. Remove the kernel from the shell and rub it firmly against the scratch. After the procedure, polish the coating with a soft cloth.
- Masking marker. Choose a marker of a suitable color. Shake it thoroughly and carefully paint over the defect on the board. If the shade is too pale, repeat the procedure several times.
Masking scratches on laminate flooring with nail polish
Important! Nail polish can be used to remove minor defects in cork flooring.
Using repair paste
First, you need to select a repair paste that matches the color scheme of the floor. With knowledge and skills, severe and deep damage can be eliminated.
Sealants are sold in construction stores and can be found in the hardware departments of supermarkets. The best option would be to take a sample with you to the store (small bars of laminate remain after installation of the coating). Don't forget the spatula.
Process sequence:
- Clean the damaged area from dirt;
- Rinse thoroughly and dry completely;
- Using a spatula, apply a layer of sealant to the damage;
- Remove excess repair paste using a dry cloth;
- It is advisable to paint over the defect with a protective varnish to avoid further contact with moisture.
This method perfectly eliminates medium-sized damage, and also copes well with larger scratches.
How to remove deep scratches
Severe damage can be dealt with using special tools and available materials. We offer 12 effective ways.
Wax pencil
You can paint over scratches on the laminate with regular craft chalk. Procedure:
- Choose a pencil to match the color of the laminate. Please note that after some time the material will lighten a little.
- Grate the chalk on a fine grater.
- Thoroughly clean damaged areas of the flooring.
- Apply beeswax to the scratches and thoroughly rub the material into the indentations.
To make wax application easier, use a soft, natural cloth. You can preheat the fabric with an iron - the rubbing process will go faster.
Wax chalk for masking scratches on laminate flooring
Beeswax
Medium deep scratches can be treated with beeswax. The procedure is the same as in the case of wax chalk. The material must be grated on a fine grater and the damage must be polished.
Beeswax for masking scratches on laminate flooring
Advice! Instead of rubbing the wax, you can melt it. However, in this case, it is important to use it as soon as possible.
Paraffin
Paraffin is the most popular material for renewing wood flooring. To restore the laminate, you should finely grate the briquette and add a dye of the required shade. The resulting crumbs should be carefully rubbed into the scratch. It is most convenient to do this with your fingers. After the procedure, remove excess crumbs with a soft cloth.
Transparent paraffin to remove scratches on laminate flooring
Advice! The dye can be replaced with crushed colored pencil lead.
Repair kit for removing scratches on laminate flooring
Wood putty
To mask scratches on light-colored laminate, we recommend using putty. How to proceed:
- Thoroughly clean and degrease the floor covering.
- Prepare putty paste according to instructions.
- Cover the area around the scratches with masking tape.
- Using a syringe or a polymer spatula, fill the recesses with putty.
- Quickly remove excess material.
- Polish the surface with a dry cloth.
- Apply a protective varnish or clear liquid wax to the laminate.
Wood putty for masking deep scratches on laminate flooring
Advice! To avoid wasting time preparing the solution, use paste putty. It is sold at any hardware store.
Acrylic varnish
The material will help if you scratched the glossy laminate. It is necessary to fill the recesses with varnish and remove excess with a rag. Wait until completely dry. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
Acrylic varnish for removing scratches from glossy laminate
Advice! It is better to choose universal acrylic varnish. This material is compatible with any type of surface and has antiseptic properties.
Polish
You can restore laminate flooring from scuffs using a polish that contains silicone, wax and composite additives. An additional bonus is that the solution creates a protective film on the coating to prevent subsequent defects.
Most often, the liquid is sold in the form of a viscous concentrate. Before polishing the laminate from scratches, the material must be diluted with water according to the instructions. The resulting mass must be carefully applied to the damaged area.
Polish for masking scuffs on laminate flooring
Gypsum
Using plaster you can get rid of wide cracks on the board. The repair process will be labor-intensive, but the results will last a long time. To work you will need: a piece of wood the size of a crack in the laminate, plaster, water and wood shavings.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Clean the damaged area of the coating.
- Mix gypsum powder with sawdust and dilute with water to the consistency of thick sour cream.
- Place a piece of wood into the recess on the floor and fill the structure with plaster mixture.
- Level the material with a spatula.
- Wait until the plaster is completely dry and polish the surface with sandpaper or a sharp knife.
- Wipe the repair area with a damp cloth and coat the floor with a protective varnish.
The disadvantage of this method is that the plaster takes a long time to dry. Therefore, use this method only in case of serious damage to the coating.
Gypsum for laminate repair
Retouching pencil
Retouching pencil with stain is a special tool for effectively masking medium scratches. To get the coating in order, it is important to choose the right shade.
The pencil does not contain toxic substances, so you can safely use it on the floors in your children's room. To mask defects, it is necessary to apply the product strictly according to the scratch pattern.
Pencil with stain to remove scratches on laminate flooring
Powder putty
Colored paste for masking scratches can be purchased at hardware stores. Sometimes it is sold in powder form, which must be diluted to the required consistency. There is a more convenient option - putty in special syringes. To decorate abrasions, you need to fill the recesses with paste, level the material with a staple and remove the excess.
Putty for masking defects on laminate
Enamel for wooden surfaces
The product will do an excellent job of removing scuffs on the flooring. For convenience, it is better to purchase the material in an aerosol. Operating procedure:
- Sand the edges of the scratches with sandpaper.
- Shake the can of enamel.
- Gently spray the product onto the damaged area and remove excess.
- Wait until completely dry.
Colored enamel for masking scratches on laminate flooring
Important! The aerosol smells quite strongly, so after treatment it is better to leave the room for a while.
Acrylic sealant
You just need to fill the scratch cavities with sealant. For the best effect, acrylic material should be mixed with paint of a suitable tone.
The sealant hardens very quickly, so it is necessary to apply it correctly to defects. To do this, use a plastic spatula.
Acrylic sealant for masking scratches on laminate flooring
Advice! This method is suitable for repairing light-colored floors, especially a striking gray floor.
Recommendations on the topic
Expert advice will help you cope with the restoration of laminate flooring in the optimal way:
- If varnish is used to camouflage scratches, then the work must be carried out very carefully - apply the product directly to the scratch.
- If the damage is significant, a complete replacement of the board may be necessary. The closer the defective board is to the wall, the easier it will be to replace it.
- Buying a repair kit is one way to secure yourself for the future. It is better to purchase it immediately, along with the laminate. This kit includes everything you need to carry out minor repairs - a soft spatula and putty (putty). This repair kit will allow you to always have everything you need to remove scratches from laminate flooring at hand.
- If you need to mix several shades of wax to achieve the effect, then you need to choose products from one company. This will guarantee high-quality color mixing and obtain a homogeneous composition with high performance characteristics.
If you are interested in how to remove small and deep scratches from various surfaces and objects, take a look at this section.
Replacing a damaged board
If the defect cannot be eliminated, the damaged element should be replaced. Find a board that is identical to the others in texture and shade. It is better to purchase exactly the same floor covering.
It is easier to replace if the damaged element is located close to the wall. Step-by-step algorithm:
- Use a screwdriver or pry bar to remove a piece of baseboard near the damaged area.
- Pry up the elements closest to the damaged board and carefully pull them out of the lock. It is important that the defective board is free on the left and front.
- Carefully remove the damaged board and place a new one in its place.
- Install adjacent boards, moving from right to left. The corner element should take its place last.
- Reinstall the baseboard.
- Check that the boards fit snugly against each other at the fastening points.
This method is suitable if the laminate is equipped with combination or twist locks. In this case, the work will require simple tools: a new block, a screwdriver or a pry bar.
If the damaged laminate board is located in the center of the room, it is easier to cut it out using a grinder. A new element must be installed into the resulting recess. To secure it thoroughly, use special glue.
Replacing scratched laminate boards
Important! Before installation, the new board must be kept for 1-3 days at room temperature.
Using varnish
Defects on the floor can be “painted over” using varnish. On glossy surfaces this method is almost ideal. To achieve the result, you need to purchase acrylic varnish, which should be applied as carefully as possible. Avoid violating the boundaries of the damaged area so that the difference in layers is not clearly pronounced.
The method is suitable for removing shallow scratches. Acrylic varnish helps the laminate maintain its glossy appearance.
Preventing floor damage
To avoid having to think about how to restore laminate flooring, follow simple preventive measures. Useful tips:
- To prevent scratches from falling objects, place a rug or carpet over your laminate flooring. It is not necessary to cover the entire area of the room - it is enough to protect the central space. Try to choose an original carpet to match the style of the interior.
- Do not drag furniture or other heavy structures. If the process is unavoidable, first stick soft silicone pads on the legs of cabinets, sofas, tables and beds. They minimize the risk of damage to the coating.
- Try not to walk around rooms wearing high-heeled shoes. Almost always, after such fashion shows, micro-scratches remain on the laminate, which become more and more visible over time.
- Monitor your pets' behavior. Their sharp claws regularly damage laminate flooring, leaving it unattractive. If you have a cat, provide a scratching post. The pet will be busy and will not spoil the floor covering.
- Handle sharp and heavy objects more carefully. Try not to drop them on the floor. If this happens, immediately take measures to eliminate the defect.
If you've already scratched your laminate flooring, don't delay repairs. The longer you delay solving the problem, the less chance you have of getting your coverage restored.
Light laminate without scratches
Wax pencil
One of the most popular methods suitable for removing not too large damage. The natural substance forms a film on the flooring that covers the defect and protects the floor from possible subsequent deformation.
The sequence diagram is as follows:
- Clean the scratch from dirt;
- Wash with a mild soap solution, then with clean water and dry well;
- Melt the wax and immediately apply it, following the length of the scratch, filling it;
- After painting over the defect, it is polished with soft cloth;
- The use of a brush is not recommended due to the plastic properties of wax (the bristles create depressions on the surface - new scratches).
This option is also great for removing shallow scratches. When using a pencil, marks from animal claws or from carelessly moved chairs and other objects are removed. The wax remains on the laminate almost forever, the main thing is not to use too hot water to wash the floor.
