The lifespan of laminate plank flooring can be quite long. However, laminate planks can get damaged due to abuse and misuse. When this happens, you don’t need to hire someone to do the repair. You can replace laminate planks—even planks in the middle of a floor—yourself. We have searched for advice from professionals to help you out with this concern.
Follow these easy steps to make sure that you replace the laminate plank in the middle of a floor like a pro:
- Mark the damaged plank.
- Cut the damaged plank.
- Remove the damaged plank from the floor.
- Remove the lock of the replacement piece.
- Cut the corners of the replacement piece.
- Apply adhesive
- Fit the replacement piece into position.
- Apply pressure for good adhesion.
- Remove excess adhesive.
These are stress-free steps to replace a laminate plank in the middle of the floor. In this post, we will discuss each step in detail, along with other things you need to know about your laminate planks. Keep reading for more information.
How To Replace Laminate Plank In The Middle Of The Floor
Nothing last forever, including your laminate planks. Admittedly, replacing damaged planks in the middle of the floor is more difficult than replacing the ones at the edges of the room.
Wear and tear can lead to damaged flooring. As a result, you might need to replace only one part. In this case, you can do it yourself by following these steps.
Before you do your DIY project, prepare the following tools:
- Straight edge
- Pencil
- Circular saw
- Chisel
- Drill and drill bit
- Adhesive
Mark The Damaged Plank
First, use a pencil and straightedge to draw a line at the center of the plank. Next, draw a 45-degree angle from the corner to the center line to form a triangle. This will make it easier to remove the broken plank.
Cut The Damaged Plank
Next, use your circular saw to carefully cut along the center line. Set the cutting depth so that it's equal to the board’s thickness to make sure that you are only cutting the plank.
Remove The Damaged Plank From The Floor
- After cutting the center line, drill onto the two corners of the triangle. This will make the remaining broken plank easier to remove.
- Next, use a chisel to remove the center sections and then the triangles.
- Check the underlayment, if there is any. If you find a tear in it, you need to repair it too.
- Before moving on to the next step, make sure that the area is clean from debris. Debris can keep the plank from fitting and also prevent it from sticking properly.
Remove The Lock Of The Replacement Piece
Make a diagonal cut at the corners where the two grooved edges meet after removing the lock.
Apply Adhesive
The next step is to apply adhesive to the sides of the flooring around the repair and the sides of the replacement piece.
Click here to see this adhesive on Amazon.
Fit The Replacement Piece
After applying adhesive, drop the replacement plank into position, making sure that it fits tightly.
This is when keeping an extra piece is a good idea. You won't have an additional problem of where to find a replacement piece.
Apply Pressure For Good Adhesion
You may use a rubber mallet to firmly place the replacement piece. You can use a roller or a heavy object to apply pressure and secure the piece.
Remove Excess Adhesive
Finally, clean the excess adhesive. It is best to keep traffic out of the area until the adhesive is dry.
In general, if you follow these steps, you'll have a successful repair, and your floor will be good as new.
What Causes Damage To Laminate Flooring?
In the first place, finding out why your laminate floor gets damaged is a good idea. This way, you are able to properly care for your floor to avoid repairs.
Laminate flooring was created as an alternative to hardwood floors. Several layers make up this synthetic flooring. This type is pretty resilient. However, damage to one of the layers will cause you to replace it.
With that in mind, let us discuss the common reasons why laminate floors get dented, and what you can do to care for them.
Cleaning With Too Much Water
As mentioned, laminate planks have layers. If the water soaks into the layers, it will cause the latter to swell and bend. Water also weakens the glue that’s attaching the planks to the floor.
Instead of using a wet mop when cleaning, you should clean your floors daily with a flat mop. Doing this will prevent dirt buildup on your floor.
Click here to see this flat head mop on Amazon.
Indoor Plants
Your indoor plants add a relaxing feel to your home. However, be cautious when you have plants on your laminate surface. Over spilling water from the plant pot may also damage your floors.
To protect your floor, put your plants up on a high surface, away from the floor, and be careful when watering them. You can also place pads under them if you can’t put the pots somewhere else.
Here’s a good idea for keeping your indoor plants off of your laminate floor.
Using a Vacuum
We mentioned earlier that the floors need to be cleaned daily, but improper cleaning will also result in damage. If you are using a vacuum, make sure that the brush roll is turned off. This is because the brush will damage the surface of your laminate plank.
Moving Furniture
Obviously, you need furniture to beautify your home and for everyday use. However, moving furniture or appliances without protection will damage your floor. This is more evident when moving the heavier pieces.
In order to protect your floor, you should use a floor pad when moving furniture.
Click here to see this floor pad on Amazon.
You can also use an appliance roller when moving your sofa, cabinets, and other heavy appliances.
Click here to see this appliance roller on Amazon.
Exposure To Sunlight
In addition to exposure to water, your laminate floor also weakens with too much sun exposure. UV light affects the exposed sections of the floor. The floor can fade or turn a different color over time.
You should draw your curtains at the time of the day when sunlight is too much for you and your floor to handle.
In addition to the reasons mentioned above, you must follow the instructions from the manufacturer, because caring for laminate floors may vary depending on the materials they are made of.
What Is The Downside To Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is a great decorating option, as it imitates real wood. Apart from that, it is also durable. Laminate flooring is also affordable and easy to install. Moreover, it is eco-friendly because some types are made of recycled materials.
However, with the pros come the cons.
The downside of having laminate flooring is that you have to be careful with water. As mentioned earlier, it is vulnerable to liquids.
Moreover, excessive liquid of any kind can cause the planks to bulge if left untreated. Your only choice is to remove and replace it.
Another weakness of laminate floors is that they cannot be refinished. Refinishing is the sanding down of a floor to be re-stained. As we mentioned earlier, once a layer is damaged, the only remedy is for it to be changed.
Why Is Your Laminate Floor Creaking?
Squeaky floors are definitely annoying. There are two main reasons why your laminate floor is creaking.
- Uneven subfloor: Sometimes the noise is not an issue with the planks but with the subfloor itself. In this case, the plank flooring needs to be lifted and the subfloor needs to be repaired or evened out.
- Improper installation: It is a fact that flooring swells. For this reason, an expansion gap should be created during installation. Without an expansion gap, the planks will swell and rub against each other. This will cause shifting when pressure is applied, and you’ll hear creaking sounds.
You should avoid excessive moisture to avoid plank swelling. Both reasons stated above can be spotted before installation, so it is important to check these to avoid ending up with noisy floors.
Wrapping Up
Replacing laminate planks in the middle of the floor may require advanced skills. However, following the steps provided above will make it easier for you if you want to save with a DIY repair.
Keep in mind that when you properly take care of your plank flooring, it’ll last you several years. Watch out for the things that can ruin your floors.
Apart from that, we covered the pros and cons of laminate floorings, discussed the reasons why your floors are creaking, and what can you do to get rid of the noise.
If you find this article helpful, you can learn more about laminate flooring by checking out these posts: