Laminate flooring problems that you can fix yourself
Laminate flooring problems tend to be minimal and easy to correct.
Laminate floors, invented in Sweden by the Pergo Company in 1977, combine the best characteristics of natural and artificial floors. Made with wood products but not solid wood, it has a moisture resistant layer underneath and a photographic image of natural wood flooring on top, with a clear, hard finish. It rivals hardwood for beauty and elegance and compares to vinyl for durability and ease of maintenance.
Start with regular maintenance
Laminate flooring problems will be minimized with simple and regular cleaning. Start with a sweep, light vacuum, or dry mop to remove everyday dirt and dust. This will also keep the sand off the floor and prevent scratches from foot traffic. Put rugs inside the doors and ask people to remove their shoes at the door as much as possible.
Deeper cleaning
Common substances like mud or spilled food and drink are easy to clean up. Simply use a damp cloth and, if necessary, a homemade solution of ¼ cup vinegar and one liter of water, or if necessary, a few drops of dish soap or baby shampoo dissolved in warm water. You can use a commercial product made to clean laminate floors if you prefer. Then dry the floor with a soft cloth and do not leave standing water as it can cause problems (see below).
Paint, marker, and other harder-to-remove substances can usually be removed with alcohol or nail polish remover.
More serious laminate flooring problems
Other problems you may encounter include:
Beak. “Peaking” is a high point in a joint where two adjacent panels push against each other, caused by a lack of expansion space between the floor and the wall. You can correct this by removing the plinth from the wall parallel to the lengthwise direction of the planks, trimming the edge of the flooring, and replacing the plinth. The spike should dissipate over time, more quickly if you put a weight on it.
Buckling or deformation. This is a convex or concave curvature of the planks, usually caused by excess moisture, either moisture rising from the subfloor, lack of a sufficient moisture barrier, and / or high humidity in the room. Another common cause is using too much water to clean the floor, which can be easily avoided by following the cleaning guidelines above.
· Chipped. Chipping can indicate a poor quality floor or poor installation. Vacuuming laminate flooring with a vacuum equipped with a beater bar can also cause chips.
Other ways to avoid problems with laminate floors
Most laminate flooring manufacturers do not recommend using oil soaps to clean your floors, as citrus fruits tend to dull the surface. Never use anything abrasive to clean your laminate floors, such as cleaner, sandpaper, or steel wool. Never wax, polish, or try to renovate your floors.
More help
If your floors show any of the above issues (lack of shine, scuffs, cheap quality, poor installation), you can still make them look better. Even if you just want to make it easy to maintain your laminate floors regularly, a good quality floor restoration product should be your finishing touch.