Laminate floors are made to withstand the normal wear-and-tear of daily life. Laminate flooring in general will give you many more years of enjoyment than carpet, plus you have the look of the hardwood without spending all that money.
However, nothing lasts forever. If your laminate flooring happened to get damaged, it is much easier to repair than hardwood flooring. There is no sanding or refinishing involved since laminate flooring is a thin veneer. A small dent or scratch can be repaired using a laminate flooring repair kit.
How To Repair Laminate Flooring
Small problems such as scratches can be masked with a colored marker. Find a permanent market in a similar color to mask minor scratches, worn edges, blemishes, and imperfections. Repeat as needed.
For more visible dents or scratches you need to use the color compound from a repair kit. They are available in a variety of colors to match your floor. Manufacturers have different conditions of use, so just in case, read their instructions before use.
Here is an example of how to repair your laminate floor using the Universal Repair Kit.
Repair Kit Instructions
- Clean surface
- Refer to the enclosed chart to identify the color formula that best matches your repair (you can custom mix any color desired).
- Pre-mixed filler colors are in the containers marked “A” to “E”.
- If mixing is required, use the empty container and spoon provided. Mix thoroughly.
- Apply the filler. Wipe off excess with a damp rug or paper towel.
- Allow to dry for 1 hour.
In case your floor plank or section is damaged to the point that compound will not fix it, your only choice is to replace the damaged planks.
Have you had a laminate flooring plank become damaged? How did you go about fixing it? Tell us in the comments below!
More Laminate Flooring Repair Guides:
- How to Replace Damaged Laminate Flooring Planks
- How to Repair Laminate Flooring?
- How to Repair Laminate Flooring: Buckling Laminate Flooring
19 comments
I live my steam mop so long in laminate flooring, it leaver a clearer spot on. Can I fix it?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Hi Lucia, thanks for the question. Unfortunately, surface spots and stains on laminate are almost impossible to get out once they damage the top layer. The best fix is to cover with a rug or furniture or replace the full plank.
I have dents in my laminate floor from wheels on the sofa!! In the light it’s really noticeable, could I use filler to correct this? I’ve read on a lot of sites to use water but I’m unsure if this is meant for when the floors are hardwood? Any help you can offer would be much appreciated!
Hi Sophie, thanks for the question. This is a tough one. Absolutely do not use water. This can cause your plank to swell, and possibly affect the joints. So you may have a big bulge and an un-fixable buckle at the joint. The problem with the dent is the weight caused this and it affects multiple layers of the wood. You could try a filler, but it may not look any better due to it not having graining, etc. The only way to fully fix it would be to uninstall the plank and install a new one. You can learn how to do that here: https://www.bestlaminate.com/blog/how-can-i-fix-buckled-laminate-floors-after-my-washing-machine-flooded-my-home/. Another option may be a rug to cover it. Sorry I don’t have better news for you!
Hi, I had a tenant in my rental that made candles. Candle day got all over the floor and cannot get it up with anything do you have any suggestions
Hi Tina, we have some tips here for wax and other common spills here: https://www.bestlaminate.com/help/how-to-clean-laminate-flooring/. I hope this helps!
I filled a few areas today and it dries really dull so you can really see the repair as the floors are shiny. It is hardwood. Color matched when wet and now really stands out when dry. Is there anything that can be put over top to match the shine? Thanks
Hi Erika – Check with the manufacturer of the repair kit you used and see if they have a gloss layer that you can apply on top of the repair. They may have something that you can use or they may have a solution to your issue.
My laminate flooring is raised/buckled due to water damage at the ends of several planks. Can I slightly heat the raised areas with an iron and applying pressure to smooth it out. I would also cover the area with a towel before applying the heat from the iron.
Hi Nancy – we’ve never tested that method, so we cannot advise it! Generally when the wood absorbs water, it can be hard to get the planks back to their original condition. You can try using a dehumidifier to see if any of the water will be eliminated, hopefully lessening the height. With these cases, the most common fix is replacing the damaged planks. Hope this helps!