Laminate flooring has become the go-to flooring option for many homeowners because it’s so affordable and easy to install. The downsides of laminate flooring, however, include the fact that it can be prone to moisture damage if a homeowner doesn’t take care when installing it. Laminate flooring is made of multiple layers with the top layer being called a “ finish.” Moisture can seep in between these layers, causing them to swell and cup. You’ll need to know how to repair swollen laminate flooring if you notice your laminate floor starting to have problems from moisture beneath it. Fortunately, fixing swollen laminate flooring isn’t very difficult and can be completed in just a couple of hours with simple tools and materials. Here are some tips on how to repair swollen laminate flooring.
How To Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring
1. Remove The Laminate Flooring
The first step in repairing swollen laminate flooring is removing the laminate flooring. You can do this by cutting the flooring with a utility knife or by using a heat gun or blow dryer to heat up the edges of the laminate and lift it up. If you’re planning to use a utility knife, be sure to use a heavy-duty one made for cutting through wood. You can also cut off the damaged piece with your hands, but be careful not to damage your walls or ceiling.
2. Remove Damaged Laminate Flooring Pieces
Next, you’ll need to remove any pieces of damaged laminate flooring from beneath it. You can do this by using a flathead screwdriver and prying out those pieces with its tip. Be careful not to damage your walls or ceiling when removing these pieces, since they may be glued down. After you’ve removed all of these pieces, you can start sanding and replacing them with new ones. However, make sure that you replace them in their exact positions as they were originally installed so that they don’t shift around while you put down new layers of laminate flooring on top of them.
3. Remove Rips In Laminate Floor Tiles
Once you’ve removed the laminate flooring from the walls, you can begin removing any damaged pieces of laminate flooring that are adhered to them. To do this, you’ll need to use a utility knife or heat gun to heat up the edges of the laminate flooring and lift it off. Make sure that you don’t accidentally damage your walls or ceiling when removing these pieces, since they may be glued down. You may also want to pre-cut your new pieces of laminate flooring so that they will fit snugly against your wall before installation. This will help prevent any gaps or misalignment between your new and old layers of laminate flooring.
4. Replace Damaged Laminate Flooring Pieces
Once all of the damaged pieces have been removed, it’s time to replace them with new ones. First, you can use a utility knife or jigsaw to cut out the new pieces of laminate flooring. Next, place those new pieces into their exact positions as they were originally installed so that they don’t shift around while you put down new layers of laminate flooring on top of them. Next, use a flathead screwdriver and pry out any remaining damaged pieces with its tip until you have completely replaced all of them with new ones. Finally, sand down all of the old and newly put-in laminate flooring pieces Moisture and Clean the Area
5. Apply New Laminate Flooring Layers
Once your laminate floor is clean and freshly sanded, it’s time to apply new layers of laminate flooring on top of it. You should apply one new layer at a time so that you can easily see where each layer goes when laying down new pieces of laminate flooring on top of them (you don’t want any mistakes). Apply two layers of 3/16″ thick plywood over the entire surface area where you plan on installing new laminate flooring (be sure to stagger these layers so that they don’t overlap). Then lay down two layers of 1/8″ thick plywood over these two layers of 3/ the Laminate Flooring
How To Install New Laminate Flooring.
1. Step One: Clean The Flooring
Before you can begin any kind of laminate flooring repair, you’ll need to clean the floor. All the dirt and debris from your old flooring will need to be removed. Use a mop and a rag to give your laminate floor a good cleaning. You’ll want to make sure that no small pieces of debris remain in the cracks or crevices between the tiles. These small pieces of debris can lead to more moisture damage.
2. Step Two: Remove Damaged Layers
The next step in repairing swollen laminate floors is to take off all the damaged layers that are holding moisture in place. You’ll want to start at the top of your new laminate flooring and work down until you reach where it meets the baseboard or wall moldings (depending on which type of laminate flooring you have). You’ll need a flathead screwdriver, but if you don’t have one, you can use an adjustable wrench with pliers if necessary (be very careful not to damage any other parts of your new laminate flooring).
3. Step Three: Remove Damaged Layers
Once you’ve removed all the damaged layers, you’ll want to clean the floor again with a mop and rag. The next step is to remove any remaining pieces of debris from the flooring by using a vacuum cleaner. Use this vacuum cleaner only on your new laminate flooring because it will have to be used on your old laminate flooring. If you don’t have one, you can use a shop vacuum to remove the debris from your old laminate flooring. You’ll need to empty out the dirt and debris from your old laminate flooring into another bucket filled with water so it doesn’t rust during storage (be sure to label any containers).
4. Step Four: Clean Up Dust And Dirt With A Vinegar Solution
After removing all of the damaged layers from your floors, you’ll need to clean up any dust/dirt that remains on them with a white vinegar solution (1 cup per gallon of water). Use an old toothbrush for this process and make sure there aren’t any holes inches and scratches from the process.
How To Install A Moisture Barrier.
1. You’ll need to install a moisture barrier on the underside of your laminate flooring. You can buy a moisture barrier kit or you can use an adhesive-backed liner that’s available in home improvement stores. The most important part of this step is to make sure the moisture barrier is installed correctly. If you don’t, the entire layer of laminate flooring will swell, making it difficult to remove.
2. Next, lay down a piece of laminate flooring that matches your existing laminate flooring and cut it to fit around your disturbed area. Place the sheet on top of your existing sheet and then place another sheet of laminate flooring over it using spacers if necessary.
3. Next, you’ll need to apply glue (it should be clear) underneath the second sheet of laminate flooring and press it into place with a roller or by hand. Make sure you press firmly into place so that there are no gaps between the two sheets and they bond together tightly.
4. Let the glue dry for 24 hours before moving on to Step 5 below so that any air bubbles will have time to rise up through the glue and out through the top sheet of laminate flooring where they can be vacuumed up easily during cleaning later on in Step 6 below.*
5. Once 24 hours have passed, remove all remaining sheets from under your damaged area, leaving only one layer underneath the terminated flooring.
How To Use Glue To Seal The Flooring
1. Remove all pieces of furniture from the room and vacuum thoroughly to remove as much dust and debris as possible.
2. Cut a piece of rigid foam insulation material about 1/4-inch thick (to fit the size of the wood subfloor), then attach it to the floor with double-sided tape.
3. Use a utility knife to cut around the edges of the carpet, then remove it carefully from the floor using a screwdriver or putty knife.
4. Apply glue to both sides and press them together firmly, making sure they are flush against each other so they are not loose and can’t move around while you’re working on them. You can use a ruler to make sure they aren’t too tight or too loose and that they are even! Leave them in place for at least 20 minutes before moving on to the next step.
5. Use masking tape or sticky paper to seal up any gaps between your new laminate flooring and your existing subflooring so no moisture can get in, then apply two layers of trim adhesive under your new laminate flooring tape, making sure that it is even with your existing subflooring at every point.
How To Use A Scraping Tool To Scrape Off Excess Laminate
1. You’ll need to remove the excess laminate from the floor by using a scraping tool. This is best done with a utility knife or razor blade. Use a scraping tool to scrape off the excess laminate from around the perimeter of your floor, starting at one corner and working your way around until you’ve removed all of it.
2. If you notice that there are any areas of laminate flooring that are still being held up by the other layers, use a razor blade to cut through these layers so that they can be removed completely as well.
3. Once you’ve removed all of the excess laminate, you may notice that there are some areas where there is no laminate underneath at all – this is because it has been lifted away by moisture damage or because it has been cut away due to a nail hole or other damage to the floor. You’ll need to repair these areas with wood filler and then sand down any imperfections after it dries for a perfect finish.
4. After you’ve sanded down any imperfections in your laminate flooring, use wood filler on any holes or tears in your flooring and then apply another coat of finish over the top of it for an even more seamless look when finished.
5. Now that you’ve repaired your floor, you can spray on a sealant and get ready for your laminate flooring to be installed over it!
Conclusion
Laminate flooring is a great low-cost option for homeowners looking to install a new floor. If it starts to swell, however, it can be a nuisance. Fortunately, swollen laminate flooring is relatively easy to repair. To repair swollen laminate flooring, you first need to figure out why the flooring is swelling. Once you know why you can take appropriate steps to fix the problem and keep it from happening again.
