DIY Guide on How to Repair Scratches on Laminate Flooring

In This Post
– What is Laminate Flooring?
– Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring
– Rate of Laminate Flooring
– How to Remove Scratches from Laminate

Minor scratches, streaks and scuff marks on laminate flooring can make it look old and damaged. Since hiring a professional to restore the floors to their original state can be a tad bit heavy on the pocket, we’ve compiled a list of cost-effective ways to remove scratches from laminate flooring and make it look almost brand new.

Whether you live in a house or an apartment, flooring is arguably one of the defining features of your entire home décor. Hardwood floors have always been a rather popular option among homeowners in Pakistan, owing to their timeless appeal and durability. However, wooden floors are also pretty expensive and require a lot of maintenance, which are among the main reasons why a large number of people have started using laminate instead.  

Laminate floors are easy to install, available in a wide range of shades and look almost identical to hardwood. In fact, it is considered one of the most popular alternatives to wooden flooring in Pakistan, so much so that you might mistake laminate for hardwood at first glance.

Let’s first talk about how laminate flooring is made, the advantages and disadvantages of installing laminate flooring and its price in Pakistan before we discuss ways to repair it.

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate is a synthetic product comprising multiple layers of chipboard or particleboard that have been glued together using melamine resin. These layers are then compressed together to form thin sheets in varying thickness, widths and lengths. The top layer of each sheet is sealed with a photographic imprint that makes it look like real wood. 

Interestingly, laminate boards not only look like hardwood but also feel the same way, owing to the use of chipboard, which itself is an engineered wood product made from wood chips and synthetic resin.

Laminate floors are one of the most economical yet functional flooring options for modern homes. They are also pretty easy to install and don’t require a lot of upkeep. However, if damaged, you can use our budget-friendly ways to remove scratches from laminate boards.

Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring may be relatively inexpensive, but contrary to popular belief, it won’t bring down the value of your house. This material is aesthetically pleasing, easy to clean and available in a wide range of shades and patterns, mimicking real wood.

However, just like everything else, there are a few pros and cons of laminate flooring you should know about.

Meanwhile, if you’re interested in wall-to-wall carpet, ceramic or marble floors, our guide on the pros and cons of popular flooring materials will definitely help you out.

Rate of Laminate Flooring in Pakistan

Much like other flooring materials, the rate of laminate boards varies with its quality. High-quality laminate floorboards can be aesthetically pleasing and boast a smooth surface, whereas the low-quality alternative can have a grainy texture and may look unappealing. 

Generally, the price of laminate flooring in Pakistan starts from PKR 175 and goes up to PKR 350 per square foot or even higher.

How to Remove Scratches from Laminate Flooring

In cases of scratches and scrapes, the best way to prevent your laminate flooring from further damage is by purchasing a laminate repair kit either online or from a hardware store. However, if that’s not easily available, there are a few other ways you can fix scratches in laminate flooring.

Let’s take a look at how to repair laminate floor scratches without breaking the bank.

• Repair small scratches on laminate flooring
• Remove deep scratches from laminate flooring
• Remove scuff marks from laminate flooring
• Remove stains from laminate flooring

These simple DIY methods to repair laminate floors 

How to Repair Small Scratches on Laminate Flooring

Minor scratches on laminate floors need to be repaired before they get worse. The best way to fix such scratches is by filling them with melted crayon or wax pencils that are commonly used to remove minor imperfections from wooden furniture.

Whether you opt for wax pencils or crayons, make sure the colour of the filler is a perfect match to the floorboards. If your laminate flooring is dark, choose a dark shade of wax pencil, whereas if it’s in a lighter hue, you’ll have to purchase a less dark shade.

Once you’ve acquired the wax pencil, clean the scratch and the area around it with a soft cloth to remove any dust particles. Then, gently rub the tip of the pencil against the scratch, filling it in from one end to the next. Gradually, the scratch will fill up with wax. You can then use a lint-free cloth to clean the excess wax and buff the edges of the recently-repaired scratch until it blends in completely with the floor and is not visible at all.

In case you are using a crayon, break it into smaller pieces and melt in the microwave for a few seconds. Make sure you use a microwave-safe bowl for this purpose. Once it has cooled down a little, rub the paste over the scratch in back and forth motion then use a cloth to gently buff the corners for a clean and flawless look.

How to Remove Deep Scratches from Laminate Flooring

In case the laminate flooring has deep chips or scratches that cannot be concealed with a wax pencil, you may want to use putty to fill them up. 

Putty is an easily-available construction material that is similar to clay or dough but is highly plastic in nature. It is usually used to fix cracks in furniture, walls and floors among other materials. To put it simply, it is a filler that contains white cement, which makes it durable.

Now, in order to remove scratches for laminate flooring, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prepare putty and add in some paint to ensure the finished product blends perfectly with the floor. Use a putty knife to spread the material over the dent or scratch and remove the excess before it dries off. Once the scratch is filled, use the putty knife to ensure there is no extra filler around the edges and that the surface is flat instead of bumpy. 

Give the putty approximately 24 hours to set completely and your laminate flooring will be as good as new.

However, if a laminate board is deeply scratched and cannot even be fixed by putty, you may have to replace it.

How to Remove Scuff Marks from Laminate Flooring

Heavy furniture can leave rather notable scuff marks on laminate flooring. Since you can’t sand laminate floorboards like the wooden ones, you need to rely on some other techniques to get rid of the scuff marks. However, it is important to mention that such marks should be dealt with on an immediate basis because once they set in deeper, it would be difficult to get rid of them.

If the scuff marks are minors, you can dip a clean cloth in distilled water and wipe the area. In case that doesn’t work or the mark is deeper than you thought, you can make a solution of equal parts vinegar, warm water and isopropyl alcohol that is commonly used to clean skin before injections. Spray the scuff mark with this solution and wipe it clean using a non-abrasive cloth. 

Another way to deal with this is by applying a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda and warm water on the laminate floor. Gently rub the paste against the scuff and then wipe it clean. 

Pro tip: Never use soap on laminate flooring as it can dull its finish.

Meanwhile, if you are considering installing tiles instead of laminate in your home, don’t forget to check out the rates and types of flooring tiles in Pakistan. 

For queries and feedback, get in touch with us by emailing on blog@zameen.com. 

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