Among flooring options, floating floors are one of the most popular! They are available in many wood types and finishes to suit all decorative desires. They have the advantage of being economical, quick to install, and easy to maintain, but how do you repair a damaged floating floor?
What damages a floating floor?
Due to lack of ventilation in a room and therefore high humidity levels, a floating floor can expand and warp (lift). This phenomenon can also occur following water damage. Carefully check the causes of the lifting to treat them quickly. As soon as you notice that your floating floor is warping, start by increasing the heating to accelerate its drying. The floor can indeed return to its initial shape under the effect of heat. You can also use a dehumidifier.
If the boards of your floating floor are dry but still damaged, you may need to carry out more extensive repairs. For example, a floating floor can warp due to insufficient expansion joints. In this case, it is necessary to sand or redo the joint depending on the extent of the damage.
Repairing a floating floor due to impact damage
When a floating floor has impact marks due to a heavy object falling on it, the consequences differ, particularly depending on the type of floating floor. The necessary repairs are then also different.
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Impact damage on a hardwood floor
Before moving on to more advanced repair techniques, you can try placing a damp cloth on the area to be repaired and passing a hot iron over it. The moisture and heat can cause the wood to swell and the impact marks may thus be reduced.
If this technique doesn’t work, sanding the hardwood floor will be the best technique to use. Sanding leaves a smooth finish and harmonizes the surface of a floor, even if it requires touching up the varnish or adding a bit of wax. Professionals recommend sanding in the direction of the slats for best results. If the operation seems delicate to you, don’t hesitate to call a specialist.
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Impact damage on a laminate floating floor
You should avoid sanding a laminate floor as it may damage it even more. The best thing to do is to get a product to fill the impacts, such as wood putty that is as close as possible to the color of your floor. The repair remains delicate and the result may be visible if the impact mark is quite significant.
Changing a board of a floating floor
If the damage to your floating floor is too extensive, it may be necessary to change one or more boards. While the boards of traditional floors are relatively simple to change, for floating parquet, the operation is more delicate. Because the boards are clipped together, you need to remove the damaged boards with great care. The use of a plunge saw may be necessary, for example. However, the repair is the same for all types of floating floors, whether they are laminate, wood veneer, or hardwood.
To replace a floating floor board, simply:
- Cut the floor board with a circular saw by making two long cuts along the board, then 2 or 3 diagonal cuts,
- Remove the damaged board with a wood chisel by sliding it into the cuts previously made,
- Dust off the repair area,
- Take the dimensions and cut the new board accordingly (just cut the grooves),
- Apply glue to the contact parts,
- Glue the new floating floor board and drive it in with a block and hammer.
- Place weights on the surface while the glue takes effect.
To best avoid the risks of a floating floor lifting, opt for good quality material. Also ensure that the planks remain dry and are interlocked, thus installed with precision. Consider also the prior installation of an underlay made of fiber, cork, polystyrene panel, or even a vapor barrier film. In addition to improving floor insulation, the underlay prevents moisture from rising, which can deform the floorboards.
