Small scratches, strings and scuff marks will make it look ancient and rusty on laminated floors. Since a specialist can be a tad heavy on the wallet to restore the floors to their original condition, we have compiled a list of cost-effective solutions for removing scratches from the laminate floor and making it look nearly new.
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.
We should first address the laminate flooring, its advantages and disadvantages in Pakistan before we discuss how to fix the laminate flooring.
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.
Laminate floors are one of the cheapest and usable floors for modern homes. These are also quite easy to install and need little maintenance. When damaged, however, you can use our budget-friendly methods to remove scratches from laminate panels.
PROS AND CONS OF LAMINATE FLOORING
Laminate flooring may be relatively cheap, but it won’t bring down your house’s value, despite popular belief. This material is cosmopolitan, easy to clean, and comes in a variety of shades and styles, which imitate real wood.
Just like everything else, though, you should learn a few advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring.
| Pros | Cons |
| Quick and easy to install | Cannot withstand excessive exposure to moisture |
| Durable and easy to clean | Difficult to repair if damaged |
| Generally resistant to dents and scratches | Lower quality laminate can look grainy and visually unappealing |
| Environmentally friendly flooring material | Cannot be sanded or refinished like hardwood |
| Cheaper than hardwood | Does not absorb sound well |
| Adds to the value of your home | It can be very slippery |
RATE OF LAMINATE FLOORING IN PAKISTAN
The prices of laminating boards differ with their price, much like other flooring materials. High-quality laminate floorboards are esthetic and can have a translucent appearance, while the low quality alternative can look grainy and unattractive.
The price of laminate floors in Pakistan generally begins with PKR 175 and rises to PKR 350.
HOW TO REMOVE SCRATCHES FROM LAMINATE FLOORING?
The best way to prevent further damage to your laminate flooring is to buy a laminate repair kit online or in a hardware store for scratches and scraps. There are however a few different ways to fix cracks in laminate flooring, if this is not easily available.
Let us see how laminate floor scratches can be repaired 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
HOW TO REPAIR SMALL SCRATCHES ON LAMINATE FLOORING
Small marks must be patched on laminate floors before they get worse. The easiest way to correct these scratches is to fill the scratches with melted pencils or wax crayons that are often used to fix minor imperfections.
Whether you choose wax crayons or pencils, ensure that the color of the filler suits the floorboards exactly. If your laminate floor is black, you must choose a dark shade of a wax pencil, while you must choose a darker shade if it is light.
When the wax pencil is obtained, extract any dust particles from the scratch and surrounding area using a soft tissue. Rub the tip of the pencil vigorously and fill it from one end to the next. The scratch is slowly being waxed. You can then use an excess-wax lint-free cloth to clean the wax and buff the rims of the scratch, which has recently been patched.
Should you use a pencil, cut it into smaller parts and melt for a couple of seconds in the microwave. Ensure that for this reason, you use a safe microwave pot.
HOW TO REMOVE DEEP SCRATCHES FROM LAMINATE FLOORING
If the laminate floor is deeply filled with cuts or bruises not hidden by a wax marker, you may want to fill it with putty.
Putty is a building material that is easily available which resembles clay or dough but highly plastic in nature. It is used for repairing cracks between other materials in furniture, walls and floors. To put it simply, it is a white cement filler that makes it durable.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prepare masty and apply some paint to ensure the finished product fits perfectly with the board, now for the removal of scratcher for laminate floors. To spread the material over the tooth or scratch, use a putty knife and remove the excess before it drops out. Once the scratch is filled, use the putty knife to make sure there are no extra fillers around the edges.
Give the masty to set fully for about 24 hours and your laminate flooring is as good as it is fresh. Nonetheless, you might have to replace it if the laminate board is badly scratched and not even patched by a masty.
HOW TO REMOVE SCUFF MARKS FROM LAMINATE FLOORING
On laminate floors, heavy furnishings can leave rather remarkable scuff marks. Because laminate panels like wooden can’t be sanded, you have to use a variety of other methods to get rid of the scuff marks. However, it is important to note that these marks should be treated immediately because it would be difficult to eliminate them once they have become deeper.
If the brushes are small, a clean cloth may be dipped in distilled water and the area washed. If this does not work or if the mark is deeper than you imagined, you should create a vinegar, warm water and isopropyl alcohol solution, which is usually applied before injections for skin clearing.
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.
