How to remove cracks and squeaks in laminate flooring without disassembling the floor
Content:
Laminate is one of the most beautiful and practical solutions for a bedroom or living room. It is resistant to abrasion, compatible with underfloor heating technology, and itself is quite warm. At the same time, it looks impressive and is easy to care for. But what to do if the coating begins to creak or comes apart at the seams? To remove a gap in laminate flooring without disassembling it, you need to find out the source of the problem. Most often this is an assembly error.
Why does laminate diverge?
There are a huge number of reasons, but the most common are the following:
- Error in installation, too large or small gaps between the coating and the walls. This problem is easily fixed and does not require dismantling the floor.
- Improper care: too dry air in the room or, on the contrary, too frequent wet cleaning, constant dampness on the floor. In the first case, the material dries out, but easily restores its shape. If the boards are swollen, they will most likely have to be replaced.
- Construction debris caught in locks or under floorboards. In the first case, there is a fairly high probability that you will not have to re-lay the laminate, but in the latter, this is inevitable.
- Fundamental mistake, laying on an uneven base or on chipboard floorboards. The latter are too soft, they begin to sag and deform the floor.
We solve problems
Most difficulties are resolved without complications.
Inaccurate wall gaps
In this case, it is enough to knock out thin wedges where the indents are too large, and saw the boards in places where the distance to the walls is insufficient. Why is this so important? The correct gaps are needed so that the load is evenly distributed over the coating. This is protection against overload and distortion.
Humidity
To restore dried boards, just wash them with a damp (not wet!) cloth and do not wipe them dry. To avoid problems in the future, you should install a humidifier in the room or move the dryer with wet laundry here once or twice a week.
If dampness has corroded the boards and they have become warped, one solution is to disassemble the covering, put it under a press and let it dry. But the press must be perfectly level and cannot be moved; in general, the probability of success is low.
The magazine purity-en.htgetrid.com strongly recommends following the rules for caring for laminate flooring: dry vacuuming 1-2 times a week and wet cleaning once every 7 days. There should be no puddles left on the floor, so preference should be given to microfiber cloths and products that do not need to be washed off.
Small trash
A special turbo brush for a vacuum cleaner, a regular brush with long bristles of medium hardness, or a simple wide brush for painting or repairs will help remove accumulated dust and small specks from the locks.
However, if the debris remains or is under the boards, they will have to be lifted, otherwise the creaking and unpleasant crackling will be constantly repeated.
Laying on a poor base
With this problem, all that remains is to remove the entire laminate before it breaks, make a concrete screed, let it harden and reassemble the floor covering.
How to properly disassemble and reassemble
How to dismantle the laminate without damaging it depends on the type of locks, i.e. the way in which the covering boards are joined together.
Standard locks
Most often, the laminate is attached using a pencil case system: a groove is made in the rear end of the board the full width, and a “tenon” is machined in the front end, also in the entire width. The profile of the groove can be straight, or L-shaped, and the same, but mirrored, for the tenon. On the sides of the boards there are usually straight tenons and grooves along the profile.
This design is assembled in strips, and this makes dismantling much easier:
- Place a support on the side of the outer strip. You need to lift the edge carefully and not too much so as not to break the locks.
- Repeating the same along the entire length of the strip, separate it from the rest of the coating.
- Carefully lift the free strip where the ends of the boards meet.
- Pull the end piece to the side so that the tenon comes out of the groove.
- Repeat with all boards in the strip.
- Go to next row.
The operation does not require any special tools or special skills, but the master needs extreme accuracy and patience. If you rush or lift the strip/board too high, the lock will break and the laminate will not fit back.
An equally important and scrupulous task is to correctly reassemble the coating. Obviously, you need to start installation from the far wall to the exit, although there are other methods, for example, diagonally, when the strips are laid out from the corner.
The first boards are joined at the ends - a base strip is formed. Then the next element is connected sideways to the base strip. To ensure that the tenon fits tightly, the board is “hammered in.” You cannot hit the part itself - this can cause damage. An anvil staple will be required.The side of the board is pressed against it, blows are carefully applied with a hammer, then the anvil is moved and so on along the entire length of the board until the elements are joined.
The next element is connected to the end of the previous one and to the side of the base strip.
Proper installation and care of laminate flooring guarantees a very long service life. Modern boards are made with a special coating that repels dust and moisture and prevents the development of fungi and microorganisms. This floor is comfortable, warm and safe. If the laminate begins to creak, you need to eliminate the cause rather than try to mask the gap. In extreme cases, you will have to disassemble and reassemble the entire floor. This procedure is simple, but requires accuracy and patience.