How To Get Scratches Out Of Laminate Wood Flooring?
Laminate Wood Flooring may look similar to hardwood flooring but in reality, they are very much different. The core of laminate wood flooring consists of particle board and if the user tries to sand out the scratches from laminate flooring just like hardwood flooring, he may end up showing more of a particle board than the laminate surface. Due to the reason, the experts recommend using the laminate touch-up kit available at different hardware stores. The scratches can be of two types i.e. minor & deep scratches and the procedures to fix both types of scratches are mentioned below:
Minor Scratches
In order to fix the minor scratches, the user needs to follow the below-given steps:
- Select Touch Up Kit:
First, the user needs to select the touch-up kit that will match the laminate flooring. In case the user is unable to find the matching kit, the user can select any touch-up kit because he can add the shine to it later. The touch-up kit contains a filler pencil, a marker, varnish, or similar type of combinations. - Color In Minor Scratches:
Next, the user needs to color in minor scratches using a marker which should be enough to conceal scratches. - Fill Deeper Scratches With Pencil:
In case of deeper scratches, the user can fill the scratches with crayon or pencil. The user needs to do this step by following the manufacturer's instructions. As some touch-up kits contain wood filler instead, the user can fill in deeper scratches with wood filler. - Sand The Area:
After that, the user needs to sand the area using fine-grit sandpaper in order to level up the filler with the wooden surface. The user needs to make sure that he sands the excess filler only rather than scratching the laminate surface. - Wipe Out The Area:
After sanding, the user needs to wipe out the area around the repair using a damp clean cloth in order to remove the dust of sanding or excess filler around the surface. - Varnish The Scratch:
The next step will be to apply varnish to the scratch that should match the flooring shine. The user needs to brush the varnish on to the scratch in a line and feather the edges to get an even finish. - Allow Varnish To Dry:
The last step will be to allow the varnish to dry before sanding it gently in order to get it to the level of the surface.
Deep Scratches
The steps to fix deep scratches on laminate wood flooring are:
- Select Touch-up Kit:
The first step will be to select a touch-up kit that will be suited to fix deep scratches on laminate wood flooring and should be matching the flooring color. The kit consists of seam filler or putty, a varnish, and a touch-up marker. If the shine doesn't match the laminate flooring, the user need not worry as he can add matching shine to the varnish later on. - Clean The Scratch:
The next step will be to clean the scratch by applying acetone to a cloth with which the scratch can be cleaned. In case there is some other solvent in the kit, the user can clean the scratches using that solvent. - Scrape The Putty Inside The Scratches:
The next step will be to fill the scratches with putty using a putty knife but before that, the user needs to squeeze some putty out of the container and put it on to the paper plate. If the putty is not an epoxy, the user can stir it gently with a putty knife until it begins to harden. In case the putty is an epoxy, the user needs to mix two ingredients in a way specified by the manufacturer until its color becomes uniform. The user needs to pull the putty knife inside scratch in a way so that the putty gets deeper inside the scratch followed by removing the excess putty. - Remove Excess Putty:
After that, the user needs to remove the excess remaining putty around the repair area by rubbing a cloth containing solvent across the area. The user then needs to allow the putty to dry inside the scratch and if required, he can apply another coat of putty once the first coat shrinks inside the scratch. - Sand The Surface Lightly:
The last step will be to sand the repaired area lightly using fine-grit sandpaper until it smoothens. If the user finds it necessary, he can touch up the scratch using a marker from the kit and in case the scratch shine doesn't match the rest of the flooring, the user needs to apply a thin coat of varnish to it. As the varnish dries, the user needs to smooth the surface with a light sanding.