Chipped Plank Corners
It is the responsibility of the installer to check all planks prior to installing.
Most all laminate manufacturers take the view that when you install a damaged plank such as one with a chip in it, this becomes your responsibility and not theirs.
Chips at plank corners, especially those that cross over between planks are caused either during the installation process or by a dropped object.
When a chip is located at a single plank corner, this is usually a plank that was installed damaged or became damaged during installation.
An installer must be careful not to install a plank with a chipped corner and if it chips during installation it should be pulled at that time and replaced with a different plank.
Dents, Gouges, Indentations in Laminate Floor
Dents: Like floors of wood and bamboo, laminate floors are subject to denting when a heavy object is dropped on it.
Dents from dropped objects will have stress cracks around the edge of the dent.
Indentations or Gouges: Heavy objects being rolled across a laminate floor can cause indentations or deep gouges.
Laminate Scratching and Scuffing
While some over zealous sales people tend to sell laminate floor as being indestructible most laminate flooring manufacturers state that their floor is scratch resistant. Do not confuse scratch resistant with scratch proof as this is not the same. Usually scratches are not covered by a manufacturers warranty.
Scratch Prevention: Use felt protector on all furniture legs. Keep animal nails trimmed. Place an area rug at all entrances to catch gritty soil and debris. Shoes can trap debris in the soles and scratch a floor. Avoid using hard plastic toys on a laminate floor as hard plastics can abrade a laminate finish.
Caster Damage to Laminate Floor
- The proper caster must be used on office and other rolling chairs.
- Some manufacturers state that an office chair must have at least 5 casters.
Most laminate flooring manufactures state that rubber casters need to be used as both metal and plastic casters will cause, indentations, abrasions, scratching or scuffing to the surface of the laminate floor.
Improper casters such as metal and hard plastics can also cause chipping along the edge of the planks.
Tapping Block Damage
A tapping block is sometimes used by the installer to join the short ends of the planks.
When a tapping block is used improperly or an objects such as a hammer is used, or planks are kicked together this can damage plank edges.
About Terry Weinheimer | Kevin Weinheimer
Plastic casters on chairs etc, which can scratch laminate floors, can be coated with silicone sealant such as used around window frames or kitchen sinks. Clean the caster thoroughly and remove stuck on dirt/debris. I found turning the caster against a blade cleaned it. Paint silicone sealant thinly with a small paint brush on rolling face of caster and allow to dry. This will give it a ‘rubberized’ type coating and stop the caster skidding and scraping or scratching the laminate floor, it will allow it to rotate freely and gives the caster a slight grip on the laminate surface.
Richard, there is certainly no doubt that scratching can be reduced and often eliminated by proper maintenance. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Installed a Maple Wood Laminate floor over a wood sub floor with a separate underlayment. Several of the wood planks are separating and rising up, this appears to br Delamination, what are some repair solutions, glue, fasteners.
Before you correct you need to determined why the planks are delaminating. If you have a site related condition and you do not correct the problem first you can expect continued delamination. As far as repairing, you do not say if this is a floating floor or attached with fasteners. Keep in mind that you do not want to repair a floating floor by using fasteners or your floor may become locked in.
Can a area rug be painted with a silicone sealant?
You ask if an area rug can be pained with a silicone sealant. I would certainly doubt that you are speaking of a rug made of laminate. You would have to give more information for area rugs can be made of just about anything now days and without knowing what you are speaking of it would be difficult to reply. I would suggest you re-ask this question at http://floorcentral.com and give more information as to what the rug is made of, the type of sealant that you are speaking of.
Will my furniture legs make indentations just by sitting on the floor in one place for a long time? We do not move our furniture around so we are not concerned with scratching.
I think casters are ugly.
Thanks
Sue
We floored 3 bedrooms with laminate this week with Oak colored laminate. So beautiful.
Bought house laminate floors throughout. Previous owner used Rejuvenate Professional that clearly states not for laminate floors. Company makes it says it is urethane base product and can’t be removed. w/o damage to floors. Scuffs and marks everywhere. What can we do–can’t
I can’t afford to replace. Any suggestions
Sue
I am pleased as other will be to hear that you are pleased with your new laminate floor. Some furniture legs sitting on laminate can dent the floor of some laminates even if the furniture is not moved. Instead of using casters you should be able to attach felt pads to the base of the legs. These pads are available at most hardware stores, big box stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot and most flooring retailers. The felt pads will not be seen and will help to protect the floor.
Terry
Lamonte,
I am not familiar with the content of the Rejuvenate product. You can find contact information for them on the internet. My suggestion would be to call them and ask what they would suggest.
Terry
I had the same problem with Rejuvenate. My problem was starting out with the Rejuvenate spray bottle restorer which was for all floors. I had problems with my chairs leaving scratches from being moved from the table. Pretty soon I had new scratches over the old. I picked up the Rejuvenate “Professional” bottle which I thought was basically the same thing. NOT. It is urethane based. I did call their question line and they said to get an Alkaline floor scrubber (stripper?) and use that. That was the only thing they were able to tell me. I have not done this yet but will be in the near future. My floor looks terrible the way it is.
Nancy
Thank you for sharing. By you and others sharing their experiences it often solves or saves a problem for others. When trying a new maintenance product on a floor or even trying to remove something from the floor it is best to try the product on an inconspicuous area first to see out it works out.
Terry
Hi, I have a lovely laminate floor. unfortunately I had a person working in my home and he scraped the floor, now you can see a lovely floor shine and in four different places you can see dull patches, he says he can put some vanish on it but I dont trust that would work if anything I think it could damage it further.Is there a product I can apply so that the dull patches can gain its shine again?
I have a piano finish dark colored laminate floor. In the high traffic areas I had placed area rugs with protective padding underneath, and when I removed the area rugs the floor now has this dull area from where the rugs were placed. Is this normal? Is there any way of getting rid of the dull, faded looking areas? If not, is this something that may be still under warranty as the floors are just 3 yrs old?
Lisa
The dull appearance is under the rugs it sounds as if you either have a residue on the floor from the rubber padding or the rubber padding has changed the floors appearance such as by chemically fading it. It is highly unlikely that the laminate floor manufacturer will protect you with a warranty. The manufacturer of the padding you used below the rugs may have a warranty so your best bet is to contact the padding manufacturer directly or the store you purchased it from and tell them what has occurred.
Terry
Please what can I apply to my floor ,so I can see an even shine and not the dull patches on certain places.