How to Replace a Laminate Floor Board in the Middle of a Floor
A damaged laminate board in the middle of the floor doesn't have to require ripping up your floor. You can fix it by cutting the board into pieces to remove it, and then taking a new board and adjusting the edges so that it fits right back into the floor. No complex equipment is required, and this repair is something you can do in one afternoon.
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Using a straightedge and marker, draw a 45-degree angle from one corner of the board to a spot about 4 or 5 inches away from the short edge of the board. Then do this on the adjacent corner so that the two lines meet and form a triangle. Do this at the other end. Draw a line lengthwise down the board to connect the tips of the two triangles. Your board should now be divided into four pieces by the lines.
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Attach a new laminate cutting blade to your rotary saw. Adjust the depth so that it will just barely cut through the thickness of the laminate. You don't want to damage the padding or moisture barrier beneath.
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Cut along the guidelines until the board is cut through into pieces. Pry these pieces out with a screwdriver, taking care not to damage the surrounding boards.
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Prepare your laminate replacement board. Using a utility knife, score and then snap off all but one of the tongues on the outer edges of the board. Leave one at either of the shorter ends.
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Apply a thin bead of glue to the tongues on the boards surrounding the edges of the hole.
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Hold the board at a 45-degree angle. Slip the tongue that is still present into the groove at one end of the hole. Gently lower the board into place in the hole.
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Weigh the board down with a few heavy books or other objects. Allow the glue to dry for at least 48 hours.
Things You Will Need
- Straightedge
- Laminate cutting blade
- Rotary saw
- Screwdriver
- Utility blade
- Glue
- Weights
Tip
- Use 1-by-4 boards to provide more spacing on which to set the rotary saw if you can't adjust the blade shallow enough.
Warning
- Always wear the proper safety equipment when working around power tools.