It is extremely upsetting to notice scratches on your laminate floors. The aesthetics of any room can be easily ruined by smudges and scrapes. However, there are many options at your disposal for dealing with scratches on a laminate floor.

The majority of scratches are caused by people moving furniture without felt protective pads or tracking in small pebbles on their shoes. Fixing minor flaws can be a quick project that shouldn’t take longer than a half hour. More serious scratches may require more time.

Keep reading to find details on how to fix scratches on laminate floors, as well as general information on why scratches happen and how to prevent them in the first place.

Is It Worth Fixing Scratches On Laminate Flooring?

While laminate flooring is affordable, sightly, and extremely durable, it can still sometimes get scratched up. Most manufacturers advise against fixing anything by yourself when it’s broken — they will instead ask you to replace the laminate planks entirely.

Since laminate flooring is a synthetic type of flooring with wood fibre layers adhered to a core, it can be difficult to properly repair the significant damage. However, minor scratches that do not go very deep into the laminate plank can be easily patched using one of the methods below.

How Can I Fix Light Scratches On Laminate Floors?

Laminate flooring is constructed for durability. When compared to natural hardwood floors they can withstand more damage and have a longer period of deterioration. However, laminates are not invincible.

In some instances, minor scratches and dents may appear on your floor surfaces. Using scratch repair equipment for a laminate floor is often sufficient in these cases. This guide shows the best techniques to remove and repair laminate floor scratches.

Polish / Restorer

One common method for repairing scratches is to use polish or wood restoration. These provide a safe way to clean and protect floors from sand, water and dirt. Obviously, excessive use could make your floor sticky, and therefore you must always utilize it based on manufacturers’ recommendations.

Burn-in Sticks

The burn-in sticks also allow for easy laminate flooring repair. These kits are popular due to how simple it is to use warm wax filler sticks to fill chips, scratches, and other stains. Make sure to match the wax sticks to the colour of your floor and avoid too much excess wax.

Like with any other method that uses a kit or purchased product, be careful to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully — misuse can end up making the problem worse.

Stain Marker

Stain markers are an efficient means of removing scuff marks. Deeper scratches are often beyond the scope of this method, but they can be used for superficial scrapes.

Stain markers can cover scratches in any kind of material. Just pick the color best matched to the flooring, wipe the area, and use the marker.

Compound Filler

A putty knife with compound fillers is advisable for fixing simple scratches. It is cheap and incredibly helpful for superficial repairs. Using a putty knife to apply colored putty can effectively cover dents and scrapes on a clean laminate surface. Floor repair putty is a comparatively cheap fix for laminate flooring scratches.

Wax Pencil

Wax pencils are a good alternative to stain markers they can cause them to appear larger than expected. The wax fills out the scratched surface and conceals superficial scratches. Wax pencils can also be an excellent choice for deeper scrapes.

Repair kit

Repair kits require a bit more effort and time, but are capable of dealing with more serious damage. Repair kits can remove scratches and dents as well as chips and cracks on surfaces.

A good laminate floor repair kit should be equipped with everything required to repair scratches on the laminate floor. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully when using a laminate floor scratch repair kit.

How Can I Prevent Scratches On My Laminate Floors?

Although laminate is very durable, there are preventative actions you should take to keep your floor looking as good as the day it was installed. For the bottoms of couches, tables, dressers, and anything else placed on top of your laminate flooring, it’s advisable to use protective furniture pads.

Your flooring will remain scratch-free and new-looking thanks to this precaution. Additionally, to catch dust and dirt upon entering, you can use non-slip mats or area rugs. Further considerations can typically be found in the warranty information for your floor.

What To Do About Deeper Scratches?

As mentioned above, deep scratches will require a bit more attention to fix. In the worst-case scenario, you may have to hire a professional to replace large portions of your floor. If you’ve tried the above solutions to no avail, it may be a good idea to ask for professional help.