How to fix laminate floor gaps

Last Updated: June 12, Fact Checked. With over 27 years of experience, Norman has expertise in all five of the general building trades carpentry, ceramic tile, drywall, electrical, plumbing. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Learn how to fix floating floor gaps with a simple and inexpensive DIY floor gap fixer! Lord knows we have! All laminate flooring and some engineered wood flooring like ours are floating floors. This means that the floorboards are not nailed, glued or stapled to the subfloor. Rather, the whole floor acts as an enormous jigsaw puzzle that lies on top of the subfloor below but is not in any way attached to it. Floating floor installation is also ideal when installing new laminate, engineered or luxury vinyl flooring LVF over an existing floor, like ours that sits atop an older tile floor.

How to fix laminate floor gaps

While installing laminate flooring can be frustrating, what's even more irritating is finding gaps between the planks, especially after all the hard work of DIYing the project. Now, you have to find a way to fix it without ripping up the floorboards or pulling out your hair. Luckily, there's an easy hack that only requires one thing: duct tape. With just a roll of duct tape, you'll be able to pull the laminate flooring back into place in seconds. While there are many reasons the laminate planks might separate — such as humidity, issues with the locking mechanism, or a subfloor that isn't level — this TikTok hack posted by baldbuildersandfriends, a TikTok account about home renovation and tips for fixing things yourself, will have your flooring perfect once more, just like when it was installed. Plus, since this DIY trick only uses a bit of duct tape, it's as cost-effective a solution as it is simple. To push a separated laminate flooring plank back into place, unroll a piece of duct tape about a foot long don't cut it off the roll and firmly stick it along the floorboard near the gap. Step on the tape attached to the floor to hold it into place, and pull the roll of duct tape up, creating a line of tape that's perpendicular to the floor. While holding the roll, lift your foot and give a swift kick to the tape in the direction of the gap, and voila! Peel the tape off and the extra space should be gone, saving the laminate flooring you slaved over.

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Gaps in laminate floors are unsightly and are the ideal place for debris and moisture to accumulate, which can ruin your flooring over time. Thankfully, you can fix such spaces in just a few minutes, with a few basic tools, and without completely rebuilding your flooring. It's reasonably common for laminate floors to develop gaps over time due to various factors, from fluctuations in humidity and temperature to improper installation. However, there are solutions you can use to address this issue and restore the beauty of your flooring. The best way to fix gaps in your laminate floor is by using a simple DIY solution. It involves using a laminate floor repair kit, which can be easily purchased online or at any home improvement store. Here's how to tackle the issue effectively, according to our experts. Whether gaps are spread across your floor or localized to a specific area, this technique can be used to move the boards back into place. Laminate floor gaps can occur for several reasons, and before attempting to fix them, it's important to determine the cause to find the best solution. If the issue is caused by the movement of the floorboards, skip to step 2.

How to fix laminate floor gaps

Laminate flooring is known for its easy installation and durability, features that make it one of the best-selling floors. Can or should you fix those gaps in your laminate flooring? You can fix gaps in laminate flooring on your own, especially if the gaps are tiny and manageable. Poor installation, changes in humidity, and temperature all contribute towards the formation of gaps in laminate flooring. To fix large gaps, however, you might need to replace the problematic planks. Still here? Read on to learn proven ways to fix gaps in your laminate flooring and have it look good as new in no time. Failure to give the planks enough time to acclimatize to your home environment is a recipe for disaster. Carefully bring in the planks and allow them to sit for around two to three days or even more.

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Cookies make wikiHow better. This article has been viewed , times. You should talk to the installer to see. We tried the shoe method, but the boards were just too tight. Using a Floor Gap Fixer. I have a little bit of a different issue with my floors. I notice the squeaking pretty much along where the heating duct below in the basement that runs along in a straight path between the living room and dining room and along the hallway up to the entrance of one of the bedrooms. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. I just bought this suction cup too too. Call a professional to install your laminate flooring correctly. Thanks for your post. Then, place them on the planks on either side of the gap, about 1 in 2. Open your 24 in 61 cm bar clamps and place them face-down so that they run across the gaps and the grips rest on the far edges of the gap fixers. Hi Mary, the video is right at the end of the post.

Laminate flooring allows you to enjoy wood-flooring without actually having wood; it is environment friendly, affordable, and, most of all, aesthetic.

Do the gaps come in the winter due to dry FAG and then disappear with the summer humidity? That they are, Donald. Thank you so much for this easy fix!! Then, wipe down the adhesive on the gap fixer with a damp rag to clean it, and place the fixers and clamps in the same fashion as before, on either side of any other gaps, to seal the floor. Rock it gently from side to side if it proves difficult to dislodge. I figure if they can spread with the adhesive they should be able to knock back into place as well. Love the blog and crafty ideas. Go online to read reviews of contractors in your area or ask a friend or loved one for a personal recommendation to find one that meets your standards. Just a thought. Select the plank on the side of the gap nearer to the wall. So what do you do at the end of the flooring to keep it from re-occurring?