You drop a heavy cooking pot on your floor. Your washing machine has a leak, and you only notice it after a while. Or there are deep scratches on your floor from moving heavy furniture. For different reasons, your floor may take a beating. No worries: we’ll explain how you can repair damage to your floor.
Water damage
Water damage to vinyl
Did water remain on your vinyl planks or tiles for a long time? Then you don’t have to worry immediately about permanent damage, since they are 100% water-resistant. It may happen that you get stains that, after drying, leave a white haze on the surface. Once you eliminate the cause of the moisture problem or water leak, that haze will disappear on its own.
The only exception is a situation where the wet vinyl surface has been in contact with bacteria for a long time — for example, due to a damp felt pad under a table or chair leg. In that case, you may end up with a reddish stain that you can no longer remove. The only option then is to replace the vinyl (locally). But in general, the rule is: give it some time, and the water damage will disappear!
Is the moisture under your vinyl floor? Then that can lead to mold formation that darkens the floor. Replacing the affected vinyl tiles or planks is then the only solution. Of course, the cause of the moisture problem also needs to be addressed.
Water damage to parquet or laminate
Did your parquet or laminate floor come into prolonged contact with water? Then the planks may start to swell, since each of these floors contains wood that absorbs moisture. Especially at the joints, this can cause planks to lift slightly.
Once the cause is removed and the floor dries again, the swelling will subside. But it’s quite possible that discoloration will remain at the affected spot. A parquet floor can then be sanded and re-oiled or re-varnished. With laminate, you can replace the plank in question.
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A collection of 100% water-resistant laminate floors with hydro+ technology, so water can never penetrate the joints.
Repairing scratches or dents
Repairing scratches and dents in your wooden floor? You can do that with a specific type of wax. In a repair kit, you’ll find different colors that you melt and mix to get the perfect shade. This way, the damage is much less visible. Ideal for camouflaging small scratches or dents. If it concerns a large damaged area, of course this won’t help.
Tip:
Do you have a loyal four-legged friend or another pet? Then go for a floor that is scratch-resistant and easy to maintain..
Wear and tear
Any floor can show signs of wear over time. Do you have to replace the entire floor if you want it to look nice again? That depends on how large the damaged area is and how old your floor is. If it’s only a few planks or tiles, it may be worth it to just replace those worn parts and not dismantle the entire floor.
For a large area, that is less economical. In addition, after, say, 20 years, you may no longer find a specific type of laminate, vinyl, etc. on the market. Then installing a new floor is the only option.
Preventing damage?
To really limit damage, you can of course make a few smart choices:
- High pressure floors
These floors have the hardest top layer and are the most wear-resistant. It’s no coincidence that this floor type is often used in car showrooms and event halls. Also, if you rent out a property, it’s a good idea to choose high pressure floors. Because then, for decades, floor damage is no longer a concern for you.
- Avoid chemical reactions
Be careful with vinyl and rubber. A vinyl floor is not a good choice if it may come into contact with bicycles, cars, or even wheelchair wheels. Due to the chemical reaction between vinyl and rubber, prolonged contact results in yellow stains or streaks that cannot be removed.
- Go for a water-resistant floor
Laminate floors that are 100% water-resistant can be perfectly installed in a damp room such as a bathroom or kitchen. With floors that have hydro+ technology, water, for example, won’t seep into the joints of planks.
