Highlights
- The cost to repair laminate floors depends on the extent of the damage
- On the low end, a repair can cost as little as $122 (or less if you DIY it)
- On the high end, repairs can cost upwards of $3,800
- Beyond minor scratches, laminate floor planks can’t be repaired and must be replaced
- If the damage extends to the subfloor, that will also need repairs or...
Full Answer
What is the average cost of installing laminate flooring?
This sounds complicated and expensive, so it leads many people to wonder the cost to install laminate flooring. However, the average cost to install laminate flooring falls between $1,5000 and $5,000. The average homeowner can expect to spend right around $2,170 to complete the project for a 200-square foot room.
What should I do before installing laminate flooring?
- Remove the existing flooring, baseboards and moulding.
- Check that the subfloor is solid, flat and clean. ...
- If you are installing the flooring below grade or in a room with high humidity or moisture, such as a basement, lay down a vapor barrier before you install the ...
- Lay out the unopened boxes of laminate planks in the room. ...
How much extra laminate flooring do you need to buy?
How Much Extra Flooring to Order? Luxury Vinyl Plank and Laminate Flooring . Buy between 5-percent and 10-percent of extra plank or tile format vinyl or laminate flooring. Defective goods are rarely an issue with synthetic flooring, so the extra flooring accounts for the cut edges.
How often do you need to replace laminate flooring?
- the age of the floor bed it is installed on
- the manufacture date and the type of adhesives that were used
- the level of average humidity present in the structure where its is installed
- The amount of care it has received over it’s lifespan to date
- The number of times if any it has been refinished
How much does it cost to replace a piece of laminate flooring?
How Much Does It Cost to Repair Laminate Floors by Square Foot?Type of RepairCostRemove damaged planks$1 – $3 per square footInstall new laminate planks$2 – $8 per square footReplace or repair a damaged subfloor$1.40 – $7 per square footNov 29, 2021
Can you replace a few pieces of laminate flooring?
0:011:34Replacing a Damaged Flooring Plank | Tips and Tricks | Armstrong FlooringYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSaw set to the thickness of the plank. To cut along the lines. Use a sharp chisel to finish the cutsMoreSaw set to the thickness of the plank. To cut along the lines. Use a sharp chisel to finish the cuts into the corners of the plank carefully remove cut pieces. Starting with the center.
Can you repair laminate flooring?
Making repairs to laminate floorboards If one of your laminate floorboards has sustained damaged, there's no reason to panic. Regular scratches and even cracks can be repaired with a floor repair kit. Available in different colours depending on your laminate's colour, they're simple to use with impeccable results.
How much does it cost to replace a section of flooring?
Basic structural repairs like floorboards can run $500 to $700 for a small section of flooring while floor joist repair can cost as much as $6,000 to $10,000 for a small room.
How do you fix a tear in laminate flooring?
0:181:49How Do I Repair Tears in a Vinyl Floor? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAdhesive. Apply adhesive to both the tear and the floor. Set the tear back using pressure try toMoreAdhesive. Apply adhesive to both the tear and the floor. Set the tear back using pressure try to squeeze out the excess of adhesive remove the adhesive. Use a roller to create a bond in the floor.
Can you replace one laminate board?
When a board sustains damage in the middle of a laminate floor, you have two options for replacing it. One is to disassemble the floor down to the damaged board, replace the board and reassemble the floor. That option isn't always practical, especially in large rooms filled with furniture.
Can water damaged laminate flooring be repaired?
Water damaged boards can't be fixed, but they can be replaced. If you have leftover laminate flooring boards from your original installation, use those. If not, match the damaged boards with new ones. Make sure the floor is completely dry before you begin the repairs.
How much does it cost to repair scratched floors?
Scratches cost anywhere from $75 to $2,000 or $1 to $8 per square foot. For a single scratch, you might go with an inexpensive wood filler and stain. For extensive scratches, you'll likely need to refinish the floor completely, costing closer to $2,000.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace hardwood floors?
Refinishing hardwood floors is more cost-effective than replacing them. On average, it costs about $2,000 to $7,000 to replace hardwood flooring (two to three times more than to refinish).
How much does it cost to replace 1000 sq ft of flooring?
$3,000 to $30,000To cover 1,000 square feet, you can expect to pay $3,000 to $30,000. For materials alone, you'll pay $2 to $15 per square foot.
How much should I charge to install flooring?
If you want to get new flooring installed in your home, expect to pay between $1,491 and $4,553 for flooring installation costs. The national average is around $2,985 for 500 square feet of coverage, and this average cost includes materials and labor.
How much does it cost to install 300 square feet of laminate flooring?
The average cost to install laminate flooring is between $6 and $14 per sq. ft., including labor and material costs....Laminate Flooring Installation Cost Per Square Foot.Room SizeAverage Costs (Installed)100 sq.ft.$600 - $1,400200 sq.ft.$1,200 - $2,800300 sq.ft.$1,800 - $4,200500 sq.ft.$3,000 - $7,0004 more rows
How much does it cost to install 1000 sq ft vinyl plank flooring?
The estimated material, installation cost, and labor necessary to install vinyl plank floors for 1,000 sq ft (93 m2) are approximately $9,500. In most cases, the total cost is within a range from $3,000 to $16,000.
What is the labor cost for installing vinyl flooring?
Labor. A vinyl flooring contractor charges approximately $36 an hour to install vinyl plank flooring. This averages out to $3 to $10 per hour, not including the cost of the flooring materials. Labor prices can vary from the norm due to the cost of labor in your area.
How do I replace laminate flooring?
Replacing one or two pieces of laminate flooring involves removing the damaged boards and installing a new one. The best method for this starts at the closest wall. Remove the trim and pull up boards until you reach the damaged one. Then, replace that board and reinstall any planks you took out to get to that board.
How do I repair a wall?
Cutting a board out isn't the best solution, but sometimes the only one. If you're unable to remove planks from the wall nearest the damaged section, you'll need to cut out planks. In this case, your handyman will follow these general steps: 1 Cut out the damaged board with a plunge saw set to only the depth of the board. 2 Modify a new board to remove one of the click-lock sides. 3 Glue that side in while using the other three sides' locking function to hold it in place. 4 Weight the glued-in board for 24 hours until the glue cures.
How much does it cost to repair laminate flooring?
Laminate floor repairs cost $821 on average or between $317 and $1,327. However, you may pay up to $3,000. Laminate floor repairs usually require removal and replacement of damage boards. Cost factors include the floorboards' price, location, type of damage and total size of the damaged area.
How to fix a broken board?
Cut out the damaged board with a plunge saw set to only the depth of the board. Modify a new board to remove one of the click-lock sides. Glue that side in while using the other three sides' locking function to hold it in place. Weight the glued-in board for 24 hours until the glue cures.
Can water damage laminate floors?
If you can dry it out before it soaks in, you'll likely have no issues . Once it soaks in, it'll ruin most laminate floors and can cause mold growth.
Can you cut laminate flooring?
Most pros wrap that cost into the price of repairing or replacing your laminate floors. Cutting a board out isn't the best solution, but sometimes the only one. If you're unable to remove planks from the wall nearest the damaged section, you'll need to cut out planks.
Repair Scratched Laminate
Scratches are one of the common issues found in laminate floorings. Well, repairing a scratched laminate is very basic, unless it’s been damaged a lot. Here are the ways you can use to repair your scratched laminate floor.
How to Repair Buckled Laminate
A buckled laminate is when two of your laminate planks expand with no space, forming a tent-like structure. This can happen due to changes in the atmosphere and moisture, making the laminate expand when there is no space to expand.
How to Repair Laminate Peaking
A peaking laminate can occur when there’s no space left for laminate expansion. Peaking is the initial stage of buckling. Two planks expand together to a point they peak; this is similar to buckling. There is a way to deal with this without replacing the planks.
How to Repair Laminate Dents
Dents can be caused by a drop of some heavy object or moving furniture around. These dents ruin the look of your laminate flooring; thankfully, there is a rather odd solution that woodworkers have been using for years to fix it.
How to Repair Laminate Soft Spots
Do you have some spots that are soft in your laminate? They are caused by uneven leveling or improper installation of the underlayment. These spots can go away by injecting foam spray into them.
How to Repair Laminate Floor Gaps
Laminate floor gaps are often caused by poor installation; they may not be glued properly and end up looking like a jigsaw puzzle. There’s an easy way to fix it with a floor gap fixer or wood glue. Even better, you can use both of them together in the correct application for a permanent solution.
How to Replace Laminate Plank
If the plank is damaged beyond repair, it would be in your best interest to get them replaced.
What is the groove on laminate flooring?
Each plank has a groove on one end and one side and a tongue on the other end and the other side. This is what makes laminate flooring so unique. But the planks need to be lined up accordingly. The bottom lip of both grooves and one tongue need to be cut off before the new plank can be installed.
What is the groove side of a plank?
The groove side (the last row that was installed) is the best starting point for disassembly. If this isn’t known, the best way to verify is to get a look at the edge of the planks by removing the baseboard and/or quarter-round trim. The grooved end should have a slot for the tongue on it.
What to do when you have sharp edges?
Whenever you’re working with power tools or sharp edges, use shatterproof eye protection and a tough set of gloves. Also, be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp edges of broken laminate pieces.
Is it easy to repair laminate flooring?
Repairing laminate flooring is generally quick and easy. If the damage is significant, it might be time to replace the flooring altogether, which is more pricey, but not more difficult. NOTE: The beginning half of 2021 has seen an unprecedented labor shortage as a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How much does it cost to fix a floor joist?
It lends strength to an existing joist so that you do not need to remove the old joist to fix the floor. This has a cost of $200 to $400 per joist on average.
Why does my floor squeak?
Or, you may have gaps between the floor and the subfloor that can be filled with a little adhesive and some wood shims. Depending on how many squeaky spots you have, the cost ranges from $200 to $1,000 on average.
How much does it cost to replace laminate flooring?
Depending on how many planks are affected, this can cost $225 to $400.
What is concrete flooring?
Concrete Flooring Repair. Concrete is a trendy flooring type found in many modern homes. It can also be found in basements and other areas where the concrete has been polished to become the main floor, rather than installing another flooring. Concrete is durable, but it cracks and is susceptible to moisture.
What is the biggest driving factor behind repair costs?
The type of flooring you have is the biggest driving factor behind repair costs. Each flooring wears and acquires damage in different ways, which dictates how the repairs are carried out and the average repair cost. Some repairs are done on the surface of your existing flooring, while others require the damaged section to be removed and replaced, influencing your total costs:
What is engineered wood?
Engineered wood is a subtype of hardwood. It has a piece of wood veneer on top of layers of plywood running in opposite directions. This flooring type is more stable and resistant to moisture. It is repaired just like solid hardwood, but it usually needs repairs less often. The one difference is that while solid hardwood can be refinished an infinite number of times, engineered hardwood may only be refinished 5 or 6 times over its lifetime. The cost is the same, $250 to $3,000 on average for repairs.
Why does my vinyl floor bubble?
This is caused by the adhesive separating unevenly in this area, allowing moisture or air to become trapped and form a bubble. To fix this, you need to lift the area, reapply the adhesive, and stretch, reset, and roll the affected section back down. Sometimes, you may need to replace a section if it is too worn to reattach. This has a cost range of $225 to $600, depending on how large the section is.
Community Q&A
I've heard hardwood flooring is difficult to install sometimes. What makes it hard?
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Kevin Schlosser. Kevin Schlosser is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Home Tech Handyman Ltd. With over 20 years of experience, Kevin specializes in age-in-place installations, flooring, roofing, and general remodeling handyman services.
How to Fix Laminate Floor Scratches
Wondering how to fix laminate floor scratches? It’s easy to touch up scratches with a floor repair kit.
How to Repair Laminate Flooring Water Damage
Waterproof laminate flooring is available. Many newer laminate floors are made to be water resistant.
Using a Saw to Remove Laminate Flooring
If the damage to a laminate floor is some distance from the wall, it may be faster to cut out the affected board using a circular saw with a fine-finish blade.
How to Fix Laminate Flooring That is Lifting or Buckling
As you figure out how to fix laminate flooring that is lifting, try to find the cause of the problem. Finding and repairing the issue can help prevent future damage.
When to Repair Laminate Flooring
- It’s time to consider replacing a plank in your laminate flooring when there’s significant damage to the surface—this might include a chip, divot or large scratch. Curled or raised edges or bowing of a plank also warrant replacement and may indicate water or other damage. It may be possible to replace only the damaged area without having to replace the entire flooring. Some damage to la…
Safety Considerations
- Whenever you’re working with power tools or sharp edges, use shatterproof eye protection and a tough set of gloves. Also, be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp edges of broken laminate pieces.
Instructions
- 1. Decide to Repair or Replace
Repairs are usually less time-consuming and expensive than replacing the entire floor, but if you feel like it’s time for a change and have some extra money, replacement is always an option. If the surface only has small, shallow scratches (from your dog’s claws or dragging furniture across th… - 2. If Replacement, Decide How Much to Replace
Decide which planks need replacement. Should you pull it all up and start from scratch? If it’s just a plank or two, look through your closet, basement or garage. If you need more material than you have in storage and the manufacturer doesn’t produce the same design anymore, you may end u…
When to Call A Pro
- If you are working in a house that has settled and has dramatically uneven floors, you may want to have an experienced set of eyes evaluate whether the laminate will continue to sustain damage. If you’re looking at repairing a significant area of flooring or a repair in a complicated space with tight spaces that will make working more difficult or less safe, someone more experienced with …