How to repair laminate flooring

Demonstrated by Wickes. This guide is based on the "How to Repair Laminate Flooring" video produced by Wickes, one of the UK's major trade and DIY retailers. The video covers the repair kit method for chips and scratches with practical demonstrations that make the colour-matching step - the tricky bit - a lot clearer.

1. Assess what you're dealing with

Surface scratches (where the decorative layer is scuffed but not broken through) are the easiest to fix and look worse under raking light than they really are. A repair pen or wax crayon is often enough. Chips and gouges that have broken through the top layer need a filler approach. Lifting or buckling planks, or damage near a wet area, are a different problem - possibly related to moisture underneath.

For small, localised damage in a dry area, this guide covers what you need. If there's widespread damage, edges lifting, or any sign of water underneath, investigate the cause before worrying about the cosmetics.

2. Fix fine scratches with a touch-up pen or wax crayon

For fine surface scratches, a laminate floor touch-up pen or wax repair crayon in a matching colour is the simplest fix. These are widely available in DIY shops and come in a range of wood tones. Apply sparingly, following the direction of the grain, then buff off any excess with a soft cloth.

The key is not going too dark - it's easier to build up a second coat than to remove excess colour. Test on an inconspicuous area first if you're uncertain about the shade.

3. Use a repair kit for chips and gouges

For proper chips and gouges, a laminate floor repair kit (around £10–15 from any decent DIY shop) contains a wax filler that you melt or work into the damaged area and shape to level. The kit usually includes a range of colours to mix.

Clean the damaged area thoroughly and make sure it's dry. Apply the filler slightly proud of the surface, let it set, then scrape flush with a hard plastic spatula (or a credit card works). Don't use a metal blade - it'll scratch the surrounding floor. Once level, polish with the sealant in the kit to blend the sheen.

4. Getting the colour match right

This is where most repairs go wrong. Take a photo of the floor on your phone before going to the shop - better still, bring a spare plank or the packaging from when the floor was laid, if you still have it. The floor manufacturer name and range, if you know it, will help you find an exact-match repair product.

In bright shop lighting, colours look different. Assess the match at home in natural light before committing. Most repair kits let you blend two colours, which helps a lot if you're between shades. Aim for slightly lighter rather than darker - filler tends to darken slightly as it cures.

5. Replace a whole plank for serious damage

If a plank is badly damaged, cracked across its width, or the surface is beyond cosmetic repair, replacing the plank is cleaner than patching. This is more work but gives a much better result.

The easiest approach is to work from the nearest wall edge if the damaged plank is within a few rows. Unclip the planks row by row (floating floors click apart without adhesive), replace the damaged piece, and click everything back. If the damaged plank is in the middle of the room, cut it out with a multi-tool and use a pull bar to remove the pieces without disturbing neighbouring planks. The exact approach depends on how the floor was laid, but it's a manageable job for anyone comfortable with DIY.

6. Prevent future damage

Laminate handles general foot traffic fine, but it dislikes grit, moisture, and point loading. Use entrance mats to catch grit before it gets ground in. Fit felt pads under furniture legs - especially chairs that move. Avoid dragging anything heavy across the surface.

Laminate is not waterproof. Wipe spills up immediately. Running a wet mop over it regularly is a good way to lift the edges over time. A slightly damp mop and a laminate-specific floor cleaner is the right routine.

When to call a handyman

A chip or scratch is a reasonable DIY job. Replacing a plank in the middle of a large room, or dealing with flooring that's moving or lifting, is a step up - the kind of thing that goes badly wrong if you try to force it and end up damaging the surrounding planks. Richard can deal with laminate repairs around Sandwich and East Kent, including sourcing a close colour match when the original is no longer in production.