Over time, one or more of the strips of your floating wood floor may become damaged. If this happens, it's important to replace the strip(s) as soon as possible so that the floor doesn't deteriorate any further. This also ensures that your floor maintains its original appearance.
If you are well prepared with all the necessary materials on hand, replacing a strip of floating wood flooring shouldn't prove a challenge.
In this section, we will explain why floor strips may need to be replaced and how to do so.
Floating wood floors may get damaged over time. In many cases, simply sanding and filling any holes is all that's required. However, sometimes an entire strip is damaged and needs to be replaced as soon as possible. Any knocks or imperfections can have a major impact on the floor's elegant appearance.
Aside from the aesthetic implications, any damage may also cause the entire floating wood floor to deteriorate over time. Of course, you don't need to replace a strip at the first sign of any scratches. Simply follow our instructions on maintaining oiled wood floors and protect the wood from moisture and knocks.
As a general rule, a strip of floating wood floor only needs to be replaced if:
Floating wood floors are the most straightforward and cost effective to install. If your floor suffers any major wear or tear, it's easy to repair it. Thanks to the simple installation process, replacing a floating wood floor strip takes very little time and doesn't require you to call out a professional.
Watch our video on replacing a strip of floating wood flooring for additional guidance.
Before you start work, you need to make sure you have the right type of replacement strip so that it clicks perfectly into position.
To replace a strip, it's important to have the following DIY tools to hand:
To cut out the damaged strip, drill a hole in each of the 4 corners, 1.5 cm from the edge. Then use the saw to connect the 4 holes.
Use a wood chisel to remove the strip you want to replace. Place your chisel in one of the grooves you made with the circular saw. Next, insert the chisel into the wood strip by hammering it down. You can now use the chisel as a lever to remove the central part of the strip. Finally, carefully remove the remaining 1.5 cm edge using the wood chisel.
In contrast with other types of wood floors, you do not need to remove the underlay when replacing a floating wood floor strip so that it will slot perfectly into place. There's also no need to glue the entire strip. The new plank should be prepared as shown in the video (removal of the bottom flange of the grooves and the tongue at the end).Simply apply Presto BIB glue to the tongues at the end and along the side of the wood.
To insert the new strip into the slot, lay it flat. Then push down so that it is well adhered to the other strips. Place a weight on top of the new wood floor strip and leave for at least 24 hours.
And that's all there is to it! Your new floating wood floor strip is now in place.
To keep your floating wood floor in perfect condition, we strongly advise reading our recommendations on the best cleaning methods for floating floors and the best products to use to maintain the wood.
For additional, tailored information, request a quote now.