How can I fix open joints in my laminate flooring?
Humidity can make your laminate floor boards shrink or expand a bit. This fluctuation in humidity levels can cause them to click loose and move, resulting in openings between the boards. Fortunately, you don’t have to remove the entire floor to close these open joints. Using the following step-by-step guide, you can easily fix the problem.
First of all, it is important to verify if there are any fixed points (e.g. kitchen island on the floor, screws, … ). If so, they need to be removed as a floating installation should be completely floating.
Before you get started, you’ll need a few tools: a hammer, a chisel, a crowbar and a tapping block. Optional: wood glue.
- Take a close look at the open joint and try to determine in which direction the board moved. This is the side where you’ll remove the skirting board.
- Use the chisel and hammer to remove the skirting board on the side the laminate board moved towards, or use a double side adhesive on a tapping block to avoid removing the wallbase.
- Remove all the dirt and dust from the floor and gap in order to have a clean gap before closing.
- Once you’ve removed the baseboard, you’ll see which board came undone. Using the hammer and tapping block, knock the board back in place to close the open juncture. You can use some wood glue in the crack between both boards to make sure it doesn't detach again.
Glue your skirting board back together and your laminate floor is perfect again.
