How to Fix Dents in Laminate Flooring – 3 Easy Ways

Do you have a dent somewhere on your laminate flooring? Your pets, stilettos could have caused it, or maybe you dropped something on the laminate floor. Laminate floors are usually scratch-resistant and dent-proof due to their high-density core layer. Perhaps they are more dent-resistant than hardwood flooring.  

There is, however, a chance that the laminate floor will dent. There are many causes of having a dent on your floor, but there are many remedies as well. 

A dent in laminate flooring will look like this ^.

To repair laminate flooring and dents, keep reading!

Causes of Dents

Several factors can cause dents;

Dropped Something

The most common cause of a dent is accidentally dropping something. That results in a dent, though it is very likely to be a small dent. Dents caused by dropping something can be easy to fix with a variety of solutions. This is the most common cause of laminate floor dents.

Moving Furniture Around

Another common cause of dents is moving heavy furniture around, especially if you do not have any padding for the furniture corners. Dragging around furniture on laminate flooring is a bad idea. In most cases, they will scratch; however, if they fall on the floor, they may dent.

Heavy Things

Using heavy machinery or instruments on laminate flooring is not advisable under any circumstance. They can lead to issues much larger than dents, such as creaking, staining, tearing of laminate floors. Laminate floors can easily handle weights lesser than 400-500 lbs. If you are placing heavy items, such as a piano or bookshelves, make sure they weigh less than 500 lbs.  

How to Fix a Dent 

There are different methods requiring different sets of tools to repair laminate flooring dents. Some methods may seem like a fantasy or a joke, but their effectiveness speaks for itself. 

Iron Method – If Not Chipped

Did you know that you can iron a dent out? It seems pretty weird, but not only does it work well, but it’s also a ubiquitous method to fix dents. 

Materials Required

1. Iron*
2. Cotton cloth* 
3. Danish oil stain 

• Place a drop of water on the dent. 
• Fold a piece of cotton cloth four times and place it upon the dent. The width of the cloth should be around an inch.
• Place the tip of the iron onto the cloth, move it in a circular motion on the cloth till steam starts rising.
• Put a moderate amount of force on the iron when you move it on the cotton pad. Keep ironing for around three minutes.
• Check the dent; it should be gone or reduced by now. Repeat this trick three to four times to make it disappear. 
• If you have a danish oil stain, you can rub it on the laminate floor, so your laminate maintains its color. 

Otherwise, you can do this with a 5 in1 tool and a blow torch. The methodology is the same, i.e., applying heat on the surface. Watch the below video for this process.

Minwax/Paint Method – If Chipped

Using Minwax along with paint can replace the dented area of the laminate. This method is extensive but effective. 

Materials Required to Repair Laminate Flooring

1. Minwax Wood Filler
2. Paint*
3. Poly Sealant
4. Putty knife* 
5. Floor repair marker

• Gouge out the dented area of the laminate. Fill it with Minwax.
• Flatten and level with a putty knife. In the case of distressed laminate, putty knives can’t level perfectly due to the uneven nature of the distressed laminate surface. In that case, use a cloth and carefully level the surface using your hand.
• Remove excess Minwax from the edges with a damp cloth and let it dry. Remember, wiping excess Minwax from the edges should be done before the Minwax gets hardened.
• Paint it to laminate color, or you can use permanent markers.
• Coat with a poly sealant.

Floor Repair Kit – If Chipped

Laminate floorings dents can be repaired with repair kits. Contact your manufacturer to get more details on a repair kit. The laminate repair kit contains different sorts of filler, stain pens, putty knives, etc. There are many verities of repair kits available online or in hardware stores. However, I prefer the repair kit that comes with hard wax bars and a melting tool.

Materials required

1. Repair Kit*

• Clean the dented area, wipe it off-dry.
• Melt a hard wax bar whose color is close to your laminate flooring color. Use the melting tool to melt the wax bar. Fill the dent with melting wax.
• Let it dry. Then, use a special filler applicator to flatten the surface and remove excess wax.  
• Finally, you can use varnish to finish the surface.

Repair kits are convenient and very easy to use. They are good at quick fixes, especially dents.  You can watch the following video for this method.

How to Prevent Dents 

While there are numerous accidental causes of a dent, there also is a way to prevent it. Most dents are accidental, but you can keep your laminate floor safe from it with different applications of items.

Furniture Pads

This is something that is worth investing in, especially if you have laminate flooring. Furniture pads stick to the ends of the furniture and give it padding; you can move the furniture around without tearing the laminate or leaving any dents. 

The most significant benefit of furniture pads is that it prevents scratches and dents due to the padding between the furniture and the flooring.  

Rugs

Rugs can keep your laminate floor safe to an extent, and they work exceptionally well with preventing a dent. You can drop anything on a rug, and you will not find any dents. Not only is it a good investment, but it will also give your laminate floor excellent padding, comfort, and aesthetic visuals. 

Proper Maintenance

Adequate flooring maintenance is needed, so it does not weaken enough to allow dents from furniture legs or stilettos. Maintain a clean and healthy flooring environment, do not use too much water or cleaning solutions on the laminate floor. 

Replace Planks if Nothing Works

One of the most beneficial advantages of laminate flooring is how easily it can be replaced. If it cannot be fixed, all you have to do is replace it. You can hire a professional or follow our laminate plank replacement guide;

The planks that are dented will have to be removed and replaced with new ones. 

Materials Required:  

1. Safety goggles
2. Pry-bar
3. Screwdriver
4. Putty Knife

Quick Tips:

1. Start from the wall closest to the dented laminate plank.
2. Use the screwdriver to remove any transition strips, if present.
3. Use the end of a pry-bar on the corner of a plank and wiggle it till it’s out.

Remove Baseboards

To replace installed laminate flooring, you need to remove the baseboards attached to it. A pry bar is needed to open the baseboards at the corner of the wall. A pry-bar can help unlock a variety of locking mechanisms in baseboards. 

If you find any screws holding the laminate in place, unscrew them. 

Start Removing Laminate Planks

This step is self-explanatory. Start removing the planks that surround the damaged plank. Pry-bars can be used to lift the planks out of the corner. Try wiggling the mechanism if it is sturdy.   

Remove the Dented Plank/boards.

Remove the damaged boards and install the new plank. Start putting back the laminate boards; while you’re at it, you are free to give the underlayment a sweep or check for any water leaks. Put the baseboard back in place when done. 

Conclusion

We know what causes the dents, how to repair dents, prevent dents, and replace a dented plank. Following the prevention guide will prove beneficial to you in the long run as your laminate floors will last you a long while, without any further damage.  

Taking care of the flooring is essential to maintaining a positive vibe at home as well.