Flooring repairs
From Floor Coverings
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What Flooring Repairs Encompass
Can I do Flooring repairs on my own?
Depending on what types of flooring you have in your home, any repairs made could range from the very simple, to almost replacing your entire floor. Hardwood Flooring can be replaced in a section that has become damaged, but matching the exact wood and stain/sealer can be tricky. The best thing when you lay down hardwood floors in the first place, is to save some of the planks in a dry area. If you cannot save any of the stain, then write down the number and where you got it from. If you need to take a piece of the damaged hardwood to a store that can custom mix a stain or paint for you, then that's a great way to match your floor. If you can only get close, then sand and buff and re-stain your entire floor. That way it'll surely match. Tongue and groove, or laminate flooring, is much easier to repair. All you need to do is take up the damaged section and cut a new piece. Again, when you lay this type of floor, or the hardwood, save some pieces. Replacing a damaged tile, either natural stone or ceramic, or linoleum or even granite or marble, also means that when you put the floor down, save some of the same material.
Types Of Floors You Can Repair
Almost any kind of floor can be repaired. There may be a few made from exotic materials, where it would be hard to find replacement pieces. Floors with patterns are also a bit tricky. If it's impossible to repair a floor so that it matches, you can get creative. If you have to use a different kind of hardwood to repair your floors, create the same pattern in an alternate corner, for instance. That way the off-color repair will seem like it was done on purpose. If you have to replace a ceramic tile, then form a pattern around it and recreate the pattern in another area. One can also disguise mismatched repair material by making a mosaic that could prove to be a focal point of your floor. Mosaics can be made from a lot of different things -- Ceramic Tiles that are broken, inlaid wood, colorful pebbles, or other embedded objects.
What Will You Need?
Most flooring repairs need simple tools. A hammer, a crowbar, kneepads (so your knees won't get bruised), perhaps some carpet covered squares on a stick that you can use to push in tiles or pieces of laminate, screwdrivers, perhaps glues, possibly grout and mortar, sandpaper, some paintbrushes and cloths. cleaning solution (be careful on wood -- it might damage real wood or laminate). Really, each repair job will take some different kind of tools and materials but those are the basics that can see you through most flooring repairs.
