How to replace a damaged laminate board that’s in the middle of the floor

Replacing 1 piece of laminate flooring in the middle of the floor.
Rac a tac
This is an Amazon link and I am an affiliate with Amazon and will make a small commission if you buy it through this link
Thank you for your support

[markbudka]

What a badass video. This dude ran into every possible thing that could go wrong (which seems like always happens to me). He's a real good floor technician.

[adamlaski]

I just did this for the first time (hardwood, not laminate) after watching many of these kind of videos and it came out great. I used a track saw as I just thought it’d be easier. You’d never know a board was replaced though it was flawless.
Edit: I ended up using WKD Contruction’s technique and it worked like a charm. Only thing is you have to either pop a nail or two in or weigh it down for 24+ hours.

[FW-odlt]

Andy I do custom flooring and the basic laminate and LVT! This repair is very time consuming with wood or laminate. When my wife started working from home her office chair was being used 8 hours a day and a small piece by one of the joints decided it wanted to be free! Fixing it was not an issue especially since this is my job. Customers don’t understand why this repair is so expensive until they see the amount of time it takes. The problem here started with improper flooring prep. Great video!

[NEKONEKOMAO]

Thank you so much for showing All the problems and trouble shooting!! I didn't need to watch this whole video because I'm looking for something a little different... but I got pulled in and just had to see it all 😂 I want that knee wheel rolling thing 😲

[tommy]

Loved the way it wasnt planned. To encounter an added problem and improvise your way out.

[jwadwadi]

It’s is a genuine video, the fellow did not stage any of it …. Respect

[Paintbait]

Carpet Tape + Scrap 2x4 on top of the plank or planks you need to nudge and then hit the 2x4. This will work with basically all unfastened flooring. Even glued vinyl planks can be massaged in this fashion sparingly. I provide this tip since everyone is criticizing how he's hitting the flooring. I doubt very much he damaged it at all, but if you're working with something that mars easily or have a bit of a squeamish client that's a way you can do it. I find the method works very well because you have a lot of control over the movement and move the planking in at least two directions very easily. Use care removing the 2x4.

[roberthigbee]

Wow, fantastic! This YouTube video should get an award for showing how to deal with issues you didn’t know about when you started and how to problem-solve to find the root cause. I am so tired of glib YouTubers who pretend to fix stuff where all bolts fall off in your hands and parts are mysteriously clean and shiny. Also, I loved that kneeling sitting creeper. Clearly this is a professional who cares about his health.

[xbubblehead]

One of those jobs I have been dreading ever since I installed the laminate boards in several rooms. I'm thinking an easier solution is a throw rug. Ha!

[poche]

Glad to know I'm not keeping that extra box on a closet floor for nothing. Probably need it under the fridge some day.

[loveeveryone]

Excellent video ....thank you so much Andy. I really appreciate how your video showed each step, and how you had to trouble shoot each new development in trying to install the board. Helps to demonstrate that often even a simple job and run into difficultly where you have to problem solve. Just know this video you made is well appreciated by a lot of home owners and handymen. I had the exact same problem with the cement floor underneath. I ended up using a air chisel to chip away the concrete and then putting some cement down to level it.

[harveysmith]

This was genuinely the best video I have seen so far this year.

Thank you for sharing, you have put future money in my bank account giving me the knowledge to repair something that a lot of guys say can't be done.

Lovely to watch you work also, you stay calm and don't rush, that normally speeds the work up!

I hope you get well paid for these repairs, it's a lot cheaper than replacing a whole floor which a lot of guys will say is the only option.

[brettbarager]

I used a variation of this method several years ago. Worked great. I would have used a tapping block to move the board back rather than risk any damage or marks with a mallet . . . I commented too soon! Lol

[tonywright]

Just a tip, if the board is too tight put it in the freezer for a few days it will contract enough for it to fit . I know because I’m a YouTube expert !

[davidszakacs]

I like that little kneeling seat! Wish I’d had one when I installed laminate in my three bedrooms.

[scubacollie]

This tip will hopefully help people and its a VERY SIMPLE tip and uses something that EVERYBODY probably has already!! I'm no expert, I'm a DIYER, and I've only done laminate flooring 3 times in my life. However I really enjoy doing it, and I've just completed my biggest project so far, the whole of the downstairs of our house, 200 Square Meters of laminate. I had a couple of very difficult areas that needed the tongues sanded down and glue applied, and then I had to get them panels slid into an adjoining panel. If you apply too much glue, then the panel will be difficult to slide into the adjoining panel, however even with a little bit of glue, it still makes it more difficult. I also wasn't able to use a tapping block either due to the location of the board, and to be honest I don't find it really helps anyway, as it slips and can't get enough friction to move the board. Now are you all really ready for this tip now?? 😁 The best way I found was using your feet with trainers (you call them sneakers in the states?) and stand up and kick the board into place with your trainer, the rubber sole of the trainer provides a huge amount of friction/grip on the board and the power out of your foot makes getting difficult boards to engage into the adjoining board so much easier!! Sorry bit of a long post for something so simple!! 🤣

[tedwarden]

Thanks for that. I’ve had a couple of these were I’ve had to take a chunk of the floor up.
Love the rolling knee pads.

[mclemu]

Ok, I wasn’t sure how to do it right so I pulled up most of the floor to repair some pieces that were under a wall that was torn down. Wow, what a pain in the ass but I got it done after a 12 hour day, and I’m 66 years old!

[robertbombace]

Thank you for the great video. I was thinking this may be an absolutely impossible task.

[natalie]

Man, sometimes you really get more than you bargained for! What a pain. Some people just don’t understand “do it right or do it twice”. Nice work and helpful video 😊