Vinyl plank flooring is a great alternative to higher-priced hardwood floors. Plank flooring is a great alternative to expensive hardwood floors. It also offers a luxurious look at a lower cost. Vinyl flooring is typically much more comfortable to install with either a click-together, glue-down, or loose lay type of installation. It should not be difficult to repair floor gaps.
You You can and should repair vinyl plank flooring gaps before looking at other options. It isn’t as difficult to fix this type of floor as you may think it is. You may be tempted to replace this flooring because of its low cost.
This article will explain what causes gaps in vinyl plank flooring and how to fix them. You This is an easy and quick way to replace your entire flooring. The flooring will look exactly the same as it was before.
What Causes Vinyl Plank Flooring Gaps?
Finding gaps in your vinyl plank flooring can be extremely frustrating, especially if it is a relatively recent install. These gaps can be caused by many factors, including human error and environmental damage. Here are some of the most common causes of gaps in your vinyl floors.
Heat and Cold Exposure
One of the significant causes of gaps in your flooring is hot and cold temperatures. Vinyl expands with heat, while it shrinks under cold conditions. The constant battle with the elements will leave gaps in your flooring. You are most likely to experience gaps in a heavy traffic zone. Other affected areas include near windows, close to vents, and in rooms that change in precipitation.
The constant change in heat or cold will cause these gaps to occur. It doesn’t matter what kind of vinyl flooring you are using; gaps can and will occur at some point. The key is to be ready for any gaps that may occur.
Moisture
As stated above, rooms that change in precipitation are going to experience gaps in the floors. Because moisture can seep under the floors, it is a major cause of gaps. When moisture gets trapped under the flooring, like in the case of spilled water, it can weaken the vinyl’s integrity.
The boards will shift if you glue them down. If you use click-together or lose lay, the boards will shift in moisture as they slide around. It would help if you were extremely careful to use waterproof vinyl in areas where moisture is a constant, such as the kitchen or bathroom.
However, moisture can occur in another room, as well. A dropped vase of flowers or condensation dripping from a window. If your floors are not ready for this moisture, it can cause damage.
Moving Heavy Objects
When it comes to loose-lay vinyl plank flooring, you need to be careful when moving heavy objects. Moving heavy objects across the floor can cause the vinyl to shift and become damaged. This can be prevented by lifting furniture and not dragging it. Feeling pads can be placed under heavy furniture to prevent this.
How to Fix Gaps in Vinyl Plank Flooring
When vinyl flooring is manufactured, it is designed to be tight and square when installed. That means that there will be no gaps in between the planks. Because the flooring is built like that, there is no need for grouting or filling newly installed vinyl planks.
As mentioned above, vinyl planks can shift over time for a variety of reasons. These gaps need to be filled. These gaps must be filled to preserve the floor’s integrity.
Glued or Clicked-In Floors
When you have floors that are glued down or clicked in place, it isn’t easy to replace a section without wreaking havoc on the rest of the floor. Here are the steps to fixing the gaps:
- Clean the floors the same way you would when you are moping them. Use a cleaner to remove all the debris and dirt that builds up in the gap. You You could vacuum the area to get rid of any extra debris.
- Allow the floor to dry for at least 24 hours before you check that there is no dirt left. Use your finger to verify that there isn’t any dirt in the gap.
- Clear caulking is used to seal the gap between planks. You Use a putty knife or a hammer to ensure that the caulking covers all of the space. Let the caulking dry before you remove any excess.
- Paint over the spot with a stain or paint that matches the rest of the floor. You It is best to wait at most 24 hours before you place the flooring. Before you step on it, ensure it is dried and has hardened.
Note: You can use enamel to fix the gaps the same way as the caulking as well.
Loose Lay Floors
When you are using loose lay floors, it can be just as quick and easy to fix a gap. You can simply use a rubber mallet and push the board together from the end of each row. You There are tools available that can fix gaps and then fill them with the sticky substance. The rubber mallet and double-sided tape work in the same manner.
Place the double-sided tape in the gap, use a small piece of 4 X 4 lumber and place it over top of the gap. Use the rubber mallet to hit the woodblock until it closes. The woodblock will create another gap. Keep going until the gap disappears behind a baseboard.
All Vinyl Plank Floor Types
If you have extra or can get the same vinyl floor planks, you may want to replace the section where the gap is located. Vinyl plank flooring is flexible enough to fix small gaps without replacing the entire floor.
Verdict: Yes, You Can and Should Fix Vinyl Plank Floor Gaps
Gaps will occur in your vinyl floors, and when they do, you can fix them with ease. You don’t have to replace the entire floor when there are simple solutions to the gap issues. If there are significant gaps, you might need to replace the entire floor.
When there are only a few gaps that need to repaired, you can use the simple fixes mentioned above. It is possible to replace a section rather than repair larger gaps. But, replacing is always an option.
Final Thoughts
Gaps will occur in your vinyl plank flooring for a lot of reasons. It can be changed in the weather, moisture, or even moving around heavy furniture. When gaps occur, you don’t want to have to change out the entire floor to fix it. You You can repair the gaps with the above methods to make your floor look new again.
You may need to replace your flooring if the gaps are too large. There are much cheaper and simpler options that you can explore before pulling up the floors in your home.
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