Two FREE and Cheap Ways to Fix Gaps In Your Floor
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- Опубліковано 11 бер 2022
- Fixing those gaps in your floor planks is actually SUPER easy! #homehack #diy #flooring
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Flooring installer here! Nice fixes. Before you tighten up those ends hit them with a little wood glue, and dont get any on the long side(it needs to float). Many times those end locks degrade and will never truly lock again after they gap. You can also take off the trim and shim that row tight, but Ive had excellent luck with glue :)
Every season change I'm dealing with this. I ended up buying a cheap floor tile suction cup for suspended flooring for about 20 bucks. You just press it down, flip the suction cup levers to grip the section you want to adjust and then I tap the edge of the suction cups with a rubber mallet. Good to go.
Excellent idea
I did the same thing. But i added super glue between the boards, so hoping I don’t have to deal when climate changes. Not sure if it works or not. First time did
That works. You could also use a shoe. Just set the shoe on the ground put some weight on it and tap the back of the shoe. You could also just kick it with your foot
You can also kick the gap closed with the heal of your shoe. I've been doing that for years, with the same floor board ;D
LOL
Thank you. I do this all the time. I was beginning to think it was just me lol.
As a 20 yr floor installer that's how I usually fix em kick em over lol 😆 or you could lift up the quarter round and Tapp them over from the wall if they don't move when kicked
Thank buddy help tremendously 😎
Real pro tip in the comments
Great videos! Just a little addition that you may know already, or not.
When you make your 20” block, glue on a 10” on top of it, flush to one end of the 20” one, this way you have something to hit with your hammer even on tight spots.
Hope it helps.
Great point.
When you are too close to a wall to swing a hammer, screw a small offcut from another 2x4 on the top of the first 2x4 on the end that is furthest from the wall. You can then hammer on the small 2x4 piece to move the board.
Exactly was I was thinking. Was going to comment this
Excellent idea!
lol I was about to type this too
That’s genius
Or get a plank puller from Depot. (I understand this is DIY stuff but a puller makes it easier if you have one.)
Great! Nicely demonstrated and clear, to the point speaking. I'm excited about approaching my own floating floor gap project soon. And I thought I'd have nothing to do until next spring when I start mowing again! Thanks!
One of the best easy fix’s I’ve ever seen! Closed up 5 floor spaces. A favorite DYI process, thank you!
I’m glad I found you. I have a electrical project coming up and a bath kroon floor that has some gaps that need closed! Thank you for your no nonsense, clear tips!
Wow! This is so cool! I have vinyl plank on my kitchen floor with several gaps. I thought I would have to disassemble the entire floor and reassemble it again. This is a great technique. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the new tips. As a painter, now retired, I started using blue tape when it came out. I still use it almost exclusively.
What a great idea to close up the gaps. Thank you!!
Wow, THANK YOU. It works nicely, Although I modified your technique. Instead of using tape and/or glue I just used a bit of anti-skid rug backing. I placed it on the offending plank, then put a piece of 2x4 on top of the anti-skid material, and knelt on the 2x4 and whacked the 2x4 with a hammer. The gaps closed up nicely. THANKS again.
I like the first method better I think. Its good to know this and I'll keep it in mind if my floor ever develops gaps. I have a flooring installation kit- including the bar you can grab an end with and tap when close to walls. I imagine that would work on the 2x4.
Super helpful video! Clear instructions. We just fixed a couple of gaps we had in our floating floor. Looks like new! Thank you so much! We used the blue tape method. Tom and Sue
That’s awesome! You guys are fast!
I can't thank you enough. I have many of these gaps on my laminate floor & it drives me nuts. This is perfect!
We had the exact same problem in my son's condo. Over the years we've tried our sneakers & rubber mallet. Each provided marginal improvement. Both left rubber marks on the flooring. Amazon had a marvelous 2-suction cup tool (they call it a "Two Jaw Chuck") used for lifting glass. Its rated at 90KG for Vertical Suction and 70KG for vertical suction.) The suction cups provide great strength, when attached to the flooring. Using a rubber mallet, we tapped on the strong aluminum frame of the tool. The gaps in some places were so large, we actually ran a small bead of silicon ahead of the board we were going to move. This doing this, non of the boards have moved. Instead of messing around with applying/removing double sided tape, this tool is quickly applied, and quickly removed with NO cleanup afterwards. My neighbor also borrowed it, to perform the same repairs in his son's condo.
Thank you - great tip. Two LVPs in my home office had 1/8 - 1/4" gaps. I used method #1 - I used 1' 2x4 sanded it w/ 220 grit on one side, Gorilla Mounting Tape (15lb test), hand vac to make sure nothing in the gap, and rubber mallet - worked like a charm! Removing the 2x4 was no issue with 1/2" chisel and a little popsicle stick to lever and protect the LVP. Thanks again for the tip!
We were skeptical but tried the Double-Sided Tape and well it worked perfectly.
Thank you a bunch.
Nice! Simple and smart. Loved it!
Like the double-side tape idea. Clever and like many of the best ideas, simple.
Somehow these videos are always relevant to something going on around my house. Thanks!
Nice! Seems like we're all going through the same things as homeowners :)
Worked so well. I had other plans until watching this video and I’m so glad I tried this instead! Thank you!
Great ideas! You might want to test whichever tape is being used in an inconspicuous area of the floor first though, just to be sure it doesn't pull off the finish. Also, I'll bet a few drops of superglue in the side-gaps, but away from the ends of the boards on either side (to avoid restricting the movement of the ends), would keep these end-gaps from opening up again.
Thanks for filling in the gaps to my knowledge of filling in gaps.
Thank you for providing such a wonderful idea for fixing the floor. I have been worried about my gap floor for a long time. appreciated.
For tapping planks together, using a rubber mallet to tap the plank at an angle will work in many situations and only takes seconds to do. And won’t damage the flooring if used carefully.
Thanks. I combined your method and one in the video. I put down masking tape to prevent marring and hit with a rubber mallet. Worked like a charm
Amazing, I have tons of these gaps 4 years after moving into our remodeled home. Can't wait to do this!
A good kick with sneakers works just as well. By the way the gap will return in a few weeks unless you glue the ends together allowing the expansion and contractions to occur only under the baseboard.
Phil, I was considering with a light smear of wood in gap to seal. The major problems come in a high traffic area in only.
Ps the vacuum & sneaker approach works but the separates at weather changes. Any warnings here I should consider?
From watching this video it took me just about 10 minutes to finally fix the gaps that were in my floor for years!
I didnt even think about how to fix them previously.
Just made it easier to myself by sticking duct tape on the floor and then regular double sided tape on top
since my piece of wood was too rough and didnt hold on the double sided tape i stuck another duct tape on it and stuck the wood to the duct tape.
worked flawlessly
I was doubtful, but thought I would give it a try. YES, it worked, just like he showed us. Thank you for providing this tip.
I love the video! But I was waiting for the part where you teach us how to fix the last gap, by the baseboard. Thanks and Kudos to you!
Ditto!
I have been needing to see this for a while. I now know how to fix the gap in the floor of my daughter's kitchen. Thanks so much!
See a gap? Kick it closed. Done.
You just taught me something useful, sir! I'm glad to be subscribed on your channel.
Awesome, thank you!
I just tried this tip and it worked incredibly well!!!!
Good tips. Word of caution when using the chisel or any sharp edge to pry up the stud or the left over tape. Depending on the type of floating floor you have, quality of the material and/or finish can vary making it very easy to mark up or damage.
Marking the floor was a concern of mine. My solution was a length of fishing line with a dowel at each end. I passed the fishing line behind the bit being removed & by pulling back & forth, like a cheese cutter, broke the seal enough to lift & get fingers underneath to lift free. I used a nylon line so it didn't bite into the block. Maybe a steel leader line would.
Fantastic technique. Especially the tape+superglue for those close to wall/edges. I do the same but with my sneaker on and kick the floor into place 🤣
That's what I do too 😂. The power of sneakers 😄
You’re so clever
I do too, take two seconds 😅
Seems like this would be a good idea even when you're *not* right up against the wall. That way you eliminate any risk of accidentally hitting the floor with your hammer.
done many on the same floor the last few years. It was high friction shoe soles and body weight that pulled them apart over time, so just put on a pair and jumped in that direction. When I landed, the board slid shut.
Thanks for the idea. I used double-sided tape and it worked great. SO FAST AND EASY. Thank you!
So, happy I came across your UA-cam channel. I have a gap in my floor and don’t want to have a constructor repair it. Thank you!
Thanks for the video. Remarkable work. You deserve all encouragement! I really liked your tips!
I can't thank you enough. I have an issue in my kitchen and have been wracking my brain on how to fix it without pulling it all up! Again Thank you!
just done this to my floor, works a treat!! 👍👍
Thank you! This fix is something on my "to do" list now, instead of being a mystery.
See a gap? Kick it closed. Done.
Not even worth writing it down.
This roll you used is perfect.
Absolutely brilliant I'll be doing it next week whilst I'm on holiday from work first method
That's a great idea. Another way to do it is to wear skater shoes and kick them over with your foot flattened. That's the way I've done it for years as a flooring guy. If you use the skater shoe trick it's best to get the shoes with the orange yellowish rubber. The white and black rubber leaves marks.
Great tip, worked very well with my pumas. Thank you!
Been doing that very thing, at my Dad's laminate flooring, for years haha
@@malinwj1167 if it keeps happening you can put a small amount of wood glue in the tongue and groove before you kick them over. If any comes out wiped the excess off with a damp towel.
It works I have done it.
Best technique I have ever seen… thanks!
I use a sneaker that I’m wearing on my foot to move my floating floor and it works perfectly! No fuss no muss!
You could also use suction cups (normaly used to me glass) and they work great. Quick and simple.
Kudo the El Mero Mero. I think the suction cup is cleaner and easier to handle. You can pick up 1 at Harbour Freight for less than 10 bucks.
I’ve just subscribed and used 3 or so of your videos already. Great !!!
Sweet! Thanks for subscribing!
There is a Laminate floor installation tool that is essentially a piece of flat steel with an L shape or "leg" on each end. The leg grabs the end of the flooring . On the other end is an L or leg going the opposite direction which you hit with a hammer. This way you can go from the end of the run, and tap in three or four boards all at once. This happens a lot in my rentals. Sometimes you have to remove a quarter round piece of molding at the wall, but If you've got a bunch of gaps, it's ultimately much faster.
Great tips, thank you!
What do you do about the final gap that gets created between the last piece and the wall?
Great tip, very helpful. Thanks.
👍👍👍
I'm going to try the first method, thanks!
Awesome video. Going to try the first method since I have some 3M double sided tape.
Wow great tips you gave us thanks. I have exactly the same problem with my laminate floor. I will do that. 🙂
Great idea. I've used the suction cup handles from my father in law's shower also. I don't think it worked as well as this though.
Get a suction cup tile lifter,. use that to adhere to the tile and tap to shift. Very quick to go through a run or section.
I'd have never thought of that. Great idea
Thanks for the tip about rinsing the double sided tape. I just bought a different brand, (Gorilla), but it looks like the stuff you're using so I'm going to try rinsing and find out.
Very informative. thank you very much!
3:43 "Sh** I forgot the vacuum again"
I can't wait to try this at home. Thanks mate!
100% this works. I had this issue and followed these directions. Done.
Thanks, I'm going to give these a try soon.
This was SO helpful!!!
I have the Glue, Tape and 2x4 all i need is the Gap 🤗
Kool stuff, thanks for sharing.
So I didn't have a piece of board to do this. I asked an associate at my local Lowes if there was some way I could have about a foot or so cut off of a scrap piece of boards in their discard bin. He smiled, cut it for me and sent me on the way to the double-stick tape aisle. I used 3M mounting tape. I am so shocked this actually worked on my 1/4 in gap LVP. I didn't even have to move my electric range off of the board and it still worked!! I tapped 4 other boards closed (teeny gaps) with this method. (Not a great DIY-er) I almost called the floor guy to come fix it, so glad I found this video and Lowes gave me the board for free!.
I have been living with a gap in my laminate board for three years, this video is great apart from the fact i moved out a couple of weeks ago
You can also use a tounge and groove adhesive before sliding them. If you have some spaces around your baseboards just add backer rod or fill it with flexible caulk.
地板两端与墙壁是应该留有缝隙的。有些材料会发胀延长，如果两端顶得太紧会鼓起来的。
Thanks so much for the gap closing trick.
The gym I go to has done his floors in that type of board and has gaps appearing everywhere so I've been wondering of the best way for him to fix it. I even have 2 rolls of that same clear double sided tape and 2 by 4 to get it done today.
Great idea, thank you.
I usually kick those boards forward with a clean pair of tennis shoes (white soled). But, then again, my flooring probably isn't a snug as it should be. The 2x4 method may come in handy if the quick fix fails.
Good tips and thumbs up buddy!
Awesome tips. Perfect for thosec gaps. 🙏
Great video for the future, as of right now I only have tile. Any tips on how to fix cracks on tile? Thanks a lot!
Great video. Thanks !
3rd method, put your Crocs on and kick the floor plank the direction you want it to move, it actually works. Can't wait for the Festool Crocs
Thank you!!! I was wondering how to fix.
I have several on the long and short sides. Closing them was easy. High friction shoe soles, a short run and jump to land on the plank that needs to move. 200 lb of meat impact does the trick. The short side gaps stay shut, but the long gaps seem to be a bowing defect in the plank, so slowly creep open over the next week.
Thanks so much for sharing! I was able to close a gap in the floor (while my husband was yapping on the phone, no less!).
Thank you for sharing, I like first method.
Ty! Floor fixed!
wow, I'm going to try it right away, thank you!💪💪💪👍😘🤩
This was an extremely timely video. We recently bought a house with floating floors in the finished basement which have quite a few rather unsightly gaps in them and was wondering just what could be done to eliminate them. Initially I thought of trying to use a table saw to cut thin pieces of flooring and gluing them in, but this seems like the perfect thing to try. Thanks for the video!
That's awesome! So glad it's helpful :)
I've been installing flooring for over 20 years. I never had any call backs for gaps on my floors. I suspect the gaps are usually due to laying over a subfloor with humps or low spots so if you ever have the floor replaced find someone who knows how to properly float and level a floor to the manufacturer's specs. If the gaps continue to come apart you can use a little wood glue to keep them together. Make sure there's no dust or grime in the gap before clicking it back together. I usually use a sheetrock knife to scrape and clean any grime and then I vacuum before clicking them together.
Extremely timely? I thought he did an excellent job of showing a very helpful trick in as few words as possible.
@@sandysterling9583 I think you misunderstood. I wasn’t referring to the length of the video, I was commenting on just how appropriate it was to my situation.
@@dexterdog62 @dexterdog62
oh, sorry! Yea I did misunderstand. When you wrote "this was an extremely timely video" I assumed that's what you meant - it was a timely video.
Great advices. Thanks Sir.
Blessings.
Wow, great ideas, thanks for sharing
Love your videos and thank you for sharing 👍😃
Great tip!
very cool!!! I drill a 1/8" hole in the center of the floor panel, then use a nail or other some pin insert. I put my hammer on a cloth and tap away. I fill the hole with like colored caulking, if it needs it. most of the time they will work their way open again and I can just reinsert a pin and repeat.
I was very wary of this technique until I was forced to try it on a 5 year old install. Worked like a charm!
Can't wait to try it.
thank you so much. super smart
Thank you for the video. Any tips on how to repair a damaged end seam on an LVP plank?
Fantastic ... your creativity
Very useful ! Thank you 🙏
Great Video I will use your method thanks
Fantastic, awesome!
So smart need to try this
Brilliant, thank you
Nice tips, thanks