sun bleached laminate floor

Question

I have a laminate floor that the sun has bleached the color out of. It is glued down on concrete. Can it be re-stained or repaired in some way or will it have to be removed in order to install something else?

3po3 · Answer

Unfortunately, I have never heard of a good way to repair or restain laminate flooring. Might be a good time to move up to tile or hardwood or another good alternative.

Jeanette S · Answer

Or if replacement is not in your budget right now, a rug and regrouping of your furniture might can do the trick. Everyone loves light...I am one of those people who loves the light paint but love dark furniture and a dark glow in my rooms. If you get lots of light, you have to be careful about ruining floors, carpet, furniture, etc. That is why I keep my blinds down all the time and the slats turned slightly upward.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

laminates are not re-finish candidates. laminates are comprised of a 'picture' of wood grain that is sandwiched under a layer of acrylic.

Real hardwoods can be refinished, but would also be subject to the bleaching effect of the sun ( some woods more than others) Your best solution would be a natural stone product like granite. The glaze on some ceramic tiles are 'ink' based and can fade as well.

Sharon B · Answer

Ok, if they can't be repaired I need to know if they have to be removed before putting down something else and if so how do you get up glued down flooring on a concrete slab?

Sherrie · Answer

you can rent and Edco tile shark from a DIY Rental Center one that rents tools. It will vibrating blade that gets underneath the flooring and rips it up. It rents for about $50.00 a day. Easy

Sherrie · Answer

To get glue off you can use a Diteq concrete grinder to get the flue off the floor. Rents for about $150.00 a day. I know you are wondering how I know all this my husband manages a construction equipment rental company. I cheated and asked him.

Jeanette S · Answer

The thing about removing this flooring is the mess it makes. Be sure and tape up ALL the HVAC vents so they do not fill up with dust. Put up plastic drop clothes over doors to keep the mess out of the rest of the house. be prepared to do a heavy cleaning when through--the tops of doors, window frames & light fixtures and fans will be dirty. We have done this before and it was a real mess. When we had to get up glue from taking up tile in the kitchen, Hubby and I sat on our buts and scooted along the floor with small hammers and chisels because I refused to have that dust scattered around the house! It too us about 4 houirs to clean that small floor, but it was worth it. I would have been the 'cleaner' and I was not going to do that. He wanted the quick easier way and I said 'ABSOLUTELY NOT'!

KMS Woodworks · Answer

What is odd is that most laminate are installed as a 'floating floor' this allow for some seasonal movement. The second thing is these are normally installed over a foam underlayment which acts as a sound dampener and vapor barrier. With a glued down install you did not have to worry about the sound part but I feel the Vapor barrier omission was a huge oversight. 
 If they glue is a polyurethane base these can sometimes be softened up with a heat gun, then it is a bit like old chewing gum and can be peeled up with a putty knife / floor scraper.

Terra Gazelle · Answer

I am looking forward to my laminates showing wear so I can paint them...

Lisa · Answer

Sharon, Pls tell me what you ended up doing with your sun bleached floors. I have the same problem. Thank you, Lisa

sun bleached laminate floor

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sun bleached laminate floor

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