Hollow spots inside the floor can be very annoying and dangerous. Your floor will make odd sounds if there are hollow spots inside them.
Fixing a hollow spot inside a floor may seem tricky. You will be thinking,” how to fill hollow spots inside floors?”.
Hollow spots may form up because of a faulty installation. Even direct sunlight may warp up the floor and cause them. A simple drill and fill can fix the hollow spot issue in no time. You just need to drill holes, fill the spots with glue, and voila, you are done. It is that simple to fix.
I have prepared this article to tell you why they form and how to fix them. Worry not, It will take only a few minutes.
Let’s start!
What Causes Hollow Spots in Floors?
Hollow spots can form for various reasons. Most often, hollow spots form due to improper installation.
If your floor gets direct sunlight, warping may happen. This warping causes hollow spots to form. These hollow spots are filled with air pockets.
I will suggest a good trick to find hollow spots on your floor. You will notice your floor plank will wobble if there is one.
You can tap the floor planks to check it too. If there are any hollow spots, the floor will make a hollow sound. This sound is totally different from a good floor sound. You can distinguish between the two very easily.
Things to Consider While Fixing Hollow Spots
There are certain things to consider while fixing hollow spots on your floor. I will suggest you check if your floor plank has a click lock mechanism or not.
A click lock system is very easy to remove. You just need to use a pry bar to remove the baseboard. Then you can easily wiggle the floor planks and remove them.
If your floor does not have a click lock, you need to drill holes. The holes will be used to fix the hollow cavity inside the flooring.
Step By Step Guide to Fixing Hollow Spots Inside Floors
A hollow spot inside the floor can be annoying and risky. You will see the floor plank stretching up and down making a squeaking sound.
If the hollow spot is big, there is a risk of breaking down. You will need to address the problem immediately if something like this happens.
Fixing hollow spots inside the floor is as easy as fixing gaps between the baseboard and floor.
I have prepared an easy step-by-step DIY guide for solving the problem. You will need basic hand tools only.
Step 1: Marking the Hollow Area
Before proceeding with the repair work, I will suggest you mark up the working area.
Taping the floor will allow you to locate the hollow areas on the surface. After that, you can make a mark on the area with masking tape. You will find that this simplifies the process of making the necessary repairs.
Step 2: Preparing Necessary Tools
To fix the floor you will need three main tools. You will need a marinade injector device, a drill machine, and the fixing glue.
To make sure you do not over drill, you can use a tape tag for the limit. Another thing is, try to match the drill bit size with the injector needle. I can assure you that this will make things easier only.
Then you can cut the conical needle to a pipe using pliers.
For gluing the floor, you can use different types of wood glue. But if your floor is a floating floor, you will need to use stretch glue. Choosing the correct glue is very important for the repair work.
Step 3: Drilling Holes in the Plank
Following the assembly of the required components, you will need to drill holes in the floor. You will need to create two drill holes for every hollow spot that you find.
This is due to the fact that the glue may produce air pockets. This will happen if you only make one hole in it. All of your efforts will be in vain if you do this. If there are two holes, the air will be able to escape from the other one.
I will suggest you drill slowly and gently. Use the tape guide if you need to. If you are new to drilling, you can practice before starting. Do not drill blindly on the wood just like drywall and studs.
Do not dispose of the leftovers in the trash. It will prove to be useful in the future.
Step 4: Filling the Holes
Filling the holes is the most important part of the process. You will need to load the marinade injectors with wood glue. Then gently insert the needle into one of the holes. Push the plunger to insert glue.
Depending on the size of the spot, you may need to do it more than once. Tap and fill the container gently until the glue reaches the top. Be careful not to put your foot on the area that is being fixed.
Applying light pressure to the area that has been filled will help release any excess glue. After that, scrape it off to get rid of it. Put something heavy down to make the surface of the working area even.
this time, you should not step on anything or remove anything. During this time Allow the glue to dry for three to four hours. The glue takes to dry, making sure the load is always on.
Step 5: Closing the Holes and Finishing
It will be nearly impossible to detect the holes. On the other hand, I must advise you to change their behavior immediately. You can easily plastic weld them together and mix them in.
The fragments that were drilled out will become relevant at this point. To fill in the holes, use a stick to carefully scrub the top. Continue this process for each one until it is smooth.
To plastic weld, use a soldering iron to heat up the remnants. Gently tap them into the hole and use the soldering iron to melt and finish. I will suggest you practice this plastic welding process before proceeding. The work is very delicate and takes patience.
One big advantage of plastic welding is you do not need to sand the plank for finishing. Also, the holes will not be noticeable at all. This ensures a quality finishing.
Tips and Tricks on Maintaining a Good Floor
I am giving you some tips and tricks on maintaining a good floor. Hopefully, this will come in handy.
- Do not use detergents, abrasive cleaners, or shiners to clean the floor. They may leave a dull film on the floor.
- While vacuuming, avoid using the beater brush. It will damage the floor surface.
- To avoid floor warping, make sure the floor does not get direct sunlight for an extended time.
- If you are using laminate flooring, you can snap in an entire row at once. This will make things easy and save time.
- You should cure your newly installed floor for 24 hours. Before that, try not to walk on the floor. This will ensure a fine even floor surface.
Always ensure that the vinyl plank installation process is proper. Take expert help if necessary. This will save you from lots of hassles. I hope that this will help you with your floor maintenance.
FAQs
What Will Happen if I Don’t Acclimate My Laminate Flooring?
Not acclimating the laminate flooring will cause it to expand. The humidity of the environment causes the planks to expand. The change may not be noticeable, but it can cause your floor to buckle. It’s better to acclimate before using the laminate flooring.
Can I Place Heavy Objects if I Have a Floating Floor?
It is not recommended to put heavy objects on a floating floor. The floor is not secured or adhered and doing this will make it more unstable. The floor may slip out of place and cause damage and injury. The floor might buckle too. It’s better not to put heavy objects on such floors.
Do I Need to Put Anything Under Vinyl Plank Flooring?
You don’t need to if you are using a cushion-backed vinyl floor or below-grade tile floor. Otherwise, you will need to put support below the flooring. You will need underlayment for hardwood floors, cushioned vinyl flooring, and concrete floors. It’s optional on cushion-backed flooring.
Conclusion
That’s all from our side on how to fill hollow spots inside floors. Hopefully, you will be able to fix hollow spots following this guide.
Do not forget to clean and maintain your floor regularly. Do express your thoughts in the comment section.
Have a great day!