How to Seal Laminate Flooring: Dos and Don'ts

Learning how to seal laminate flooring has more benefits than you might imagine. Most of the time, you don't need this skill. Laminate floors, when properly installed, should have no seams big enough to let water and spills in. They also already have a coating to repel water and moisture. That's exactly why many people prefer laminate flooring besides its low cost.

However, many situations may call for a sealant to fix your problem. Your floor's edges, for example, can benefit from a smaller gap between them and the wall. Sealing can do the trick here.

Ready to protect your investment? Let's dive into when you should (and definitely shouldn't) seal your laminate flooring.

Can You Seal Laminate Flooring?

Here's the truth: You normally don't need to seal your laminate flooring. Manufacturers typically give these flooring boards a hard finish meant to last for your floor's entire life. When you install the boards, they fit tightly together to prevent water from seeping between them.

Already, laminate boards ought to fit snugly together

There's hardly anything you can do to better seal those gaps and increase your laminate flooring's water resistance. An extra coat isn't a good idea and can even do more harm than good.

Remember that most laminate products are floating floors. They resist impacts pretty well but can be vulnerable to water and humidity. They're designed to move slightly underfoot, and you should leave the gaps and seal joints intact.

Here's why sealing the whole floor backfires:

• Voids your warranty immediately
• Prevents planks from adapting to your room's environmental conditions
• Creates more problems than it solves

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What Sealing Can And Can't Do

It's normal for homeowners to consider adding a coat to their laminate flooring for another layer of protection. But once you understand its finish, you'll see why experts don't recommend this practice.

What Sealing CAN Do:

• Protect perimeter gaps from moisture infiltration
• Prevent water seepage into your subfloor
• Extend floor life in high-moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms
• Stop minor spills from becoming major disasters

What Sealing CAN'T Do:

• Fix improper installation issues
• Replace proper cleaning practices
• Prevent warping from standing water
• Penetrate laminate's plastic surface layer

Here's the science: Laminate isn't natural wood, no matter how well it mimics wood's look and feel. Instead of hardwood, laminate boards feature a fiberboard core covered by aluminum oxide and melamine resin to create that wood appearance.

Their surface layer is plastic resin. There's a reason professionals don't recommend sealing it – there's nothing to seal in the first place. This stands in stark contrast to hardwood floors, which need sealants to protect their surfaces.

Real-world example: Think of trying to glue something to a plastic water bottle. The waterproof sealer for laminate floors is unable to create a solid bond by penetrating the top layer. It'll stay on top of the finish and become easy to peel off, making your floors more slippery.

Besides the surface, sealing isn't good for the core either. Many people want to use waterproofing sealant to fill gaps between laminate boards and protect the inner core layer. Unfortunately, this approach can backfire easily.

The sealant may soak into the boards, causing the fiberboard to swell and creating lifting and curling at the edges. Ironically, these are the exact issues you're trying to avoid.

Not every issue brought on by water may be resolved by sealing

Kitchen Scenario: You're cooking Sunday dinner and accidentally spill a full pot of pasta water. Without proper edge sealing, that water can sneak under your baseboards and cause expensive subfloor damage. With sealed edges, you clean it up and move on with dinner.

Even when swelling doesn't occur, you should never let your laminate boards' seams get wet. Adding waterproofing sealant isn't necessary since most manufacturers already treat the grooves and tongues with wax. You should add sealant to those locking mechanisms during installation.

Some people want to prevent common moisture damage (like warped boards and discolored finish) by applying sealant. This is like putting a new bandage on top of a broken one.

Moisture damages your laminate flooring when you don't follow proper cleaning practices, if there's seepage in the subfloor, or when your room has high humidity.

During installation, you should have added a moisture barrier to the dry subfloor as your retailer or professional suggested.

When this moisture barrier is missing, the subfloor is wet, or when there's already moisture damage on your floor, there isn't much a sealant can do. You may have no choice but to remove the floor to let the subfloor air-dry completely before reinstalling it.

This should be your last resort. The issue may have occurred because you've exposed your laminate flooring to a high-moisture environment, such as a mudroom or basement. Your best solution is actually replacing your flooring with entirely new material that's more moisture-resistant.

Here's the hard truth: You might be the problem if you regularly wet-mop the floor with too much water. That's a recipe for disaster with materials like laminate. Standing water is its number one enemy, and applying sealant won't change the outcome much.

Another situation where sealants can't help much is when your planks shift lengthwise and create gaps between the end joints.

Quick fix: You'll need to remove the baseboards first, then move the planks back into position with a hammer and pull bar to eliminate gaps. This is when you can use silicone sealant to prevent your laminate planks from shifting.

Sometimes it's necessary to remove the baseboards first

When You CAN Seal Laminate Flooring (The Smart Way)

However, you can seal other parts of your flooring, including its perimeter. This is a recommended solution when you're worried water can get into your floorboards through those gaps.

It's a completely different matter. With the right amount of sealant, you can protect areas prone to moisture and spills and prevent moisture from seeping into your subfloor while still allowing your flooring to expand and contract freely.

Perfect candidates for edge sealing:

• Kitchen floors (around sinks and dishwashers)
• Bathroom laminate installations
• Laundry room floors
• Any area with potential water exposure

Spilled water and excessive humidity in those rooms can cause significant damage to your laminate flooring. However, they are water resistant to a certain extent, and you may need a humidity regulator to manage it.

Timing is everything. Your best opportunity is when you've just installed your laminate flooring and are about to install baseboards.

Proper installation will leave an expansion gap of about 1/4-3/8 inches around your room's edges. There may be spacers placed around the perimeter to maintain those gaps already. You must remove these spacers before installing baseboards or sealing gaps.

You can even seal your existing laminate flooring's edges, even when it's several years old. However, it requires more time and effort because you'll need to remove the baseboards first.

If you've installed the flooring yourself, you can imagine how messy this process can be. Additionally, your room may have complex edges with plenty of corners, making it hard to keep track of individual pieces.

Pro tip: If you've caulked baseboards to the wall before, number each piece so you won't lose track when removing and reinstalling.

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What You'll Need for DIY Laminate Floor Edge Sealing

Gather these items before starting your project:

Cleaning supplies:

• Vacuum cleaner or broom
• Mop and clean water
• Microfiber cloths for drying

Sealing materials:

• Waterproof sealant for laminate flooring
• Silicone caulk (color-matched to your floor)
• Putty knife for smoothing

Optional tools:

• Floor buffer for final shine
• Buckets for mixing solutions

Safety gear:

• Protective gloves
• Old clothes
• Adequate ventilation

To pick the right sealant for your floor, consult the information and user manual your manufacturer provided. They may tell you more about sealing your specific product.

Next, check whether your sealant is compatible with your laminate floor. For instance, laminate works well with silicone caulk of all brands. There's also a wide range of colors available. Pick one that matches your floor's color.

How To Seal Laminate Flooring: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Preparation (The Foundation of Success)

Clean your working area before taking any action. Even small dirt particles can interfere with your sealing process.

This step gets overlooked by many, but cleaning your floor is key to maintaining its durability and allowing your sealant to work as expected. It would be a huge mistake to repair or modify laminate flooring without cleaning it first.

Before sealing, give your floor a good mop

Your cleaning process:

1. Use a broom or vacuum to pick up dirt and dust
2. Wet mop to remove remaining dirt and residue
3. Use minimal water – just enough to wash away surface dirt
4. Dry completely with microfiber cloths

Check out the best mop for laminate floors and the best vacuums for laminate floors.

Safety first: Ensure your work area has adequate ventilation. Open every door and window in your room. Use a fan to encourage airflow if necessary.

Wear safety equipment to protect yourself from potential sealant hazards. Protective gloves and old clothes are good and widely available items. Some chemicals commonly found in sealants can cause adverse skin reactions.

Mix your sealant before application, if needed according to its instructions. Most products require you to create a solution with clean water, and sometimes you need to mix two sealants together. Prepare multiple buckets or similar containers.

Step 2: Apply The Sealant (Where Precision Matters)

Use a mop or rag to spread your mixture on your laminate floor. Ensure even distribution and make sure you cover every gap. If you see a milky film, that's a sign you've used too much sealant in that spot. It would create a thick local bump that may need removal later.

Popular sealing products include:

• Silicone caulk (easiest for beginners)
• Polyurethane/urethane sealants (for full floor coverage)

With polyurethane, don't skip edges that sit against the wall. Instead, proceed carefully when you have to cover areas that will later be hidden by baseboards.

One common sealant is silicone caulk

Pay close attention around:

• Your furniture and cabinets
• Shower enclosures and bathtubs
• Sink bases and toilet bases
• Plumbing fixtures
• Kitchen sinks and dishwashers

If you need to cover your entire flooring, you'll need something like polyurethane laminate floor sealant. You can use a paint roller or brush to apply it to individual planks. With silicone caulk, focus on areas where walls meet planks and where fixtures touch planks.

Silicone caulk application made simple:

1. Cut the tube tip at a 45-degree angle
2. Follow seams and squeeze out just enough silicone
3. Use a putty knife to smooth it out
4. Remove excess sealant immediately

If you need to apply another layer of sealant, wait for your floor to dry completely first. Otherwise, additional layers won't stick to existing coats. Don't apply more than three layers of sealant. Too much doesn't provide additional water resistance while making your floor finish look dull.

Step 3: Let The Sealed Areas Dry (Patience Pays Off)

Be patient with this step, and it'll pay off handsomely. Let your floor air-dry naturally until there's no liquid on its surface. Don't try to speed it up or you may need to start all over again. Wait a while after each individual coating as well.

When you're done with sealing, use a buffer to wipe your floor in circular motions to add shine. You can use a clean rag in place of the buffer. It isn't necessary, but you can polish your floor after each layer too.

Drying timeline:

• First coat: 2-4 hours
• Between coats: 1-2 hours minimum
• Final cure: 24-48 hours before heavy use

Your Next Steps: Protecting Your Laminate Investment

Learning how to seal laminate flooring can come in handy when you need to protect edges against moisture and spills. But remember – focus on the perimeter, not the entire floor.

Your laminate flooring already comes with water-resistant coating, and your laminate floor waterproof sealer won't help much with whatever problem you're facing on the main surface.

Bottom line: Seal smart, seal strategically, and your floors will thank you for years to come.