Learning Center

Find the answers to all your flooring questions.

DIY Floor Repair: A BuildDirect Guide

If you’re looking to take on a DIY floor repair project, we’ve gathered all of our resources in one place. Be it tile, laminate or hardwood, we have the step-by-step instructions to help you fix knicks, scratches, cracks and water damage.

Tile DIY Floor Repair

How to Repair Damaged Grout

damaged grout

If you’re dealing with damaged grout, there are some easy ways to fix it yourself. With just a few simple tools and some quick training, you can easily repair damaged grout and make your floors, backsplash, and feature walls look fantastic again… Read More

How to Repair Cracked Tiles

tile-with-crack

One cracked tile doesn’t mean you have to retile an entire room. To repair cracked tiles is fairly easy and can be done without professional help. Here are three DIY ways you can deal with a cracked tile… Read More

How to Repair and Replace Travertine Tile

Installing Single Tile

Though it is not the easiest or most pleasant task in the world, you can repair travertine tile. Fixing loose tiles and/or replacing broken ones as needed is the best way to preserve the rest of the tile… Read More

Hardwood DIY Floor Repair

How to Take on Hardwood Repairs

repair hardwood

As much as you may care for your hardwood floors, it’s nearly impossible to prevent damage. However, before you can begin any hardwood repairs, you need to identify the damage and the type of repair that best fits the problem… Read More

How Useful Are Hardwood Floor Repair Kits?

hardwood floor repair kit

Most floor repairs are minor and require use of the same tools. However, additional items may be necessary to complete the repair. Many wood manufacturers and lumber stores carry special hardwood floor repair kits to complete nearly any hardwood floor repair task… Read More

Repairs, Refinishing & Recoating Hardwood Floors

hardwood floor finishes

Wear and tear can cause damage to hardwood floors. If not properly cared for, you can end up with dents and scratches in your hardwood floors. Mishaps and accidents can also cause damage that will need to be repaired… Read More

Should You Ever Refinish Hardwood Floors Yourself?

Refinish Hardwood Floors DIY

If you’ve been thinking of refinishing your hardwood floors yourself, this refinish hardwood floors DIY project comes with quite a bit of patience and effort. Before you dedicate yourself to doing the project on your own, read on to learn more about the refinishing process… Read More

How to Fix Gaps in Your Hardwood Flooring

Not only can gaps deter from the appearance of the hardwood floors, but they can also trap dirt and make a home drafty. Slight gaps are normal, but if the gap is wide enough to fit the end of a nickel into, repairs are necessary. Here’s our guide on how to fix gaps in hardwood flooring… Read More

How to Remove Nail Polish From Your Hardwood Flooring

Paint on Wood Floor

Though spilled nail polish may seem like a disaster, there are several remedies. Consider your choices carefully before you choose the right option for your individual situation. While there are several DIY solutions, there are also some cases where you may want professional help. Find out which approach is right for you… Read More

How to Fix Peaking or Buckling Floors

Homeowners with wood floors are frequently faced with buckling or peaking floorboards. Although the damage appears atrocious — and costly to fix — you can easily repair the issues yourself after becoming familiar with the common causes behind it… Read More

How to Replace Damaged Areas of Hardwood Flooring

Fortunately, replacing damaged areas of hardwood flooring isn’t as difficult as you might think. Novice DIYers get ready: It’s time to channel your inner Bob Vila and restore the luster and beauty to your hardwood floor… Read More

How to Recoat Hardwood Floors

Hardwood Floor Edge Sander

There are a number of reasons to recoat a hardwood floor. Over time general wear and tear of hardwood floors is normal. Scratches and worn patches in your hardwood floors can leave them looking old and unattractive… Read More

How to Fix a Squeaky Hardwood Floor

A squeaky hardwood floor is usually caused by floorboards becoming loose. The loose floorboards will either rub together and make the squeaking noise or rub against the subfloor. Loose floor boards that can be felt beneath one’s feet is a floor that is bad disrepair and should be repaired immediately… Read More

How to Remove Scratches and Dents from Hardwood Flooring

cat floor

Depending on the severity of the scratch or dent, you have some options available to you in terms of how you can properly fix the damage to your hardwood floors. When it comes to fixing scratches in hardwood floors, you are usually dealing with a light scratch or one that is deeper and goes into the actual wood… Read More

How to Patch Hardwood Floors

Evolution of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are durable; they stand up over time, and weather wear and tear well. That’s one of the reasons that so many people opt for hardwood floors in a new home. Despite their durability, wood floors can be damaged through mistreatment, or even common wear and tear. Luckily you can patch hardwood flooring… Read More

Engineered Hardwood DIY Floor Repair

How to Fix Scratches on Engineered Hardwood Floors

While engineered hardwood is more durable, it can still be susceptible to scratches, especially in high-traffic areas and in busy homes with pets and kids. Learn how to fix scratches on engineered hardwood floors to make sure that your flooring always makes a stellar first impression… Read More

Laminate DIY Floor Repair

How to Deal with 3 Common Laminate Flooring Problem

Laminate Floor Problems

Whether the laminate flooring in your home has been there since before you moved in or you recently installed it yourself, you want to keep it in good shape. Unfortunately, problems do come up sometimes. The good news is that in many cases, you can fix the problem without replacing the entire room’s floorboards… Read More

Vinyl DIY Floor Repair

How to Stop Your Vinyl Plank Flooring from Buckling

Buckling can occur with click-together, loose lay, or glue-down flooring. There are a handful of reasons this problem can happen. Understanding the reasons for buckling can help us avoid the problem by taking simple preventative measures… Read More

How to Fix Scratches on Your Vinyl Plank Flooring

Fortunately, repairing simple scratches in vinyl plank flooring is fast, easy, and inexpensive. With a few basic supplies, it is easy to buff out scratches and restore the original shine of the flooring… Read More

How to Deal with 3 Common Vinyl Flooring Problems

Scratches can happen easily that will make the floor look dull. The corners of the floor can also start to peel with age. This looks unattractive and can require the floor to be replaced if it’s not fixed in a timely manner. To keep your vinyl floors looking sharp, just follow this easy maintenance guide… Read More

Carpet DIY Floor Repair

How to Replace a Carpet Tile

Should you spill your red wine or your dog has an accident, there’s no need to tear up your entire carpet. Simply replace the damaged carpet tile with a new one and enjoy a floor that looks good as new… Read More

How to Repair Carpet

Carpet Burn

There are ways to repair the carpet without having to completely replace it. Repairing carpet takes careful precision, especially if you’re cutting out certain pieces of the carpet and replacing them with others… Read More

General DIY Floor Repair

4 Tips on How to Recover Your Water-Damaged Floor

cupping wood floors

No one wants a water-damaged floor, but in many cases, it can’t be helped. Over time, invisible leaks, added humidity or seeping groundwater can make even durable, waterproofed floors give way. If you suspect water damage to your floor, here’s what you need to do… Read More

How to Fix Squeaky Floors Once and For All

Fix Squeaky Floors

Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for the thought of avoiding that spot on the floor every time you walk by. Before you can set to work fixing the floor, you must first establish the type of sound the floor is making to help determine how to fix the squeaky floor… Read More

How to Fix Squeaky Stairs

how to fix squeaky stairs

While squeaky stairs are mostly little more than a pain to listen to, they can also warn of more serious problem such as a stair that has a crack or movement from extremely loose tread or risers. Find out the best way to fix squeaky stairs… Read More