If you have a laminate floor with a scratch, you don't have to replace the whole floor. Laminate flooring has a top layer of tough plastic, which means scratches can't be buffed out as opposed to natural hardwood flooring.

Scratches aren't commonly covered under flooring warranties, but it is possible to fix them without spending too much money. Here are tips to fix scratches in laminate flooring.

Prepare to Work

For this project, you need:

• plastic work gloves
• clean cloths
• broom and dust pan
• large walnut
• acetone or other other solvent
• paper plate putty knife
• fine-grit sand paper
• laminate floor repair kit ( includes filler crayon or pencil, putty varnish, and marker)

Sweep and mop the floor, then let it dry. Open windows to ventilate, and remove fumes from varnish.

Buy a repair kit that closely resembles the color of the floor. If possible, take a piece of left-over flooring from installation. Otherwise, you will need to make your own custom color putty.

Cover Minor Scratches

Fix minor scratches with the wax pencil that comes in the kit. Clean the scratch area with a cloth and acetone.

Move the marker tip back and forth in the opposite direction over the scratch. Use short strokes. Buff the edges with the cloth until the color matches the rest of the floor.

For extra light scratches that haven't gotten into the photo layer, find a large walnut from the grocery store. Crack the walnut, and rub the inside white portion on the scratch until it fades. The natural oils in the nut help remove irregularities.

Fix Deep Scratches

For deep scratches, you will need to use the filler or putty in the kit. These finishes will not be as shiny as the original floor, but you can add shine later with varnish.

Clean the scratch area. Place filler or putty on a paper plate. Stir non-epoxy substances with the knife until they harden. For epoxy substances, blend the ingredients as directed by the manufacturer.

Spread some filler or putty on the scratch with the knife. Make a second pass perpendicular to the first stroke to make the filler go deeper in the scratch.

Wipe extra filler with a cloth and solvent. Let the filler or putty dry. Add a second coat, if needed. Let it dry, then sand the area lightly. Brush on varnish for shine, if desired.

Your floor should look like new after some minor repairs. If the floor is seriously damaged, contact a flooring service for replacement.