LESLIE: Vera in Vermont has a flooring question. What can we do for you today?
VERA: Yes, I have a Formica laminate flooring which was professionally installed about 10 years ago.
LESLIE: (overlapping voices) OK.
VERA: Several of the planks have separated slightly. Is there any way to reseal it? And also, can I use a steam mop to clean it?
LESLIE: Now, when you say “separating,” you’re seeing a gap between some of the planks?
VERA: Yes, there’s a gap – you can put your thumbnail in between the planks.
TOM: Mm-hmm. I don’t think there’s an easy way to pull that back together and the very old Formica flooring, which I happen to know a lot about because I have some of it …
LESLIE: Were tongue-in-groove, right?
TOM: Yeah, it was tongue-in-groove. It wasn’t lock-together; you had to glue it together.
VERA: Yes, they were glued together.
TOM: Yeah. Good stuff but …
LESLIE: So you can’t back some out and then hammer – you know, pound it back into place.
TOM: No. No. But I mean I’d consider it normal wear and tear.
LESLIE: And a thumbnail is not that big of a space.
TOM: No.
VERA: No, but I wondered if there was something – some filler or something that you could put in there.
TOM: Well, there are – there actually is a Formica laminate filler but …
LESLIE: But it doesn’t crackle out over time with the vacuum and what-not?
TOM: Well, that’s what I’m concerned about. Yeah. I think it might just crack and fall out. It’s really designed for like surface chips.
VERA: I see. Can a steam mop be used to clean this type of flooring?
TOM: I don’t think you need a steam mop. I think all you need is a damp mop. I wouldn’t go too steamy with it but I think if you use it for light cleaning you’d probably be fine.
VERA: OK. Alright, thank you very much.
TOM: You’re welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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