The TikTok Hack You Need For Fixing Gaps In Wood Flooring

According to Hardwood Floors Magazine, 52% of us own a wooden floor, which is quite a large amount. While wooden flooring is an excellent addition to any home, it doesn't come without its downsides. For example, wooden flooring requires a lot of upkeep and usually sits on the pricier side. Not only that but sometimes the wooden planks can even come loose and slip out of place, requiring special care to put it back into place if you don't know what you're doing. 

Of course, all of this costs money. However, one TikTok user, who goes by the name @jonesinteriors, has shown a nifty hack that can help you to quickly solve the problem for free, using only a few household items you'll likely already have in your cupboard.

If you find that one of the wooden planks in your flooring has miraculously slipped out of place, all you need to do is hammer it back into place using some duct tape and a solid block of wood. Sound confusing? Don't worry; it's actually relatively easy to execute. Below, we'll break it down for you step by step so that you can fix your wooden flooring.

All you'll need for this hack is two rolls of duct tape in two different colors, a small block of wood the same width as the tape, a small mallet or hammer, and some scissors, as shown in the @jonesinteriors TikTok video. To begin, simply locate the wooden plank that's slipped out of place and add a strip of duct tape toward the top end, leaving a slight gap between the edge and the tape. Next, stick your second roll of alternate colored tape on top of your first strip, leaving just enough of a gap so you can peel it back off again. Press it down firmly before peeling it back off again. This should leave a sticky residue on top of the first strip, which is just what you want. 

Now all you need to do is firmly press your wooden block onto the residue so it's secure before using your hammer to tap it forward and then gently to the side. This should help to move your wooden plank back into its original position on your floor. However, keep your hand firmly on the wooden block while tapping it to ensure it doesn't fly off. If you find squeaking to be a problem, there are ways to fix squeaky hardwood floors too. As a result, your wooden floors should look as good as new.  

The adhesive tape is the key to this hack and one of the reasons why it works so well, as it allows the force of your hammer to pull the flooring along. Without the adhesive, this method would be much more challenging and you may not even be able to fix your flooring. If you want to ensure that it works, you should ensure that the tape you're using has a strong adhesive. However, it shouldn't be so strong that you can't remove it from your floor. Likewise, another reason why this hack works so well is that it allows you to fix your wooden flooring without having to call for professional help, which in turn helps you to save money.

However, certain individuals in the video's comments highlight that the wooden plank could continue to slip with this method. One user even suggests "[gluing] it to stop it moving again" as a more permanent solution. This should help them to stay in place so you don't have to repeat this trick. However, if you do decide to use some, make sure that the glue you choose is appropriate for the type of wood that you have so that you don't inflict any unnecessary damage. This way, you can ensure that they stay in good condition. Likewise, you can even use duct tape to fix gaps in laminate flooring. Now, you should have no more gaps in your wooden flooring.