Laminate Floor Issues

A little water goes a long way on a laminate floor.

Laminate floor issues.

Engineered wood laminate and bamboo flooring are hygroscopic. Even if laminate floors aren t natural materials they still need to move. Soft spots can also lead to the edges receiving more wear an tear than they should. Here are some ways you can check for problems in a sub floor.

For this reason it is important never to wet mop a laminate floor. Statement regarding changes in the cdc atsdr formaldehyde in laminate flooring report cdc atsdr found that exposure to formaldehyde in the cpsc tested laminate flooring sold at lumber liquidators could cause irritation and breathing problems. The effect will range from no noticeable change in appearance to peaking cupping buckling tenting warping delamination blistered edges finish damage squeaking and gaps. Find the underlying laminate flooring problem peaking commonly happens when there isn t an expansion gap between the floor and the walls when the expansion gap is too small or if the moldings are attached to the laminate flooring.

The problem with laminate floors is that too much water seeps into the cracks between the planks and can cause swelling and damage that is irreversible. Laminate flooring is tough material but it can chip especially along exposed edges. Follow the peaking boards to the nearest wall. Peaking peaking is one of the most common issues related to laminate flooring and is caused by improper installation.

Use a level to see how flat the floor is. If you place laminate flooring on a weak or uneven sub floor the new floor will be compromised and eventually buckle damage the laminate locking system creak or create micro gaps in the new floor. Your sub floor needs to be perfectly level to prevent the soft spots. There are many causes which may lead to peaking.

To find the underlying issue. Excessive water on the surface of the floor can also lead to buckling or warping. A common cause of this issue is often with weather and climate related especially if you re in a very wet or very dry climate. A huge pet peeve of mine is walking across a laminate floor that looks like stone and wood and having soft spots.

Increased moisture is the cause of a growing floating floor. For most areas of laminate flooring in your home a dry or dust mop may be all that is needed for regular cleaning. However you can take steps to reduce formaldehyde levels in your home. Basically peaking appears when the laminate planks push each other and create v shaped high joints.

Installation or other issues that result in gaps make the flooring vulnerable to chipping.