Buckling Laminated Floor

Laminate flooring is made to last however sometimes you can run into issues and one of the most common issues is buckling laminate flooring.

Buckling laminated floor. Buckling occurs when laminate flooring does not have enough space to contract and expand with temperature changes. This can be caused by temperature and humidity differences which cause the flooring to expand and press against its edges. Buckling is when the hardwood boards expand across their width causing them to lift upward and separate from the subfloor. How to repair laminate flooring.

Moisture damage and buckling can also affect laminated floors in much the same way. Buckling is the opposite when floorboards resemble an arch or an upside down bowl. The repair process is basically the same. Laminate floor buckling like lifting can be caused by changes in temperature and humidity levels.

Buckling laminate floors are most commonly created when either an expansion gap is not left or moisture has created swelling between boards. The planks may show separation at the joints and the floor become uneven because of buckling. The tension occurs most often around the walls where the flooring abuts and to repair the. If laminate boards have no room to expand and contract you will find them buckling or creating a tent like appearance.

Buckling for both laminate and solid hardwood floors can also occur if your floor has been improperly installed. If the floor was installed properly there is an expansion gap around the perimeter than can absorb some of the movement but if the gap isn t there or if the baseboards are nailed to the floor instead of the wall the floor can t expand and swollen edges have no place to go but up. A gleaming expanse of wood finish laminate flooring is an inexpensive flooring option for many homeowners. Because fiberboard swells when it gets wet a wet laminate board pushes against the one next to it.

Beyond improper humidity levels in the crawlspace and basement there are more potential causes for hardwood floor buckling. Hardwood floors buckle when the humidity levels in the lower levels of the house are too high in the crawlspace or basement explains the basement health association in the article negative effects on hardwood floors. Laminate flooring is easy to install since. Use a hammer and chisel or putty knife to remove baseboards or molding near the damaged boards.

How to prevent buckling on laminate floors. Typically buckling or peaking in a laminate floor is caused when there is an increased tension between the boards in the flooring. Since it is a floating floor the planks tend to contract when it is cool and expand when.