Why Is My Laminate Floor Buckling

This is typically due to excessive expansion of the hardwood.

Why is my laminate floor buckling.

Laminate floors buckle because they get wet. Alternately direct water damage can cause bubbling around the edges of the planks. This is caused by water or other liquid seeping into the laminate flooring joints where the locking system connects. Therefore it is crucial to take precautions to prevent buckling.

There are environmental factors that can cause buckling or it may be because of faulty installation. If water seeps up under the flooring from an extremely moist concrete subfloor the adhesive can be weakened causing buckling in the floors. Buckling is when the hardwood boards expand across their width causing them to lift upward and separate from the subfloor. Typically buckling or peaking in a laminate floor is caused when there is an increased tension between the boards in the flooring.

The laminate boards expand and contract according to the humidity and temperature in the room. As you may have already guessed upon hearing the term buckling of hardwood flooring is when the hardwood actually releases from the sub floor. Floor bubbling photo credit. Buckling occurs when laminate flooring does not have enough space to contract and expand with temperature changes.

The planks may show separation at the joints and the floor become uneven because of buckling. Damage like this can also be caused from too much humidity in the air. Laminate flooring is usually laminated under excessive pressure. Excessive water on the surface of the floor can also lead to buckling or warping.

If you catch this problem quickly you might dodge a bullet and get away without the need for extensive repairs but that s rare. Buckling is when the hardwood floor lifts or separates from the sub floor. The higher quality the material the less likely it is to buckle due to moisture. However if the laminate flooring is not installed properly or is exposed to moisture it may buckle.

During installation run a vapor barrier under the vinyl plank flooring to help prevent buckling from moisture. This can be caused by temperature and humidity differences which cause the flooring to expand and press against its edges. Buckling laminate flooring is easy to fix if you know how to do it. Moisture seeps into the fiberboard core of a board and swells it causing the board to push against the one next to it and curl upward.

High moisture content in the air can sometimes lead to buckling or warping. As a result it s essential to have a balancing layer made up of rigid material beneath the board. This layer helps to equalize the pressure exerted from above. Without this layer buckling problems are bound to arise.