Repairing Guides

how to repair swollen laminate flooring

by Hank Larkin Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How To Repair Swelling In Laminate Flooring

  • Things You Need In This Method. Towel, cloth, or duster.
  • Inspect Your Floor. Examine the area of your floor that is bubbling carefully. ...
  • Stop The Leak. ...
  • Dry The Laminate. ...
  • Flatten With A Roller. ...
  • Determine How many Planks Need To Be Fixed. ...
  • Remove Damage Planks. ...
  • Replace Damage Planks. ...

To dry a piece of laminate that has swollen from moisture, you can usually use a hair dryer. Run the hair dryer along the swollen flooring until you start to see it contract. Then, use a roller or straight edge to flatten it out.Sep 20, 2021

Full Answer

Why do laminate floors swell?

Despite their strength and durability, laminate floors can swell when exposed to excessive water and moisture. Also, there are other reasons for swelling. Lack of expansion gaps between planks, water spills, and improper cleaning also cause laminate floors to swell. So, what can we do to repair swollen planks?

How to fix water damaged laminate flooring?

Due to humidity, laminate floors can enlarge or shrink; always leave a gap between the wall and the floor. If laminate flooring has been damaged by water, there is only one solution: replace it. To replace planks, follow the below replacement guide. Few points to remember while replacing laminate planks. Always keep spare laminate planks on hand.

How to fix bubbles in laminate flooring?

How to Fix Bubbles in Laminate Flooring. 1 Inspect Your Floor. Carefully inspect your floor the area that is bubbling. Walk on your floor to check any bubble present. If the bubbles are in one ... 2 Remove the Wall Molding. 3 Remove the Laminate Board. 4 Replace the Damaged Laminate. 5 Return the Flooring. More items

How to make laminate floors less stiff?

Secondly, roller up the swell floor is another effective way to smooth the laminate surface. You can rent a 100lb roller from your local renting hardware store. It will be your best trait to soften the lift-up spot.

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Can you fix water damaged laminate flooring?

Water damaged boards can't be fixed, but they can be replaced. If you have leftover laminate flooring boards from your original installation, use those. If not, match the damaged boards with new ones. Make sure the floor is completely dry before you begin the repairs.

How do you get rid of water swelling on laminate flooring?

2:006:16Water Damaged Laminate Flooring-How To Fix It ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSort of clean up all of the water then what you want to do next is you want to get a shock. Or sortMoreSort of clean up all of the water then what you want to do next is you want to get a shock. Or sort of like a wet/dry vac.

How do you fix a bump in laminate flooring?

Minor bubbles can be fixed by “bursting” them. Place a damp cloth on the bubble and cut a slit on the bubbled area using a sharp knife. Squeeze wood glue into the slit you have opened and press the veneer down. Place a weight overnight so that it is entirely flattened.

Can you flatten swollen laminate flooring?

To dry a piece of laminate that has swollen from moisture, you can usually use a hair dryer. Run the hair dryer along the swollen flooring until you start to see it contract. Then, use a roller or straight edge to flatten it out.

Will swollen laminate shrink?

After gluing, the joints of the boards may swell slightly as they absorb the water in the glue. This is temporary and often resolves itself in three to four weeks. Using a hair dryer is not recommended in this case because if you dry the laminate too much, you cause shrinkage, which may not be repairable.

Will buckled floors go back down?

If the buckling is only minor, in many cases the boards might return back to normal. If the boards are still showing areas of damage and buckling, you'll need to replace them.

Why is my floor bulging?

When a floor board starts to bulge, it's usually because it is warped. Hardwood floors usually warp because they have been exposed to water, or excessive humidity. The water causes the fibers in the wood to swell and shrink. A board that is severely bulged will most likely need to be replaced.

Why is my laminate floor bulging?

Moisture and/or water damage nearly invariably causes buckling or warping. Water has a lot of effects on laminate flooring. Buckling or warping can...

Will the swelling of a laminate floor go down?

If your laminate flooring was glued down, moisture may not be the cause of the swelling. The joints of the boards may swell significantly after glu...

What causes a swollen floor?

The floorboards swell and press against each other when they absorb moisture from the subfloor or humidity from the air. The boards' cores protrude...

Why isn't my laminate floor laying flat?

The planks fit together like puzzle pieces, and once installed, the entire floor floats over the subfloor like a film coating. If it's uneven, it c...

Why Has My Laminate Flooring Bulged?

Several factors can contribute to the bulging of your laminate flooring. Here are some of them:

Will Laminate Floor Swelling Go Down?

Laminate floor swelling can go down if you find the right solutions for the swelling. It will help if you follow these steps when fixing swollen laminate flooring:

Can You Fix Laminate Flooring Without Replacing?

It’s possible to fix a bubbling laminate floor without replacing the board. If the floor was initially glued down, swelling might not be due to moisture or water content. Glued joints might swell lightly if they absorb water from the glue; however, laminate floor bubbles tend to disappear within two or three weeks.

Why Does Laminate Flooring Expand?

Temperature and humidity keep occasionally changing in any environment. When they change, your laminate flooring can absorb moisture in the air, making it expand. Conversely, a decrease in temperature will cause the laminate floor to contract, reducing the space required.

Can Water Damaged Laminate Flooring Be Repaired?

You can repair water-damaged laminate flooring. You can follow these steps to contain the situation and repair your laminate flooring:

How to Prevent Your Laminate Floor From Swelling and Bulging

It’s best to prevent your laminate flooring from swelling than trying to find solutions once it’s swollen. You can prevent swelling and bulging of your laminate flooring by following these steps:

Can You Iron Laminate Flooring?

You might drop something on your laminate floor and dent it. However, you can steam the dent out using an ordinary iron and a wet cloth to ensure that it gets back to its usual look. Here is how to do it:

What Causes A Laminate Floor To Swelling

First and foremost, a high humidity level is responsible for bubbling up laminate surfaces. A laminate floor will not remain dry if it has leaking pipes or a poor moisture barrier. As a result, it starts swelling over time.

How to Prevent Swelling in Laminate Flooring

To prevent swelling in laminate flooring in the future, the following precautions should be taken:

Final Words

After reading the above article, we hope you must have known how to fix the swelling in laminate flooring.

What to do if laminate flooring gets swollen?

Remember, if your laminate flooring gets swell, you must replace it . Removing the excess water under the plank and using a wet-vac may also resolve the issue. We recommend you maintain the precaution tips so that you don’t need to face the same issue again. Now, it’s your turn.

How to stop laminate flooring from swelling?

Make sure you don’t allow water on your laminate surface for a long time. Remove the water immediately. Mop the wet area as soon as water spills on the floor. Avoid wet mop your laminate flooring as it can’t tolerate water well.

How to fix a bubbling floor?

Firstly, you can try out the X-acto knife on the bubbling spot to fix the issue. If it doesn’t bring any satisfactory result, use epoxy laminate repair kits to repair the swelling surface. Secondly, roller up the swell floor is another effective way to smooth the laminate surface.

Why is my laminate floor bubbling?

High-moisture or humidity level is the first & foremost reason behind bubbling up the laminate surface. If there are any leaky pipes under the floor or have a bad moisture barrier, the laminate can’t resist moisture. In return, it starts swelling over time.

Can laminate flooring be installed in a large area?

Installing the laminate floor in a large area requires a gap between the joining section. Extra-large area installation may trap the air under the laminate planks, which will be a reason to swell up the surface.

Is laminate flooring durable?

Laminate is one of the most durable flooring options out there that gives the feel of natural wood surface. But its ability to withstand high traffic is surprising, which makes it the most sought-after base option to homeowners. The only lack of this is- it can’t tolerate water or resist high-moisture that causes swell.

Repair Scratched Laminate

Scratches are one of the common issues found in laminate floorings. Well, repairing a scratched laminate is very basic, unless it’s been damaged a lot. Here are the ways you can use to repair your scratched laminate floor.

How to Repair Buckled Laminate

A buckled laminate is when two of your laminate planks expand with no space, forming a tent-like structure. This can happen due to changes in the atmosphere and moisture, making the laminate expand when there is no space to expand.

How to Repair Laminate Peaking

A peaking laminate can occur when there’s no space left for laminate expansion. Peaking is the initial stage of buckling. Two planks expand together to a point they peak; this is similar to buckling. There is a way to deal with this without replacing the planks.

How to Repair Laminate Dents

Dents can be caused by a drop of some heavy object or moving furniture around. These dents ruin the look of your laminate flooring; thankfully, there is a rather odd solution that woodworkers have been using for years to fix it.

How to Repair Laminate Soft Spots

Do you have some spots that are soft in your laminate? They are caused by uneven leveling or improper installation of the underlayment. These spots can go away by injecting foam spray into them.

How to Repair Laminate Floor Gaps

Laminate floor gaps are often caused by poor installation; they may not be glued properly and end up looking like a jigsaw puzzle. There’s an easy way to fix it with a floor gap fixer or wood glue. Even better, you can use both of them together in the correct application for a permanent solution.

How to Replace Laminate Plank

If the plank is damaged beyond repair, it would be in your best interest to get them replaced.

How to fix a bubble in laminate flooring?

The best way to fix constant bubbling on laminate flooring is to get rid of excess moisture under the planks. Create expansion joints and use a dehumidifier in the room to reduce moisture content causing the bubbles and swelling. You may need to replace the subfloor and the water-damaged planks to maintain a uniform look.

Why does laminate flooring bubble?

High moisture content is the major cause of damage on any solid or engineered flooring. An increase in moisture content will create continuous dampness that can cause bubbling especially when it gets to the laminate core.

Why does laminate have bubbles?

In summary, visible air bubbles on your laminate are caused by high humidity and moisture content level content. Bubbling is fixed through creating expansion joints, the use of spacers and dehumidifiers, or even replacing the laminate board. Peaking is better fixed after identifying the cause.

Why does my laminate floor feel bouncy?

The laminate floor may feel bouncy and appear buckled due to expansion and contraction triggered by changes in humidity level and moisture build-up over time.

What does it mean when you see bubbles in a floor?

Walk on your floor to check any bubble present. If the bubbles are in one board it means the board has become damaged and needs to be removed. In case during the inspection, you find a bubble at the center of the flooring seam. It a sign of inadequate expansion gap that forces then boards to squeeze and swell on seams.

Can laminate flooring get water damage?

Usually, poor installation methods increase the risk of water damage on wood floors. Ensure you measure your room moisture content before installing laminate. Even when the moisture content is at a normal level ensure its properly installed.

Can you mop a laminate floor?

Never allow standing water on your laminate floor for a long time. Always mop up the spills as they happen. Avoid wet mopping laminate floor, instead, you can dry mop it for longevity. Always use recommended cleaning products to avoid leaving behind a sticky floor after mopping or even cause other floor damages.

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