Peaking
Laminate floor peaking is a condition where the board edges are pushing together and peaking upward.
End joint peaking, the plank ends are raised up, forming a high spot at the joint. This condition is most visible in areas where lighting flows across the floor.
End joint peaking can be a product, installation, or site-related issue.
Floor Peaking Causes
Product Manufacturing
Dimensional or planar change resulting in the planks to dome or edge lift. Lab testing is usually required to verify.
Site Related
- Elevated subfloor moisture, alkalinity, contamination, unlevel or irregular substrate. Heat and cooling are not properly controlled, resulting in excessive expansion and contraction.
- Excess moisture in the substrate below. Over a concrete slab, pretest the concrete. That concrete needs to be dry enough for laminate flooring. A vapor retarder should be placed between the concrete and the laminate flooring.
- Excessive moisture, standing water, leaks, excessive water used in cleaning, or improper cleaners used (i.e., wax, oil, polish, solvent, steam mops) can lead to swelling at the joints, often appearing as peaking.
Installation Related
- Failure to allow for sufficient expansion space will cause peaking. Expansion space prevents problems. If not, the floor becomes locked in or pinched. As the floor expands, it has no place to go other than up.
- Also, not enough expansion space was left for fixed objects. As with boards installed tightly, the planks expand, push together, and the edges peak upward. This normally occurs because of inadequate acclimation or uncontrolled temperature and relative humidity.
- Moldings at doorways or quarter round or base at walls, nailed through the laminate. Fix by removing and replacing the molding or quarter round. Place nails directly into the wall or cabinets, not the flooring. If necessary, cut back the laminate to give more expansion space. Use wider molding to cover the gap.
- T-molding is not used between rooms or areas. Correct by cutting the laminate flooring between the rooms or areas and adding the proper T-molding.
- Occasionally, peaking can occur from over-tapping of the planks during installation has resulted in too tight of a fit.
Correcting Peaking
Peaking that is not too severe can normally be corrected by adding expansion space.
- Remove all baseboards and locate the area(s) where the flooring is locked in. Add expansion space by cutting the planks.
- In some situations, you can undercut the drywall so that the laminate has more room to expand.
- Peaking can take weeks or even months to go down. If there is a stubborn area, try weighing it down for a period of time.
Laminate Floor Buckling or Warping
Buckling laminate planks form a peak. This is a severe laminate floor peaking condition where the flooring is growing excessively.
With buckling, the laminate will lift entirely off the floor. Excessively high moisture caused buckling. The moisture is usually below the laminate, such as high moisture in a concrete slab or flooding. High, uncontrolled relative humidity also causes buckling.
- A vacant house without, or inadequately operating, HVAC system is a perfect candidate for buckling.
- Excessive moisture during cleaning can result in buckling.
Installation Concerns
Improper installation can aggravate buckling. There are several potential installation concerns. Examples include:
- Improper acclimation.
- Moisture level of substrate too high at time of installation.
- Not enough expansion space.
- Nails and other fasteners through the laminate flooring.
- Not using required transitions.
Laminate Floor Cupping
With laminate floor cupping, the boards develop a peak with a shallow wave-like appearance. The boards will be high at the edge of the boards and low in the center.
When you have a high moisture-related concern within individual pieces of flooring, the cupping frequently develops gradually, and the moisture imbalance is usually on the underside of the flooring. Lack of proper acclimation often causes a subtler cupping.
Laminate Cores Can Absorb Water
Laminate flooring products are manufactured using high-density and low-density fiberboard cores. High-density fiberboard HDF is more expensive and more resistant to moisture. Excess moisture damages high and low-density cores just as with wood flooring.
While many people refer to laminate flooring as a wood floor, the wood grain they see is a picture of wood, much like wallpaper. The image is adhered to the fiberboard, and a protective plastic is applied on top of the image.
- As laminate floor takes on moisture from cleaning, relative humidity and other forms it will expand.
- As the moisture level in a laminate floor decreases, such as during the heating season when the relative humidity is lower, it will contract.
- Laminate floor peaking occurs with expansion, and laminate floor gaps usually occur with contraction of the flooring.
FAQs
What is laminate floor cupping, and how does moisture affect it?
Laminate floor cupping occurs when the edges of the boards develop a shallow wave-like appearance, high at the edges and low in the center. Moisture imbalance, especially on the underside of the flooring, caused by leaks or improper acclimation, leads to cupping. High or low humidity levels can also contribute to this condition.
How can I prevent damage like buckling or cupping in laminate flooring?
Prevent damage by ensuring proper installation, including adequate acclimation, sufficient expansion space, and controlling indoor humidity with an HVAC system. Avoid excessive moisture during cleaning and do not nail through the flooring. Proper transitions between rooms also help maintain stability.
What is laminate floor buckling, and what causes it?
Laminate floor buckling is when the planks form a peak and lift entirely off the floor. It is caused by excessive moisture, such as flooding or high humidity, which causes the laminate to grow and expand beyond its limits. Poor installation and inadequate climate control can also cause buckling.
How can I fix minor peaking in my laminate floor?
Minor peaking can often be corrected by adding expansion space. Removing baseboards, cutting the affected planks to allow more room for expansion, and possibly undercutting drywall can help. Weighing down the area for a period might also help reduce the peak over time.
What causes laminate flooring to peak, and how can it be identified?
Laminate flooring peaking occurs when the board edges push together and rise upward, with end joints forming high spots visible under lighting. It can be caused by manufacturing issues, improper installation, or site-related factors such as excessive moisture, improper acclimation, or insufficient expansion space.
Final Thoughts
Laminate flooring is a good selection for many installations. With improper selection, care, and installation, problems such as the laminate floor peaking can occur. As with all other floors, there can also be manufacturing-related products. When you have a concern, contact your dealer, installer, or manufacturer. At times, you may need to contact an independent certified inspector. In the states of Washington and Oregon, TW Group Flooring Inspections is the flooring expert.
Need Help? Get an Expert Laminate Flooring Inspection
Avoid costly mistakes in choosing and installing laminate flooring. If your flooring has experienced failure, TW Group Flooring Inspection can help with inspections and consultations. Contact 800.621.3427 or submit an online inspection request.
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