Laminate Flooring Problems: Moisture, Manufacturing, Installation, and Site Related
Recommended Tools
- CalFlor Laminate Repair Kit
- ROBERTS Pull Bar
- ROBERTS Tapping Block
Moisture Related
Peaked / Swollen Seams, Corners
Peaked and swollen seams, tenting and cupping are a few of the more common moisture related laminate flooring problems. These cause of these issues ranges from excessive surface moisture to plumbing leaks, pet accidents and improper maintenance concerns.
Cause:
- Excessive moisture from sub-floor or concrete slab
- Water leaks
- Improper cleaning methods or solutions
- Excessive water during cleaning
- Flooding
- House pets
- Relative humidity below 40%
- Over tapping product during installation
- No vapor retarder
- Improper underlayment
- Voids in glue on planks that require gluing.
- Standing water (Standing water is defined a water left in place for more than 30 minutes.)
- Raised edges from manufacturing evident when removed from carton or during dry-fit
A laminate repair kit can fix chips and small damage.
Cupping / Concave Bow
Cupping is seen across the width of the individual pieces of flooring. The edges
are high and the center is lower, giving a wave-like appearance across the surface of the floor.
*less than or equal to 0.15% allowable based on EN 13329 European specification tolerance
Cause:
- No moisture retarder
- Concrete subfloors with excessively high moisture
- Excessive moisture from subfloor
- Leaks from dishwashers, icemakers, plumbing
- Building leaks
- Wet or damp crawlspaces or basements
- Relative humidity below 45%
- HVAC systems not operating
- Poor ventilation
- Improper acclimation
Doming / Convex Bow
The center of the pieces of flooring appears to be higher than the edges.
*less than or equal to 0.20% allowable based on EN 13329 European specification tolerance
Cause:
- Excessive topical moisture
- High relative humidity
- Manufacturer related condition
Laminate Flooring Problems: Expansion
Endlifting
With end lifting, the ends of the laminate flooring boards appear raised. These laminate flooring problems may be seen overall or it may be found in isolated areas. The cause of end lifting is varied
Cause:
- Improper acclimation
- Pinched or locked-in planks
- Improper maintenance
- Excessive moisture of laminate, subfloor or underlayment during installation
Tenting /Buckling
Excessive expansion, often resulting in the flooring becoming locked in as it moves into available expansion space or a moisture-related concern, may result in the laminate flooring releasing from the subfloor.
Cause:
- Improper installation not enough expansion gap
- No T-moulding at doorways and passageways
- Excess length or width
- Trim or moulding was attached directly to the laminate
- Excessive moisture from subfloor
- Pipe leaks
- A wet slab
- Excessive humidity
- A house left vacant with no HVAC operating or inadequate HVAC
Greenhouse Effect
Floors that shrink or swell due to limited air movement and inconsistent humidity levels.
Cause:
- Buildings closed up for extended periods of time with no air control or air exchange.
- Sunlight through windows can generate heat, creating condensation and abnormal humidity levels. Noticeable shrinkage or expansion will occur when an attempt is made to stabilize the atmosphere. Controlling the atmosphere during and after the installation is critical to avoid issues caused by the greenhouse effect.
Bowing / Banana Boards
Banana board are laminate flooring boards that have a severe lengthwise bow that prevents the board from staying together. When walked on the floor will give almost a trampoline affect.
Cause:
- Improper storage
Laminate Flooring Problems: Chips – Dents
Corner Chips
Chip laminate flooring planks can occur for a number of reasons. When the corners of planks on your laminate floor break off this often becomes unsightly blemish.
Cause:
- Over tapping misaligned tiles
- Damaged tongue or edges
- Improper expansion around perimeter of room
- Mis-milled tongue or groove
- Pinch point exist somewhere in the room
- Improper underlayment or too thick underlayment
Microchipping /Rough Cut
Microchips are mall continuous chips along a plank edge. These chips usually appear white in color and should be seen directly out of the carton and the planks not installed.
Cause:
- Bumps / Foreign Matter Under Laminate
- Seen as bumps or marks under finish coat
- Dust debris during manufacturing
- Dull cutting tool during milling. Chips will be evident right out of box
Chipped Edges / Damaged edges
Laminate edges that have or are chipping off are another unsightly concern. Edges can be damaged during installation and go unnoticed for days, weeks or months before the chips start to show up.
Cause:
- Handling or shipping
- Job site damage
- Rough handling during installation
- Installation aggressive tapping
Dents
Indentations in laminate floor that are often accompanied by stress marks in the face of the laminate. There are many causes for chipping though they are rarely manufacturing related laminate flooring problems.
Cause:
- A crushed spot in the laminate
- Dropped objects
- Pebble or other hard debris in shoe sole or heel
- Metal tips on furniture legs
- Shipping or installation damage
- Irregular shaped dent caused by missing paper and no fracture marks. (manufacturing)
Core Voids
Core voids are product related indentations. The void will be seen as a dip below the face of the laminate and generally will not have stress cracks such as those seen from a dropped object.
Cause:
- Void in the laminate core
Laminate Flooring Problems: Color – Pattern
Fading / Discoloration
The laminate flooring can fade though sever fade is not one of your more common laminate flooring problems. Fading may occur in either shade or hue. Fading warranties differ with each manufacturer.
Cause:
- Sunlight through unprotected windows
Color or Gloss Variation
Laminate flooring color or gloss variations are seen as visual difference from plank to plank, especially in low-angle light. The concern may be seen as a difference in hue, shade or gloss.
Cause:
- Failure to mix planks from different cartons during install
- Shade or gloss beyond manufacturer tolerance
- Mixing two different plank colors during installation
- Mixing different runs. Some manufacturers state there will not be a difference between runs
Foggy Laminate
One of the more unusual color or gloss variations is foggy laminate. Foggy laminate is usually a manufacturer related concern that takes on a milky appearance. It can also be a cleaning issue that may appear similar.
Cause:
- Manufacturing
- Maintenance
Off Register
Pattern does not line up between planks and within manufacturing tolerance.
Cause:
- Print layer not aligned on core
Printing Error
Part of the laminate flooring pattern missing. The pattern of a laminate flooring is produced much like a printed wallpaper. During printing errors can and do occur.
Cause:
- Printing concern
Laminate Flooring Problems: Joint Issues
Overwood / Ledging / Proud Edges
Seen as a difference in height at laminate plank joints. May be found on the plank side or end. Manufacturing related though not necessarily laminate flooring problems. Tolerance varies among manufacturers from a low of up to 0.1mm to 0.3 mm and greater acceptability. ANSI / NALFA standard for thickens variation on residential and commercial laminate flooring is 0.50 mm (0.020 in).
Cause:
Milling issue
- Within tolerance issue
- Installation, site and subfloor conditions can cause appearance of overwood.
Cause:
A difference in height between planks. May be on either or both long or short edges.
- Manufacturer related if beyond tolerance
- Excessive moisture from below
- Irregular subfloor
- Tongue fracture
Delamination / Core Separation
When la laminate floor delaminates it is usually seen as a separation along the plank side or end. These concerns can also be seen as a bubble on the face or edge of a plank.
Cause:
- Separation of core (manufacturer)
- Separation of gap-sheet / wear layer (manufacturer)
- Peaked Seams (site-consumer)
- Swollen Seams (site-consumer)
- Wet mopping (site-consumer)
- Steamer damage (site-consumer)
- Urine damage (site-consumer)
- Unattended spills (site-consumer)
Joint Gaps
Gaps at joints between laminate flooring planks. There are many causes for gaps between planks. Some gapping is considered normal with the tolerance differing among manufacturers.
Cause:
- Improper alignment
- Joints not properly closed during installation
- Tongue and groove will not engage due to tight/or mis-milling
- Over tapping misaligned tiles
- Damaged tongue or edges
- Improper expansion around perimeter of room
- Mis-milled tongue or groove
- A pinch point exist somewhere in the room
- T-moulding not used in required areas
- Too large of an expanse
- Improper underlayment or too thick underlayment
- Excessively low relative humidity
- Subfloor not level
- Absence of vapor barrier
Out of Rack
Boards not aligned parallel on both sides and ends. Seen on floor from point on where misalignment began.
Cause:
- Installer failure to align and tightly join starter row
Out of Square
Triangular gaps evident right out of box. Unlike “out of rack,“ out of square planks affect alignment only on those planks that are out of square.
Cause:
Milling
Panelization
A somewhat uniform appearance of gaps in the surfaces of the floor that represents the size of the subfloor panel beneath it.
Cause:
- Excessive movement, shrinkage or expansion of subfloor panels.
Unlocking
Laminate flooring plank joints not remaining locked together. When planks laminate planks and tiles will not stay locked together you end up with wide gaps between the boards.
Cause:
- Pinch points in room (gaps may occur in middle of room)
- Uneven subfloor
- Job site damage
- Mis-milled material
Snapping / Popping / Crackling
Squeaking sounds, movement under foot (deflection). There are a variety of causes for squeaky floors and up and down movement of flooring. Some minor sounds and movement may be considered normal on a floating floor.
Cause:
- Blocked moment
- lack of expansion space around perimeter
- laminate runs longer than manufacturer permits
- T-molding not used in doorways and passageways
- Accessories nailed or glued to the floor surface
- Planks rubbing edge of wall
- Sub-floor not flat or structurally irregularity/deflection
- Excessively low relative humidity
- Tongue / groove milled too tight
- Recommended underlayment not used
Tapping Block Damage
A pull bar and tapping block help reposition planks without damage.
When a tapping block is used improperly or an objects such as a hammer is used, or planks are kicked together this can damage plank edges resulting in crush or laminate chips.
CAUSE
Improper use of tapping block, hammer or other to join planks.
Blisters, Bubbles
Blisters are small bumps or bubbles within the finish and on the face of laminate floor. Bubbles may appear pimple-like and can be very difficult to see during installation.
Cause:
- Manufacturing related
Abrasion Marks Manufacturer Related
Abrasions/dull spots that will not wipe away. Evident right out of the box. Sometimes accompanied by dusty wood residue from the machine process.
A laminate repair kit can fix chips and small damage.
Scratching
Scratches will often cross between planks. Manufacturing scratches will generally be seen in a straight line, will be there at time of install and may repeat on several boards.
Cause:
- Damage from furniture or other objects
- Tracking of gritty soil
- No floor protectors
- Moving or dragging heavy or sharp objects
- Tracked in gritty soil
- Plastic rollers
- Plastic toys
- Installation damage such a dragging tools or tool boxes or hard plastic abrasion from knee protectors.
Scuffing
Scuff marks are seen as a dull, wide or scratch-like area and will often cross between planks. Some salespeople sell laminate flooring as almost indestructible when in reality it can be damaged just as with any other floor covering.
Cause:
- Plastic casters (should use rubber rollers not plastic)
- Plastic toys
- Motorized chairs
- Dragging objects across floor
How to Inspect a Laminate Floor
Inspection of laminate flooring should be done from a standing position (5 feet up and 2 feet away) with normal lighting. Glare, particularly from large windows and flood lighting, magnifies any irregularity in the floors and should not determine acceptability.
Just as no two floors are the same, the inspection process varies for each floor problem. However, there are two basic goals every time you go to inspect a floor:
1 – deter mine what the problem is .
2 – find the cause of the problem.
Caster Damage to Laminate Floor
Most laminate flooring manufactures state that rubber casters need to be used as both metal and plastic casters will cause, indentations, abrasions, scratching or scuffing to the surface of the laminate floor.
CAUSE
- Improper caster was used.
Closing FAQ
How can one identify and evaluate damage or problems in laminate flooring during inspection?
Inspection should be done from a standing position with good lighting. Look for irregularities, such as gaps, cupping, swelling, cracks, chips, delamination, or surface damage. Determine the problem’s cause by examining installation practices, subfloor conditions, moisture levels, and manufacturing quality to properly address the issue.
How can one identify and evaluate damage or problems in laminate flooring during inspection?
Inspection should be done from a standing position with good lighting. Look for irregularities, such as gaps, cupping, swelling, cracks, chips, delamination, or surface damage. Determine the problem’s cause by examining installation practices, subfloor conditions, moisture levels, and manufacturing quality to properly address the issue.
What are the common joint and plank-related issues in laminate flooring and their causes?
Common joint issues include overwood, proud edges, out of rack misalignment, out of square planks, panelization, unlocking, and gaps. Causes include manufacturing tolerances, improper milling, installation errors, uneven subfloors, and inadequate expansion space or moisture management.
What are some visual signs of manufacturing defects in laminate flooring?
Manufacturing defects in laminate flooring may include chipped edges, microchipping or rough cuts, foggy or dull appearance, off-register patterns, core voids, delamination, core separation, and printed pattern errors. These are often present right out of the box and are related to production issues.
How does improper installation contribute to laminate flooring problems?
Improper installation can cause issues such as end lifting, tenting, buckling, gaps at joints, and plank misalignment. Causes include inadequate expansion gaps, pinched or locked-in planks, improper acclimation, damaged or mis-milled planks, and failure to use proper underlayment or vapor barriers.
Common moisture-related problems in laminate flooring and their causes
Common moisture-related problems in laminate flooring include peaked or swollen seams, tenting, cupping, doming, convex bow, and buckling. These issues are caused by excess surface moisture, plumbing leaks, pet accidents, improper maintenance, low relative humidity, inadequate vapor barriers, or improper installation practices.
What are the common joint and plank-related issues in laminate flooring and their causes?
Common joint issues include overwood, proud edges, out of rack misalignment, out of square planks, panelization, unlocking, and gaps. Causes include manufacturing tolerances, improper milling, installation errors, uneven subfloors, and inadequate expansion space or moisture management.
What are some visual signs of manufacturing defects in laminate flooring?
Manufacturing defects in laminate flooring may include chipped edges, microchipping or rough cuts, foggy or dull appearance, off-register patterns, core voids, delamination, core separation, and printed pattern errors. These are often present right out of the box and are related to production issues.
How does improper installation contribute to laminate flooring problems?
Improper installation can cause issues such as end lifting, tenting, buckling, gaps at joints, and plank misalignment. Causes include inadequate expansion gaps, pinched or locked-in planks, improper acclimation, damaged or mis-milled planks, and failure to use proper underlayment or vapor barriers.
What are common moisture-related problems in laminate flooring and their causes?
Common moisture-related problems in laminate flooring include peaked or swollen seams, tenting, cupping, doming, convex bow, and buckling. These issues are caused by excess surface moisture, plumbing leaks, pet accidents, improper maintenance, low relative humidity, inadequate vapor barriers, or improper installation practices.
Helpful Products
- CalFlor Repair Kit
- ROBERTS Pull Bar
- ROBERTS Tapping Block
Fix Laminate Problems Quickly These tools make laminate repairs easier and more effective.
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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