Laminate flooring is known for its durability, but there is one problem that can occur: buckling.
When it comes to laminate flooring, it’s important to remember that it is a floating floor. This means that it is not permanently attached to the subfloor and instead “floats” on the surface. The reason for this is to allow the floor to expand and contract with temperature changes. While this expansion and contraction may not be visible to the naked eye, it is a crucial characteristic of laminate flooring.
However, when the floor is obstructed from floating or damaged by moisture, problems can arise. The planks may “buckle” or compress together, leading to humps, uneven surfaces, and unsightly marks. In extreme cases, the flooring can even lift entirely from the subfloor.
To prevent buckling and keep your laminate flooring in top condition, it is essential to take precautions.
Why Is My Flooring Buckling?
There are several reasons why laminate flooring may buckle. These factors include:
- Improper installation: If the flooring is installed too tightly or pinched down under heavy objects like cabinets, it may not be able to properly float, resulting in buckling.
- Insufficient expansion gap: Without a proper gap between the flooring and the walls, the laminate cannot expand properly and may buckle. Check out our recommended best practices for the expansion gap to avoid this issue.
- Underlayment issues: Without a vapor barrier, moisture can seep into the flooring and cause it to buckle. It is crucial to install your flooring with the appropriate underlayment to prevent this. Read our underlayment guide here.
- Water and moisture damage: Excessive exposure to moisture can cause the laminate flooring to swell and buckle. Take measures to protect your flooring from water damage.
- Lack of acclimation: If the flooring is not given enough time to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the room before installation, it may buckle. Allow adequate acclimation time to avoid this problem.
- Extreme room temperature: Installing laminate flooring in a room with an unusually high or low temperature can lead to buckling. Maintain a comfortable room temperature to prevent this issue.
Buckling is most commonly observed near walls, where the flooring’s expansion is restricted due to a lack of space.
Let’s Get Started!
Discovering buckling in your laminate flooring? Follow these essential steps for a successful repair:
- Identify the root cause of the buckling
- Resolve the underlying issue causing the buckling
- Replace or repair the damaged planks with ease using our step-by-step guide below.
How to Fix the Cause of the Buckling
Most commonly, buckling flooring is caused by movement restrictions or water damage. Here’s what you need to know to fix these issues.
Buckling Due to Movement Restrictions
Laminate flooring is a type of floating floor that requires space to expand and contract as temperatures fluctuate. Here are some helpful guidelines to ensure proper movement of the flooring:
- Check that the wall base/moldings do not pinch the laminate flooring. There should be a small gap between the flooring and the bottom of the molding.
- Ensure there is a sufficient expansion gap around all walls and stationary objects in the room.
- Reposition heavy furniture and use felt pads to distribute the weight evenly on the flooring.
- Increase the expansion gap around the perimeter of the room.
- Widen the expansion gap at the molding transitions.
- If the flooring was installed under cabinets, either add dilatation or remove the laminate under the cabinets and leave an expansion gap.
Buckling Due to Water Damage
Water damage can lead to buckling in flooring, a common problem. Laminate flooring, which has a wood core, can swell and expand when it comes into contact with moisture. To tackle this issue, here are some essential steps to follow:
- Identify the Source: Water damage can originate from various sources, such as a leaking dishwasher. If you find a specific appliance or area that is the source of the problem, consider replacing it to resolve the issue.
- Cement Subfloors: Moisture from the ground can infiltrate cement subfloors and cause buckling. To safeguard your flooring, use an underlayment with a moisture or vapor barrier.
- Moisture-Prone Areas: In areas like kitchens or bathrooms where moisture is prevalent, use water-resistant glue during installation. This extra layer of protection can help prevent future buckling problems. Consider opting for a waterproof flooring option, such as luxury vinyl plank, for added peace of mind.
- Basement Floors: If your flooring is installed in a basement, check for any water leaks from the walls or floor. Address these issues before installing new laminate flooring. For ongoing moisture concerns, consider using waterproof luxury vinyl plank flooring.
How to Repair Buckling Laminate Flooring
If your laminate flooring has buckled, don’t worry, there may still be a chance to repair it. Follow these steps to replace the damaged planks and restore your flooring:
For minor damages that affect only a small portion of your flooring, follow these steps to replace the damaged planks effectively:
- Prepare for the repair by removing moldings around the damaged area.
- Carefully uninstall the laminate flooring in the problem zone.
- Thoroughly clean and prep the subfloor, ensuring there is no moisture damage and that the underlayment (if applicable) is in good condition.
- Check the locking system of the flooring. If it’s undamaged, you can proceed with reinstalling the flooring.
- Replace any damaged planks as needed.
- Reinstall the flooring and moldings, making sure everything is secure.
It’s important to address the root cause of the buckling to prevent it from happening again. If the buckling has affected a larger area that can’t be repaired, you’ll need to replace the entire flooring.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, our team of flooring experts is ready to help you determine the best course of action for your project.
Still have questions on if your buckling laminate flooring? Contact one of our flooring experts today!
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[…] How to Repair Laminate Flooring: Buckling Laminate Flooring – 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 occurs when … […]
[…] How to Repair Laminate Flooring: Buckling Laminate Flooring – 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 occurs when … […]
I’m a renter, and recently my cat tipped over a cup of water on too the hardwood floor. I have noticed bubbles. What can be done?!
Hi Angelita, Unfortunately, the only things that can be done is to replace that section of the floor. Once a floor bubbles and is damaged, there is nothing that can be done as a quick fix. Replacing hardwood floors is much more difficult than replacing laminate. We would recommend calling a professional in order to restore your floor. If you have anymore questions, you can call us at 1-800-520-0961.
Hello, Im having a huge problem. I purchased a condo in April the floors looked perfect but as the whether changed it seemed to eventually cause swelling on my floors. Im not sure how or who installed the floors but now there just worse and seem to be spreading. My concern is whether the floors may not be salvageable. One particular spot has risen so high to where the interlock has come apart. I cant afford to replace all my flooring which is throughout my home. Im so confused and concerned about what to do.
Hi Moji! Thanks for the question. It seems like your floor expanded with the weather change in the hotter months. One thing you can try is to uninstall the moldings and create a larger expansion gap so the flooring has more room to expand and contract with seasonal changes. If that doesn’t help, you may need to re-install some of the boards that are raised. Hope this helps!
Hi. I do not see a way to put a new comment so I hope that you will see this. Our laminate floor got wet and we have a couple of boards that are damaged at the e very end. This are is right next to our kitchen which is tile. I am wondering if we could take up the existing skinny border and put a larger border to cover the buckle and then not worry about changing those planks. Thank you.
Hi Elise, thank you for the question! When the boards buckle and are damaged by moisture, it is very hard to fix without replacing planks. If you just want to cover up the unsightly look, that is an option. It depending on temperature changes and any additional moisture, planks could expand and contract causing more damage. Our recommendation would be to fix the plank if you have extra laying around. Hope this helps. Feel free to give us a call for more direction on this issue: 800-520-0961.
Our laminate flooring was installed 6 months ago and has started peaking and bubbling. The installers say that it is because there is too much moisture coming from somewhere. Everything is dry as a bone, subfloor, moisture barrier no moisture that I can see, however they say their meters read that there is moisture. I think it was just installed too tight and the hot weather is causing it to swell, I am not knowledgeable in these matters, but I know what makes sense to me. Any advice?
Hi Theresa! The humidity could be a factor here, especially during the summer. Do you keep your spaces air conditioned? One way to try and fix this would be to remove the base moldings and create a larger expansion gap by cutting the laminate edges – just make sure the moldings still cover it! This could help the floor contract and expand easier. Hope this helps!
What tool would you use to cut the flooring? Every saw i can think of woulf leave too large a gap to be covered by trim?
Hi Todd! Check out this blog post for more information on what saw to use: https://www.bestlaminate.com/blog/what-is-the-best-saw-for-cutting-laminate-flooring/. A jigsaw is a great option for curves and special cuts, while a table or circular saw can be used for straight cuts. Hope this helps!
I use a sonic tool great for tight spots and makes a thin cut.
Use the sonic tool if you trying to fix the floor, just snap a chalk line and follow that, if installing a new floor a good miter saw with a slide works great.
Thanks for sharing Bill!
Wow, U guys R pretty prompt and detailed w/ur responses. As I look over the information posted and questions, I am noticing that a lot of responses refer to replacing the damaged areas of the laminate flooring. I am concerned because my problem is SO simple, and much smaller than many of the post I’ve read. I purposely put something down to clean my floor and add shine over a very dull spot (long story how that got there)-so keeping it short- I meant to leave the shiny stuff down, but not as long as I did, I mopped it up, NOT THINKING it was a liquid I left standing on a laminate floor and ONLY IN A FEW SPOTS is there now very small buckled laminate, the few spots are all right on the very seams of the floor, nothing MAJOR, nothing separated or even lifted, just a small rippled, buckled look…their all so small it looks as if it were SAFE to get some type of heating object, small heat or steam machine u could simply just pressed them all right back into shape!! Frustrated something it looks so small, but if the only answer is replace the pieces, I’ll scream!!…lol
Hi Destiny! Without seeing the damage, we are unable to give you the best recommendation for the problem. If it’s a few spots, you may want to try putting some heavy objects on the boards and see if they will go down. Another factor is to make sure your room temperature is consistent – reducing humidity while applying pressure might help the boards settle back in place. Hope this helps!
Hello. I’m having the same problem with my floor the difference is that I have a huge Bubble
Please help me! I have picture of the floor. The kitchen sink is what leaked and caused this problem
Hi Teena! Unfortunately with water damage, there is no easy way to fix the bubble except for re-installing a new board. Once water damage occurs, the planks will not go back to normal.
I have a weird buckle in the very middle of my family room, its funny if you step on it you feel like your squashing a big bubble. I dont want to have to rip up this floor, this room is big. We live in Fl where the humidity is high, when we did the floors we sere stupid and left the doors open, I think that was a huge mistake. we were in between our cooler months going into warmer months. Can someone give me a clue, a long shot resolution to this with out ripping up this floor? I have put heavy furniture on it hoping to get it to straighten out but thats a joke. I am getting desperate, other than a big heavy rug, I am lost. Thank you in advance for anything you can reccomend.
Hi Melissa, I’m sorry to hear about your floor! There are two things you can try. The first one would be creating a larger expansion gap on the edges – just remove the baseboard moldings and cut the plank on the edge so there is more room to expand. Due to the humidity, your flooring may need extra room to expand and contract, leaving a bubble where it tried to expand and couldn’t. If that doesn’t work, you can always just replace the warped board. You don’t have to tear up the whole floor though! Just uninstall the baseboard closest to the warped planks and carefully uninstall all of the laminate planks leading to the warped ones. Replace them and reinstall everything, installing the baseboard last. The warping could definitely have been from the drastic change in heat. It could also be from not having the proper expansion gap. If you need anymore help, feel free to call us at 1-800-520-0961!
I have the same thing….there are some areas in my kitchen where my dog drips water from his mouth after drinking. (yes he’s a big sloppy guy and I love him) I do not keep his water dish on the laminate floor. He drinks then wanders through the kitchen dripping. I am diligent about wiping up after him. Even with the quick wiping, apparently even small amounts of water have landed on the seams of the laminate and…again apparently…are immediately absorbed causing very small lifting of the material at the seams. Is there a way to glue and press these seams down? Or….Is there a sealant I can apply on the entire floor? I’m afraid that spots of the flooring will eventually just peel up like paper and be totally ruined. Laminate never again. I’ll go vinyl next time. $$$ ugh.
Hi Jean – sorry to hear about the water issues you are having! Since we do not have a photo and do not know what flooring it is, we can’t provide you with specific repairing ideas. Be sure to check with your retailer and manufacturer warranty before you begin to try and fix the laminate. You could try to use a laminate seam filler to re-glue the surface, but it may still have a raised look. Be sure to reduce the humidity and moisture within the room before trying to do any repairs.