Laminate flooring has swelled: causes and solutions

Why does laminate flooring swell?

There are many reasons for laminate flooring to swell. Let’s look at the most common ones:

• Violation of installation rules. Firstly, you cannot start work immediately after delivery, the slats must lie indoors for 48-72 hours – during this time they will get used to the temperature and humidity level and change in size. Laminate flooring swells at the joints often due to insufficient expansion gap. The distance between the laminate panels and the wall should normally be 0.8-1 cm. If the temperature gap is smaller as a result of any change in climate or physical impact, the panels simply rest against the wall and the laminate swells. Another common mistake is fixing the boards. With changes in environmental conditions, the panels expand and contract, so they must be laid exclusively using the floating method.
• Poor quality of the coating. This is the case when saving on the quality of the laminate will backfire – low-quality lamellas lose their performance properties faster and can swell without serious reasons. Carefully inspect the product before purchasing: no markings, length 121.5 cm instead of 126-138 cm, dark brown “back” – a sign of low-quality Chinese production.
• Installation on an unprepared base. The difference in height is no more than 1-2 mm, no liquid under the floor, absolute cleanliness of the surface (grains of sand and debris lead to squeaks). The maximum humidity of the base is 5-12% (depending on the type), in conditions of high humidity, even high-quality panels are not recommended to be used so that they do not swell. An incorrectly selected or laid underlayment can also cause the laminate to swell. Due to an underlayment that is too soft or thick, the locks become unusable, and the boards rise up like a “house”.
• Long-term exposure to moisture. High-quality laminate will withstand wet cleaning or a little spilled but immediately wiped liquid. But as a result of a flood or a puddle that went unnoticed, the boards will become unusable and will have to be replaced.

Before talking about eliminating laminate swelling, it should be noted: only low-quality or permanently damaged coating (laminate covered with mold, deformed) requires complete replacement. In other cases, laminate can be restored.

What to do if the laminate seams are swollen?

If your laminate has swollen at the seams, the reasons may be different: from not leaving a gap to residual moisture. The methods of elimination, accordingly, will also be different.

In the photo, the seams are swollen from water

To independently repair boards that have swelled due to insufficient clearance:

1. Remove the skirting boards along the entire contour.
2. Mark 0.8 cm from the wall along the perimeter.
3. Cut the laminated boards with a laminate knife, grinder, jigsaw or other available tool.
4. Align the covering, check the gap again.
5. Reinstall the skirting board

When the swelling is visible only from the front side (this happens from contact with water), you can align the edges of individual slats with an iron:

1. Heat the iron to medium heat.
2. Place a metal strip over the defect (the easiest way is to take a ruler).
3. Cover with paper or a rag on top.
4. Iron the area briefly with a warm iron.

Important! Too hot a temperature or vigorous actions can lead to damage and deformation.

For details on the process of correction if the seams are swollen, watch the video:

How to fix waves on laminate?

The appearance of ridges often occurs due to an unsuitable underlay. If the laminate is swollen, you can not even look for how to fix it without disassembling. The slats will need to be disassembled and the dense underlay will need to be replaced.

The photo shows a deformed laminate plank

Step-by-step correction process:

1. Take out the furniture, remove the baseboards.
2. Remove the panels one by one.
3. Remove the underlay.
4. Lay a new, suitable one.
5. Return the flooring, baseboards, and furniture to their place.

Tip: to avoid confusion when re-laying, mark each panel with numbers, then you can easily assemble everything the second time, as if constructor.

Maximum substrate thickness:

• 2 mm — polyethylene foam (foamed);
• 7 mm — coniferous;
• 6 mm — cork.

Important! The thinner the laminated planks, the thinner the substrate should be. Optimum density values are usually indicated on the packaging — follow them and the laminate will not swell.

If the substrate is selected correctly, but the base is uneven, the waves will also appear in several places. It will also not be possible to eliminate this problem without dismantling. You will have to completely remove the laminate, the substrate and correct the defects of the base.

Whether it is a cement screed or a wooden one, the surface must be leveled (maximum difference 2 mm), cleaned, dried. The maximum residual moisture content for a concrete or self-leveling floor is 5%, for a wooden floor it is 10-12%.

The photo shows the installation of the covering on a heated floor

When installing laminated material on a heated floor, check the packaging for a special indicator – not all slats are suitable for such a base. At the same time, after completing the installation work, the heated floor system cannot be turned on at full capacity right away. You need to start with a low temperature, raising the value by 2-3 degrees daily – this way the laminate will gradually get used to it and will not be able to swell.

How to remove local swelling?

Has the laminate swelled from water? How to fix a small unevenness without dismantling the entire floor? Let’s figure it out.

When 1-2 elements are damaged, you can disassemble the covering from the nearest wall, replace the damaged panels and put everything back together. Or use another replacement option:

1. Cut out the central part of the lamella, leaving 1-2 cm from the edges.
2. Carefully knock out the remains.
3. Move the planks towards the walls, insert a new one.

If the width is not enough, you will have to remove the locking joints from 2-3 sides. The edges where the locks were removed should be coated with suitable glue. To make repairs faster, use a drill.

It happens that the laminate has swelled in one place due to the unevenness of the slab. Any small bump can lead to serious consequences and definitely requires leveling. In this case, to return the original appearance, you will have to remove individual rows from the wall to the problem area. Level the surface and lay it again. If the locks were not damaged during operation, you will not have to replace the slats with new ones.

What to do after a flood?

The problem of a global flood for your laminate will be reflected not only in a spoiled appearance, but also in a high probability of mold formation due to water getting under the surface. That is, if a small area is enough to blow with a hair dryer, then a large area may not be saved even by a draft. Therefore, if the flooding was serious and the laminate got wet, it is better to disassemble all the parts and dry them thoroughly.

The photo shows laminate after the flood

Important! Do not take additional measures and heat the slats specially, they should dry in a natural environment. The planks are placed on their sides or stacked, with paper between them and a weight on top to prevent them from warping or warping.

Not only the planks but also the base should dry: pay special attention to the wood – after drying (3-15 days, depending on the scale of the disaster), be sure to check it with a level.

Advice: a film will help check the quality of drying. Cover the base with it and leave it overnight. If condensation does not form on the surface, remove the film and you can lay the flooring.

Before re-laying, experts recommend replacing the underlay (especially if coniferous or cork was laid). Polyethylene and polyurethane foam are easy enough to dry.

How to protect?

It is impossible to foresee absolutely everything. But following simple rules of prevention during installation and maintenance of laminate will help to avoid unpleasant moments in most cases:

• Periodically treat the joints of the panels with a wax pencil, it will prevent water from getting under the top layer and soaking the boards.
• Do not use aggressive chemicals to wash the floors, they damage the protective layer. The same applies to abrasive substances.
• Rub the surface of the panels with liquid wax or mastic to increase moisture resistance and improve performance characteristics.
• Thoroughly wring out the rag when washing, wipe dry.
• Wipe up spilled liquid immediately.
• Pay attention to the label when buying – the laminate must be suitable for the conditions in which it will be used (type of base, humidity level, room temperature, heated floor). A dense laminate that meets all the parameters will last for many years.
• Glue soft protective discs to the legs of furniture and the bottom of the doors to avoid damaging the coating when moving. It is a good idea to replace the wheels on the furniture with rubberized or silicone options.
• Maintain a constant humidity level of 35-65% so that the boards “walk” less.
• Do not walk on the floor in heels.
• Lift heavy furniture when moving.

Models of various classes, prices and quality are available on the market. The difference between them lies, among other things, in the impregnation of the seams and coating. For example, the locks and hidden seams of waterproof laminate are often treated with wax. If you have purchased unprotected panels by mistake or to save money, you can treat them yourself.

The photo shows the use of wax crayons

Treating joints with wax (instead of sealant):

1. Buy a pencil in the same color at a hardware store.
2. Clean the surface from dust and dirt.
3. Smear all joints with wax, trying not to go beyond the limits.
4. Remove any remaining material from the surface with a dry, soft cloth.

Tip: wax crayons are also used to paint over chips and scratches, but it is prohibited to cover the surface of the panels with them.

For shine and the formation of a light protective film over the entire surface, it is enough to add regular polish to the water for washing:

1. Vacuum or sweep the room.
2. Add polishing agent to the water (the proportions of how much agent and water are needed are written on the packaging).
3. Wash the floor with a soft cloth along the boards.

Important! There is no need to wash off this composition!

To increase the service life, provide additional stable protection and prevent premature deterioration of the laminate, take a special mastic:

1. Wash the floors thoroughly, wait until completely dry.
2. Pour the mastic onto a soft cloth.
3. Rub along the fibers, evenly distributing the composition.

Important! Laminate flooring rubbed with mastic should not be walked on until it is completely dry.

Laminated flooring is stylish, tactile and warm, but requires special care. Follow the recommendations of specialists when buying, laying and caring for it – then the laminate will serve you for a long time.