Why Is There A Hill In My Laminate Floor?

By Lacy Foster

Laminate flooring is definitely a lot more durable than most other types flooring; laminate really could be considered the toughest of floors. Of course, there are still some issues with even laminate floors, and warping is the main one. So, let's look at warping as it pertains to laminate. A laminated floor that develops a look of something coming from under the house are being affected by peaking. The effect is a bit disturbing. Many people assume that water has somehow gotten under their laminate floor, or that their foundation is cracked, but this is very rarely the case.

What Causes This To Happen?

Your laminate floor might be peaking for a few reasons. If you want it fixed right the first time, you'll make knowing exactly what's happening your top priority. Many people assume that whatever affected their friend's laminate floors is also affecting theirs, but this is a dangerous and costly line of thinking. Assuming this can cost you not only money, but a ton of time.

Lack Of Expansion Space Causes Peaking

Everything around us expands and shrinks, and your laminate flooring is no exception. For this reason, laminated floors should always have the appropriate amount of space at their edges, before the molding. If there is no space, the planks will instead push up against one another. Once there is enough pressure, the planks will begin to rise. Although often minor at first, if this is ignored for a long enough time, a floor can develop a hump or hill.

Fixed Moldings Will Cause Peaking

Even if there is room to expand, your laminated flooring cannot take advantage of it if the moldings cannot move. This can sometimes be a nightmare to track down if the original installer was not consistent. Since laminate flooring is intended to be floating, which means not attached to either the moldings or the sub-floor, any solid point can cause an issue. Amateur installers will occasionally attach the laminate floor to molding to keep it from moving during install, or simply because they don't know any better.

The Length Of The Boards Can Cause Peaking

This one only pertains to some manufacturers of laminate flooring, and generally happens the least. When you have one board that is longer than it should be, the effect can be similar to when there is not room enough for expansion. This is an easily avoidable issue, and won't happen as long as no single plank is longer than the manufacturer recommends. If you didn't install the floor yourself, though, you may have difficulty finding the name of the manufacturer. Luckily, since this is usually only an issue when there are areas that are 40 feet long or longer, most people can consider this a non-issue unless they have a very big home, or are experiencing peaking in a hallway. But, if you just can't find where the laminate floor has been fixed to anything, then you might be left with pulling up planks to find manufacturer markings. - 29947

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