You walk into your living room one morning and notice something seems off with your laminate flooring. At first glance, everything looks normal but as you take a closer look, you realize the planks are starting to bubble up in areas. Uh oh, that can’t be good! Before you panic and call the flooring company for a quote on replacing the whole thing, take a deep breath. Swollen laminate flooring can often be repaired without a full replacement when caught early and treated properly.
This handy guide will provide you with effective tips to tackle swollen laminate flooring and get your beautiful floors back in shape in no time. We’ll cover what causes the dreaded bubbling in the first place, temporary fixes to get the swelling down, and how to fully repair damaged sections by replacing planks. We’ll also give you some great prevention methods to help avoid swelling laminate floors in the future.
So grab your toolbox and let’s get that laminate looking brand new!
What’s Causing the Swelling Under Your Laminate?
Before jumping into repair methods, it’s important to understand the common culprits behind swollen laminate flooring. Once you know why it’s bubbling up, you can better address the root causes.
The number one offender is excess moisture exposure. Since laminate flooring is constructed with a laminate top layer and dense fiberboard core, it does not react well when it comes in contact with too much water or humidity over time. The moisture has a way of sneaking between the planks and saturating the internal core, causing it to swell up and bubble. Sound familiar? If you had a major spill, leak, repeatedly use a steam mop or over-wet your floors during cleaning, moisture damage could definitely be the reason your planks are peaking.
Installation mishaps can also lead to bubbling laminate floors over time. During construction, laminate planks need to be outfitted with small expansion gaps between them to allow for natural contraction and expansion from temperature changes. If installed too tightly without these gaps, the planks will press against each other and bubble up. Trapped air underneath the flooring can also cause annoying bubbles even years later. If the laminate is not properly ventilated, air has nowhere to go but up!
Should You Replace the Whole Floor?
Taking in the sight of bubbles marring the surface of your once pristine laminate flooring can certainly be disheartening. But before you sentence the whole floor to replacement, inspect the damage thoroughly first. If the bubbling is contained to just a few planks or concentrated areas, there’s a good chance you can repair those spots instead of opting for a full floor replacement. Consider factors like how many planks are affected, if moisture damage is extensive or contained, and whether or not the hidden moisture barrier under the floor is still intact.
Replacing an entire laminate floor is quite labor intensive and costly if only patches here and there are actually compromised. Get all the facts first before making that final and often unnecessary call!
Temporary Fixes to Flatten Swollen Areas
If you’ve determined the swelling damage is not catastrophic, there are a few temporary fixes you can implement to flatten bulges and buy you some time before tending to full plank repairs:
Dry Out Wet Areas
If part of the swelling stemmed from a spill or leak that left moisture under the laminate planks, thoroughly dry out those patches. Set up fans or a dehumidifier to remove excess dampness so it stops seeping into the laminate core and exacerbating bubbling. Speed up drying time by placing a heater near affected areas. This will also cause any swollen patches to contract slightly.
Burst Small Bubbles
For minor bubbling confined to a small area, you can manually deflate it. Lightly dampen a swollen bulge with water then carefully slice into it with a utility knife. Inject some wood glue down into the slit and place a heavy object like a jar or book over it for 12 full hours. The bubble should flatten as the glue dries. Just don’t pierce too aggressively or you may damage planks further!
Roll Out Bubbles
In a pinch, you’d be surprised how running a 100lb weighted roller over mildly swollen laminate can temporarily press those bulges right back down. The added weight and pressure from rolling should flatten most bubbles. Just know this doesn’t actually fix the root cause so bubbles may very well resurface eventually. But it disguises them for awhile!
While these methods can mask swollen laminate in the short term, they should not be used as permanent solutions. To fully repair bubbling areas long term, plank replacement is best.
Replacing Damaged Laminate Planks
If you have bubbles covering large areas or affect multiple planks, replacement is the route to take for proper swollen laminate floor repair. Here’s how to swap out damaged planks for good as new ones:
Remove Baseboards for Access
The first step is taking off any wall baseboards around the perimeter of the room so you can easily access planks. Carefully pry them off with a putty knife or small pry bar. This exposes the sides of the planks for removal.
Cut Out Compromised Planks
Identify which planks are compromised and need replacing. Take a circular saw and cut out the damaged planks, making sure to leave intact planks on either side. You may need to make relief cuts to the plank edges to help with removal.
Prep Replacement Planks
Take your new replacement planks and trim off the tongue edge so they can be inserted smoothly into the floor. Also check that plank lengths match the surrounding ones – custom cut if needed.
Glue and Insert New Planks
Run a bead of laminate flooring glue on the underside edges of replacement planks. Gently insert into openings tongue-side first, pressing firmly on sides to adhere in gaps. Add weights like cement blocks over top for 8 full hours as glue dries.
Once the glue cures, remove weights and reattach wall trim pieces. Your laminate floor should now be bubble-free and look gorgeous once more! Be sure to implement some of prevention methods next to keep swelling at bay.
Block Future Swelling With These Tips
Now that you have your laminate flooring issues under control, let’s talk about preventing rounds of swelling damage down the road. Here are some great protective measures you can put into place:
Moisture-Proof On Installation
If putting in new laminate flooring, have the installer take precautions against moisture during the construction process. This includes using a thick polyethylene film moisture barrier under the planks along with durable water-resistant laminate. Pay for high quality materials upfront to avoid swelling issues.
Allow Those Expansion Gaps
We know, little gaps don’t seem aesthetically pleasing but they serve a purpose! On both initial installs and plank replacements, be sure to leave 1/4 to 1/2 inch expansion gaps between planks and the walls. This gives laminate the room it needs to expand and contract naturally from temperature changes without bubbling.
Stay On Top Of Maintenance
Make laminate floors less susceptible to moisture damage by routinely caring for them. Damp mop only when truly needed and look out for leaks near flooring, especially appliances. Immediately wipe up spills and never use excess cleaning solution. Check for minor swelling early and repair immediately before major bubbling occurs. Prevention is key!
Call In The Pros When Needed
While many cases of swollen laminate can be tackled DIY with the tips above, severe swelling spanning large sections of floor may require calling in backup. If moisture permeation is extensive under planks or the whole floor needs replacing, professionals have the advanced equipment and skills to remedy the issue. Don’t attempt repairs beyond your skill level or budget to avoid making matters worse down the line! Know when it pays to hand swollen laminate over to the experts.
Swollen Laminate Flooring Repair is Possible!
In closing, laminate flooring most certainly can swell, peak, and bubble from moisture damage over time. But have hope! Effective tips like moisture control, plank replacement in isolated areas, and preventative care can beat swelling without requiring full floor replacement in many cases. Just assess the extent of bubbling, tackle those problem spots, and implement protections going forward. With a little TLC, you can have your laminate floors looking like new again in no time and keep future swelling at bay for good.