Peaking Laminate Flooring
Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2009
by Anthony Davis
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.
There are a few different reasons that your laminated floor might begin peaking. It's very important to know why this is happening before you begin trying to fix things. Don't just assume that something that caused someone else laminate floors to peak is the reason yours is. Making this kind of assumption can cause you to waste a lot of time and money.
Lack Of Expansion Space Causes Peaking
Everything expands and contracts, and laminate flooring is certainly no exception. This is why laminated floors are supposed to be installed with space between their edges and the molding. If this space is not available to expand into, the planks will push against each other. Once the pressure is sufficient, the floor will go the only direction that it can: up. If ignored for long enough, the floor will end up with a sort of hump in it, almost like a permanent wave.
Fixed Moldings Can Cause Peaking
Even if the planks have plenty of room for expansion, the laminated flooring can't get to it if the moldings are attached to the ground. This can cause a nightmare as tracking down the secured molding can be difficult. As laminate flooring is supposed to float, meaning remain detached from both the moldings and the subfloor, that one solid point could be anywhere. Amateur installers are especially guilty of this as they sometimes connect their laminate floor to their molding to try to stabilize it while installing and, sometimes, they just don't know you're not supposed to do that.
Peaking Can Be Caused By Boards Which Are Longer Than Specified By The Manufacturer
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.
For more information about the laminate floor, check out Laminate Floor Facts.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I was considering laminate floors but I think now I will stick with tile. Thanks for the info.
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