If you need assistance, please call 253-381-5608

Common Flaw in Laminate Flooring Installation

Thursday, September 19, 2019   /   by John Schlanbusch

Common Flaw in Laminate Flooring Installation

Laminate floors are a great cost-effective option, hardy and largely scratch-resistant, with a variety of high-end looks. It's also possible for a homeowner to install it themselves, saving even more.

Despite their reputation for ease of use, though, laminates do present problems. And being a somewhat popular DIY project, it's perhaps not surprising that one common issue is the result of human error.

Peaking is when your laminate floor has high points at the joints (picture upside-down v's where two boards meet). It happens when the flooring hasn't had enough room to expand and the two boards push against each other. With nowhere to go, each end pushes up.

If you haven't installed it yet, make sure to let your flooring sit in your house for at least two or three days prior to installation so it can adjust to the climate.

But if you do see peaking, the good news is that it's a fairly easy fix. Track the board back to the wall, where the molding is. Remove the molding and trim off enough of the board's end to allow the floor some space. You also want to make sure the molding isn't nailed to the floor so as to allow for that expansion.

Peaking can also happen in a large room if there are no expansion joints to help relieve the pressure, says Lumber Liquidators. As a rule of thumb, if the room is longer than 27 feet in any direction, you'll want to include expansion joints.

John S Realty
John Schlanbusch
2315 N. 30th St.
Tacoma, WA 98403
253-381-5608
253-370-2112
Nova Home Loans
Elle Zimmerman
Senior Loan Officer
NMLS# 1546785
253-617-1555

Information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. Copyright 2021 NWMLS.
Properties with the NWMLS icon are courtesy of Northwest MLS.
This site powered by CINC: www.cincpro.com