I bought my first home about 1.5 years ago, which had laminate flooring installed by contractors during renovations before we moved in. Recently, I've noticed that the waterproof vinyl planks are buckling and coming up in several spots, even after the contractors made some repairs before. I'm not sure if this is related to how it was initially installed or if I've unknowingly caused the issue myself. I've switched cleaning methods recently and now wonder if that might be contributing to the problem. I really need some insights about how to fix this and whether I should worry about the flooring matching in case it needs replacing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
The buckling is likely due to a couple of reasons. It could be that the installers didn’t leave enough expansion gap around the edges, which is usually about 10mm. On the other hand, if you’re using too much water while mopping, it can seep into the seams and cause the planks to swell. This type of flooring just can’t handle excess moisture, and if that’s happening, you may need to replace the affected planks, regardless of how waterproof they claim to be.
It sounds like water damage is the main culprit here. Even if the flooring is labeled ‘waterproof’, moisture can still get under it and cause significant problems. If the planks have absorbed enough water, they’ll need to be replaced. As for cleaning, switching to a dry mop or lightly dampening the mop instead of soaking can help prevent future issues. Unfortunately, if there’s already damage, it's tough to fix without replacing sections of the flooring.
From what you’re describing, it really seems like the moisture is the main issue. Even with a product marketed as waterproof, if it’s not properly installed or maintained, it can lead to warping. I recommend checking if there's a moisture barrier under the flooring while ensuring you stop wet-mopping right away because it can exacerbate the problem. You might have to save up for new flooring if the damage is too extensive.