Laminate is a great flooring option for homeowners and is well-suited for many areas of the house. Its durability, ability to stand up to moisture and versatility of style makes it one of the most popular flooring options on the market today.
While laminate is long-lasting, there will come a time when your laminate floor needs to be replaced. Here’s how to tell:
1. Peeling
One of the first signs that you need a new laminate floor is peeling. Peeling can happen for a number of reasons, the most common being moisture damage or damage from heated floors. Peeling is not an easy fix, so it’s best to replace your floors at this point.
2. Peaking
Peaking in laminate floors happens when the floor is sticking up in areas where the floorboards meet, forming peaks in the floor. This isn’t just an annoyance — it can pose serious tripping hazards if your floor isn’t flush. Peaking can cause major damage to your laminate floors, so consider having them replaced as soon as possible.
3. Buckling or warping
Most new laminates are highly moisture resistant, but if you have an older laminate floor, you may experience buckling or warping as a result of water damage. Buckling and warping can be caused by excessive water on the surface, or even high humidity in the air. But the most common cause of warping is moisture rising from the subfloor and a lack of a moisture barrier.
4. Mould & mildew
It’s important to replace your laminate floors when you start to notice water damage in order to prevent the situation from worsening and the development of mould and mildew. If you notice mould on your laminate floors, it’s essential that you replace the floors and identify and fix the moisture issue to prevent it from happening again.
5. Chipped corners
Minor dents and scratches are a part of the everyday wear and tear your floors can expect to see, but when you start to notice chipped corners, it might be time to replace your floors. Chipped corners can be caused by incorrect installation of the floors, cleaning your floors with a beater bar vacuum or poor handling of the floorboards prior to installation.
6. Movement
Any signs of movement when you walk on your laminate floors is a good signal that you need to replace them. Movement and give in certain areas of the floor may be a sign that the subfloor below the laminate has been damaged.
If you’ve noticed any of these signs of damage in your laminate floors, contact the team at Bigelow Flooring to get brand new, beautiful flooring for your home.
