Printing Error

A solid spot on the printed design in a laminate floor is a print error. While this is a manufacturer related deficiency planks with an obvious printing error should not be installed. Once installed the manufacturer will usually pass the problem on to the installer and may only cover the cost of the replacement board when reported in a timely matter.

Laminated Flooring Installation Tips

When investing in a new floating laminate floor or any other flooring one should take precaution to assure that the floor will not only look great but also perform great. Here are a few tips on laminate flooring installation that will assist you in achieving your goals.

While the requirement of one manufacturer may differ from another the following information is common to many manufacturers. When purchasing a floor always obtain and read the installation instructions for the floor you are purchasing. The instructions for most laminate manufacturers may be found by clicking here.

Unfortunately as flooring inspectors we see many installations where the person installing the floor claimed to be an expert but did not install the floor as required by the manufacturer. Failing to follow the manufacturers installation instructions is a huge laminate floor problem as it often voids the warranty.

Subfloor Requirements of a floating floor

Concrete

• Perform a mat test to check for moisture. If any indication of a high moisture content perform a calcium chloride test.  Moisture content should not exceed 2.5% on a dry weight basis or the floor may fail.
• New concrete needs to cure for a minimum of 60 days.
• Use an approved vapor barrier.  Most companies require a vapor barrier even when the floor is covered by vinyl, linoleum, tile or sheet flooring.

Vinyl & Linoleum Subfloor

• Usually you can install over these if they are clean and level.

Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

• This is the one floor that most floating floors cannot be installed over and it needs to be removed unless approved by the manufacturer.  If the carpet is glue down be sure to thoroughly clean the surface of glue residues.

Ceramic Tile and Stone Subfloor

• These will normally not require removal but they must be leveled to within 5 mm in a 3 m radius.  A vapor barrier may be required, particularly over concrete.

Hardwood Subfloor

• Test for moisture content, it must be stable and between 6 and 10%.
• Correct the floor to eliminate any movement.  If the subfloor sags, inspect the joist below for twist or weakness.  If the subfloor is uneven or cupped at the joist, recheck the moisture making sure it is in the 6 – 10% range.
• Check for excessive moisture in the crawl space or basement including signs of potential water problems.
• Sand or plane high areas and patch or fill low areas with an appropriate leveling compound, or cover with a rigid underlayment.
• Do not use a vapor barrier on top of wood floors.

Identification of Common Laminate Floor Problems

Concern	Identifying Characteristics	Possible Causes	Recommended Actions	Responsibility
Indentation Damage	Dent in floor with fracture marks in the plastic.	Impact to surface or dropped object	Repair with the approved filler or replace board	Consumer or installer
Indentation Manufacturing Voids	Dent in floor without fracture marks in plastic.	Missing paper, damaged core, will show as irregular shape depression.	Repair with the approved filler or replace board	Manufacturer or installer if a highly visible defect.
Scratches, Cuts	Scratches showed up after installation or cross between boards	Plastic toys, improper furniture protectors, dragging furniture, abrasive soil.	Replacement of scratched boards	Consumer, or installer if occurred during installation
Scratches Manufacturing	Scratches seen at time or following installation.  Do not cross boards, generally in straight line.  May repeat on multiple boards.	Scratching during manufacturing.	Replacement of scratched boards	Manufacturer, or installer if highly visible and installed anyway.
Scuffing	Dull, wide marks or scratch like areas.	Chairs with plastic castors, hard plastic toys	Take preventative action, replace scuffed boards	Consumer
Water Damage Bottom up	Warped floor, swelling at multiple seams in localized or large area	Water leaks, no vapor barrier on concrete	Replace	Consumer if leak Installer if no vapor barrier
Water Damage Top down	Swelling at both sides of seams, gaps in seams, voids in glue	Improper joining and/or gluing	Replace	Installer
Out of Rack	Boards not aligned parallel on both sides and ends, seen on floor from point on where misalignment started.	Failure to align and tightly join starter row.	Replace as needed	Installer
Out of Square	A floor that is out of square will affect alignment on out of square planks only and not entire area.	Milling	Replace as needed	Manufacturer
No Underlay Foam	Buckling	No foam results in gluing to the underlayment and floor is no longer floating	Replace	Installer
Concave Bowing	Center of the plank is lower in elevation than the edges in length or width.	Installed on wet subfloor. No moisture barrier. Improper acclimation. Water damage. Manufacturing defect	Wait 6 weeks after installation to inspect.  If in excess of tolerance, replace.	Installer if installed over wet floor, improper acclimation or no vapor barrier.  Consumer if water damage. Manufacturer
Convex Bowing	Center of the plank is higher in elevation than the edges in length and width.	Manufacturing related condition	Wait 6 weeks after installation to inspect. If in excess of tolerance replace.	Manufacturer
Delamination	Laminate not adhering to core. May appear as a bubble on plank surface, delamination on edge about width of tapping block.	Laminate moves, hollow sound, improperly used tapping block, swelling due to improper gluing	Plank or section replacement	Installer if not properly glued or installation damage.  Manufacturer if laminate not attached.
Proud Edges	Height difference between planks when installed	Milling	Assess on basis of size and number and if outside of acceptable range, replace as required.	Manufacturer, Installer if highly visible and floor should not have been installed.
Pattern Misaligned	Pattern no aligned on the core	Improper manufacturing alignment	Plank or section replacement	Manufacturer, installer if highly visible and should not have been installed.
Foggy Laminate	Milky appearance throughout plank	Manufacturing	Replace section or as needed.	Manufacturer
Sheen Variation	Sheen varies between planks with some dull and others shiny.  Usually light dependant	Manufacturing	Replace section or as needed.	Manufacturer
Color Variation	Plank varies in color from the true color or design	Manufacturing or mixed pattern	Plank or section replacement	Installer if wrong color or highly visible, otherwise manufacturer
Foreign matter under laminate	Particles under laminate that show up either as marks, spots or lumps.	Dust or debris during manufacturing.  Generally light dependent and not seen until after installation.	Replace as needed	Manufacturer, installer if highly visible as it should have been seen and not installed.
Improper Milling	Floor unlevel or not square in areas	Product out of square, defective tongue or groove.	Replace as needed	Manufacturer, installer if highly visible as it should have been seen and not installed.
Chattermarks (Cuttermarks)	Widthwise, wavy or rippled bands.  Not seen in all lighting.	Skips during sanding	Replace	Manufacturer, installer if highly visible as it should have been seen and not installed.

Acclimation of Laminate Flooring

The manufacturers of most laminate floors require the cartons of flooring to be acclimated for 48 to 72 hours prior to installation.  Acclimation requires conditioning of the flooring material at or near occupancy level. Check the installation instructions to see how they want the material stacked for installation and if the cartons are to be opened or left unopened.

The flooring material needs to be acclimated in the area of installation. This means that if the laminate is to be installed in the family room it should be acclimated in that room.

Storing the laminate flooring in the garage is not acclimation even if the garage is attached. Storage of the material at the store or warehouse of the dealer or installer is not acclimation unless the floor is to be installed in the store or warehouse.

Not all laminate manufacturers require acclimation. If the dealer or installer says it is not necessary to acclimate insist that they show you where the manufacturer states that in writing. Don’t make the manufacturers, dealers or installers problem yours. If they say that the floor does not require acclimation insist on getting this in writing.

When a floor acclimates the product is adjusting to the humidity of the area of installation.

All wet work in the area of installation such as plastering and painting must be completed prior to the start of acclimation.  All windows and doors must be installed prior to the start of acclimation. The heating and air conditioning system must be operational at or near occupancy levels. If installing over concrete the concrete should have been tested and found to be at acceptable levels for the installation of the laminate.

When a floor is not acclimated prior to installation it can be hard to click together chipping or damaging the edges of the laminate. A floor that is not acclimated to its environment is more likely to experience problems such as expansion, tenting, squeaking and buckling after installation.

If you are unsure of the laminate manufacturers installation requirements a copy of them is often contained in each carton. Most manufacturers’ installation instructions are also available on LaminateFloorProblems.com

Chips, Dents, Scratches, Gouges in Laminate Planks

Chipped Plank Corners

It is the responsibility of the installer to check all planks prior to installing.

Most all laminate manufacturers take the view that when you install a damaged plank such as one with a chip in it, this becomes your responsibility and not theirs.

Chips at plank corners, especially those that cross over between planks are caused either during the installation process or by a dropped object.

When a chip is located at a single plank corner, this is usually a plank that was installed damaged or became damaged during installation.

An installer must be careful not to install a plank with a chipped corner and if it chips during installation it should be pulled at that time and replaced with a different plank.

Dents, Gouges, Indentations in Laminate Floor

Dents: Like floors of wood and bamboo, laminate floors are subject to denting when a heavy object is dropped on it.

Dents from dropped objects will have stress cracks around the edge of the dent.

Indentations or Gouges: Heavy objects being rolled across a laminate floor can cause indentations or deep gouges.

Laminate Scratching and Scuffing

While some over zealous sales people tend to sell laminate floor as being indestructible most laminate flooring manufacturers state that their floor is scratch resistant. Do not confuse scratch resistant with scratch proof as this is not the same. Usually scratches are not covered by a manufacturers warranty.

Scratch Prevention: Use felt protector on all furniture legs. Keep animal nails trimmed. Place an area rug at all entrances to catch gritty soil and debris. Shoes can trap debris in the soles and scratch a floor. Avoid using hard plastic toys on a laminate floor as hard plastics can abrade a laminate finish.

Caster Damage to Laminate Floor

• The proper caster must be used on office and other rolling chairs.

• Some manufacturers state that an office chair must have at least 5 casters.

Most laminate flooring manufactures state that rubber casters need to be used as both metal and plastic casters will cause, indentations, abrasions, scratching or scuffing to the surface of the laminate floor.

Improper casters such as metal and hard plastics can also cause chipping along the edge of the planks.

Tapping Block Damage

A tapping block is sometimes used by the installer to join the short ends of the planks.

When a tapping block is used improperly or an objects such as a hammer is used, or planks are kicked together this can damage plank edges.