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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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