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.

More Laminate Flooring Posts

• Chips, Dents, Scratches, Gouges in Laminate Planks
• Laminated Flooring Installation Tips
• Acclimation of Laminate Flooring
• Water Damage Laminate Floor
• Laminate Flooring Terms