Laminate is a quality floor covering, but it requires certain skills during installation. There are also a number of rules for the operation of this material, which should never be violated. Otherwise, any violations can lead to undesirable consequences, the most dangerous of which is swelling of the surface and the formation of bumps on the floor. After the appearance of such flaws, you always have to think about what to do if the laminate is swollen from water. It is extremely difficult to eliminate the resulting defects, so it is recommended to consider the possible causes of damage to laminate floors, as well as ways to eliminate them. We will talk about all this in our article.
Main causes of injury
Any action taken when the installation technology is not followed, or mistakes made in the process of cleaning the surface of the laminated floor, will definitely haveNegative consequences. The most pressing question is what to do if the laminate is swollen from water. Budget laminate options are especially sensitive to various influences. There are several reasons for the formation of bumps on this type of surface:
poor quality of the components used;
violation of operating rules;
lack of the necessary tool or violation of the installation technology
First of all, you should pay attention to the quality of the purchased material. By creating a prestigious coating that has a low cost, some manufacturers offer a product of very low quality. Such samples are subject to absolutely all types of impact, and it is impossible to do without problems during their operation.
Material quality
Budget varieties of laminate are made from pressed paper with a low content of sealing resins and the thinnest PVC coating. The decorative layer has very thin edges that can be deformed at the slightest stress during installation, thereby exposing joints or forming local swellings of the surface. The ingress of moisture under the protective surface of such a coating leads to swelling of the base of the laminate. If the laminate is swollen from water, how to fix the formation of bulk bumps? You can find out by looking at some guidelines.
Operating Rules
Better models of laminated coatings are expensive, they fit perfectly and do not allow moisture to pass through at the joints. However, breaking the rulesoperation (especially for wet cleaning methods) can lead to the penetration of moisture under the top layer of the material. And the MDF base contains wood fibers that are subject to deformation when in contact with water. Contact of heat sources with the laminate surface must be avoided. Extreme heat may also cause the surface to blister.
Basic mistakes
If the laminate is swollen from water, how to fix the defect? Damage can be received both by individual segments that make up the coating, and by entire zones that include many components. Poor quality material becomes unusable especially quickly when it is used in the kitchen or in the bathroom due to the total influence of various factors. Especially dangerous is the swelling of the laminate after water, which makes it unsuitable for further use. Also, the floor may become unusable due to untimely elimination of the causes of damage. Spilled liquids that were not wiped up in a timely manner are especially dangerous for such a surface.
Process violations
Among other things, there are strict rules for the installation of these structures. The laid planes should not come into contact with the wall, but should have a technological deviation of 5 millimeters around the entire perimeter. After all, the laminate is able to expand with increasing room temperature, which will lead to its swelling in case of contact with the wall. The gaps between the lamellas will always be limited.
Coating repair methods
Often, when moisture gets in, it becomes unusable onlyone of the cover elements. If the laminate is swollen at the joints from water, in this case, the stock prepared when purchasing the material can be very useful. If there is no such stock, then you can select a replacement only by comparison, taking a sample of the coating with you to the store. The most difficult thing is to replace the area that is in the spotlight. In this case, the color must fully match the damaged sample.
Replacing segments
If the joint of the laminate is swollen from water, what should I do? In practice, it is quite difficult to remove the damaged surface, because the locks of the product may suffer. And this will lead to the formation of cracks, which will not only spoil the appearance of the coating, but also violate its tightness, increasing the chance of moisture penetration to the sensitive base. It is important to remember that after the floor has been opened, it must be ensured that there is no residual moisture that could pose a further hazard.
Application of load
If you try to press the bulge on the floor with a load, you may encounter other unpleasant consequences. The area of the swollen surface in nine cases out of ten will simply move to another place. To level the surface, it is worth resorting to a different technique, largely depending on the cause of the damage.
When problems arise with laminate flooring, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate all interference that may prevent the laminate from cracking down. Next, it is worth checking the presence of a technological gap along all walls. If the surface of the coating rests against the wall in at least one place, this can also cause the laminate to swell.
It is worth remembering that the required clearance should not be less than 5 millimeters. If, after removing all the obstacles, the surface has not begun to level, it is necessary to perform an opening in places of swelling. After removing one of the components of the coating, it is worth inspecting the substrate for moisture accumulation. In some cases, it may be worthwhile to replace the underlayment in order to understand how to repair a laminate that has become swollen with water.
Using an iron
Let's consider another method. Sometimes you have to resort to unexpected solutions, for example, fixing a laminate that is swollen from water with an iron. As noted by the reviews, this is a simple but effective way to eliminate defects. However, it is applicable only for high quality material. If the laminate is swollen from water, how to fix it with an iron? The second condition that must be observed is the absence of water in the substrate. To eliminate the swelling of the laminated surface, it is necessary to prepare an iron and a metal ruler.
The iron heat setting knob is set to the middle position. At the site of the formation of a bulge, a metal ruler is applied to the junction of one of the lamellas, which is ironed with a metal iron. After the moisture that has fallen on the laminate base evaporates through the joints, the coating plane will begin toflatten out. This will remove the swelling.
Difficulties in replacing
If the laminate is swollen after water, what should I do? Replacing single lamellas of the coating is associated with certain difficulties. When disassembling the plane, there is a possibility of chipping the adjacent elements. In this regard, all actions should be performed with extreme caution. If the grooved parts were connected not to the lock, but with the help of special glue, then the damaged fragment can only be removed in its entirety. To do this, using a marker, a line is drawn along the diagonal of the lamella, along which a cut is then made with the help of a grinder, and the cut strip is removed in parts.
It is necessary to cut the marked up component with indents so as not to damage adjacent elements. To solve such problems, there are several different tools, equipped with additional devices. Specialists, thanks to their equipment, can carry out such procedures with the least risk. However, for a one-time repair, there is no need to acquire professional equipment.
When repairing laminate flooring at home, suitable improvised tools are used. Here you can not do without a hammer, chisel, carpenter's knife and a screwdriver. Hand tools must be handled with great care. After all, incorrect actions can cause scratches, chips and cracks. To eliminate such visible flaws, you will have to purchase additional tools.
What to do ifwater swelled the laminate? Before removing the damaged component, it is necessary to separate the entire row in which it is located. For this, technological gaps left along the walls are convenient. After replacing the damaged area, all other elements must be assembled in the same order in which they were before.
Preventive measures
Laminated board floor coverings have several classes, which are indicated by numbers from 31 to 34. Materials of the 33rd and 34th classes are of excellent quality and can last a long time. However, it is worth remembering that cleaning in rooms with such a coating should be done using certain models of household appliances. It should not have the ability to leave scratches, as well as create conditions of high humidity on the floor surface. You need to know these points so that you don’t have to think about how to remove the swelling of the laminate from water.
When assembling laminate flooring, it is recommended to use special sealants designed for processing joints. Particular attention should be paid to transverse seams for the reason that they have the greatest ability to pass moisture. If, as a result of careless actions, water has been spilled onto the surface of the laminate, it should be wiped off immediately and the surface dried. Subject to this condition, unpleasant consequences can be avoided and not thought about what to do if the laminate is swollen from water.
Purchase recommendation
In most cases, laminate flooring is a whimsical material,requiring special care and respect. However, the resulting surface is so attractive that buyers often turn a blind eye to the shortcomings. Nevertheless, it should be noted that, along with the rest, there are samples that can show resistance to water and mechanical damage. So, if you wish, you can always choose an option suitable for any category of premises, as well as able to satisfy the requirements of each consumer. You can get an attractive floor surface without paying a high price.
But you should be prepared for the fact that it is worthwhile to involve specialists with experience and the necessary technical base to assemble such structures. In addition, the further operation process will be fraught with many conventions that will need to be strictly observed.
