Over the years, the use of linoleum as a universal floor covering has become obsolete. Today, it has been replaced by many other coatings that are not inferior in any way. One of the most common is laminate, which is presented in a wide range in specialized stores. Durability, ease of installation and maintenance are considered its positive qualities, but when choosing low-quality material, the owner may have problems. The most common is the deformation of the floor covering. What to do if the laminate is swollen depends on the reasons for the situation.
Improper use and care
Caring for this flooring differs from the rest only in that it cannot be filled with large amounts of water, so when washing the floors, only lightly damp cloths should be used, not wet ones. Frequent wet cleaning with waterlogging of the floor or prolonged exposure to water when it spills or floods can easily lead to floor deformation. If the laminate is swollenfrom water, then, depending on the area of the affected area, individual parts or the entire floor may require replacement. The latter option refers to the owners who, when buying, decided to save money and purchased a cheap laminate. The low cost of the material only indicates its insufficient quality and should not be attractive when choosing a floor covering for a long service life. The surface of the base under the laminate can also be of poor quality, which can also lead to swelling. At the same time, regardless of the choice of the main floor covering, the entire floor will have to be disassembled and re-layed, completely replacing the substrate.
Thus, choosing quality materials for the floor will help prevent further costs or at least reduce them. Some expensive brands are even able to fully recover from getting wet without needing to be replaced.
Incorrect styling
If, after buying and laying a good coating, the laminate swells after a while, the reasons may be in its wrong flooring. The fact is that the laminate must "breathe" and for this it needs special compensation gaps around the perimeter. They are needed to provide a buffer zone for the material to expand when heated or humid. These gaps, as a rule, are hidden under the skirting boards, therefore they do not carry any decorative load, because for the free movement of the laminate, it is enough to leave approximately one centimeter from each wall. For the same reason of the need for free movement, thisthe flooring cannot be fixed to the floor, the laminate must simply lie on the substrate and be connected to each other with locks.
Eliminating water exposure
If the laminate is swollen, how to fix the effects of water? First of all, you should carefully remove the entire floor covering up to and around the deformed element, then leave it for a while so that the moisture that has fallen on the substrate can dry completely. The beginning of work is carried out by removing the part of the plinth that is closest to the swollen element.
After this:
- floor elements are removed one by one;
- surface drying;
- deformed elements are replaced by new ones;
- the whole structure is assembled again.
Old floor
What should I do if the laminate that was installed a long time ago is swollen, and it is no longer possible to buy the same elements? Ideally, this situation should be prevented and when laying the flooring, leave a few elements for possible future repairs. If this was not done at the time, then any element from the coating used, which is laid under the furniture, can be taken for replacement. It will be possible to replace the taken part with any shade, because it will not be visible, the main thing is that the new purchased element has the same locks and fits the size of the flooring used.
Waste savings
This is how you can characterize a cheap laminate, because over time it will have to be replaced completely, even if there are no deformations. The fact,that low-quality materials already have a short service life, and with additional exposure to external factors, the entire coating is destroyed almost immediately, and it makes no sense to buy or replace only part of the flooring, since the rest of the elements will also soon become unusable.
Solving the problem of improper installation
How to repair a swollen laminate if it has not been exposed to moisture? The reason in this case is incorrect installation. and it can be corrected by giving the structure greater mobility. To do this, remove all weighting objects from the floor covering, that is, completely free the room from furniture and remove all skirting boards around the perimeter of the room.
After completing all the preparatory work, you should:
- mark the junction of the wall and the laminate;
- cut off the resting parts, providing a compensation gap around the entire perimeter;
- put the baseboard in place.
After the work done, the flooring should be given time to level out on its own and only then load the room with furniture again. If the seams of the laminate are swollen, and nothing touches the walls, then you should pay attention to the pipes coming out from under the floor. If there are any, the gap between them and the coating must also be left at 10-15 mm. The main thing is the decorative filling of the room, so that the gaps left are not visible thanks to the skirting boards. The main point here is that the skirting boards themselves should be attached exclusively to the walls, and not to the laminate. If there are fixtures in the room fordoors, their installation is allowed directly on the flooring.
Problem warning
When the laminate is swollen, how to fix the problem? It is always more difficult to do this than to prevent its occurrence. To avoid this misunderstanding, even before the laying work begins, enough time and money should be devoted to the purchase of quality materials - both for preparing the base and for the laminate itself. The main role in the choice should be played not by the cost, but by the quality of the products and positive reviews about this brand. Also, during installation, it is necessary to pay attention to the waterproofing of the floor and, if necessary, glue all the joints of the elements with special glue when laying.
In addition, in order not to think in the future what to do if the laminate is swollen, you should:
- do not wet the flooring too much while cleaning;
- periodically polish the floor with special products;
- follow all operating rules.
Moisture protection
Even at the stage of laying the flooring, it is possible to provide the laminate with a certain protection against water. To do this, after its installation, it is necessary to treat the surface of the coating with special wax. The main thing is to apply it only on cracks and joints, avoiding hitting a smooth surface, otherwise the floor will be too slippery. In any case, the cracks are pre-cleaned, and after waxing, they are carefully polished. For the best effect, you should use a polishing machine, but you can work manually. It is important that afterAfter polishing, there are no traces of wax left on the surface of the laminate, so the procedure is carried out several times. The last polishing should be done no earlier than a few hours after application, and the full operation of the floor is allowed after another 12 hours. Since wax can release toxic substances into the atmosphere, all work should be carried out only in a protective mask or respirator.
Conclusion
Now what to do if the laminate is swollen is understandable, and there is no need to call for this master, who will additionally take money for his work. Of course, it is better to prevent any problem and protect your flooring from possible deformation in the future, so you should study all the rules for the operation of the laminate and strictly follow them. But be that as it may, it is best to immediately buy expensive material to avoid problems in the future.
