How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing

Laminate flooring is the most common method to cover your floor. Because it looks very attractive and makes people feel comfortable. It is made of various laminate boards. But some problems can lead your laminate floor towards swollenness and bubbles.

Laminate Flooring Without Replacing

Laminate floor

The laminate floor is easy to install, and it will be suitable in high-traffic areas as it will not scratch easily. But its repairing is not easy as usual; it needs to redo the whole floor.

Hardwood floor

The hardwood floor is scratchable, and it is not easy to install. This type of flooring needs more money as compared to laminate floors. But it is good for babies and to maintain the air quality of the home.

Material of laminate

Laminate flooring is made of little wood particles and photographic applique, and some fiberboard pieces under the protective layer. These tiny small particles are combined at very high pressure and so that they make a board shape with a very catchy upper layer.

Reasons for swelling

The major reason for that cause the swollen laminate flooring is its exposure to water or humidity. This water can come from different sources. High moisture is also a common reason behind this issue.

Damped floor

The wet and damped floor is another reason for the swelling of the laminate floor. If your main lower floor is damped or due to external water sources, the lower floor is very humid. Then you will face this issue.

Why floor swollen

Firstly these issues arise when the laminate floor is exposed to water or humidity. A humid environment or water can produce some bubbles or an unstable situation in your floor covering. To avoid this issue, always be very careful and cautious.

Solutions

If you think to change the floor covering every time, it would be very costly. Moreover, few methods can help you in solving your laminate flooring issues. All the methods only work if they are removing the water and humidity from the floor.

Methods

There are a few common methods to solve this problem. The first choice method is to change the pieces of the floor that are showing swollen condition. To do so, you need some same pieces of the laminate floor to maintain the floor’s style. After this, some measures can help you better for perfection.

Initial identification

Identifying all the points of the floor that are affected is a critical part of this technique. All the parts should be recognized very carefully. Because if some humid part is left behind, then this can cause problems in the future. You can observe all the damaged areas easily.

Water sources elimination

The second step should be the identification of the source of water or humidity. Once you have got the point that is causing this problem, try to get rid of all the water sources to avoid this swollen problem. Tools that can eradicate the humidity and wet environment from the spot should be used for this purpose.

Specific tools

Now, the game begins as there are few special tools for the repair of the swollen floor. These tools usually include adhesive material, glasses for safety, hammer, measuring tape, utility knife, putty knife, etc.

Having the same replacement

After having tools, one of the most important things will make you think deeply. That is the new piece of laminate flooring with the same design and finish as the original flooring. That will replace the swollen parts.

So to avoid any worrying situation, always buy some extra pieces of laminate flooring initially. So that the look can be maintained constantly

Technique

Now, pull up the damaged plank with the help of the right tool. Always remove the whole plank even if a little part is damaged because it can create future problems. While removing a damaged board, be careful.

Because the healthy board is damaged mistakenly, then it should also need replacement.

Hiring a professional

Suppose you don’t know about laminate floors. Then it is better to choose a professional person with a healthy background in this field. After hiring a professional, you can feel relaxed because you will get a perfect replacement floor.

Professional skill required

Now replace the damaged boards very carefully using the adhesive material properly. This installation will make clear how professional you are. Always try to follow the pattern of the sheet so that the previous design will remain intact.

Give some time to settle

The laminate floor takes some to settle on your subfloor. So after repairing your floor try to give some time to the floor so that it can bear the weight and traffic. It usually takes 72 hours to dry.

Second method optional

Another method to deal with a swollen flooring issue is to use some equipment or machine that dries the water with its hot air. This method is rarely used to fix the swelling laminate flooring problems.

Drying machine required

For this method, you need the exact drier machine with some special skills of operation. It would help if you went to every single joint of planks to clear the floor from the humidity. It will take a lot of time and a comparatively less reliable method to eliminate this problem.

How To Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing

Will hairdryer work

No, the hairdryer will not work because it has a very low capacity to dry the moisture. Also, the warm air can damage the glue and the boards of the laminate floor. So it is not recommended to use a hairdryer for this purpose.

Water damaged laminate floor

Well, if your floor is often affected by the water, then these techniques will not work for you. Or if you are unable to make sure of water elimination in the future. Then also, these techniques will be useless. To deal with these kinds of situations, it is better to find some other floor coverings that are more water-resistant.

Reference

Flooring Options

Prevent Floor Damage