Can Movement Cause Floating Laminate Floors to Buckle?

Movement

• The lack of movement can cause the laminate flooring to buckle. Laminate needs to expand and contract when the temperatures and humidity in the room change. When you install laminate flooring, you must leave a 1/4-inch gap between the wall and the laminate so the planks can expand and contract as needed.

Molding

• When you place molding around the room to cover the 1/4-inch gap between the wall and the laminate, you must not hinder the expansion and contraction of the laminate, by blocking the gap or the floor will buckle. The molding is installed so that the bottom of the molding sits above the top of the laminate and not directly on the laminate. If it does, it will stop the flooring from expanding and contracting.

Moisture

• Laminate flooring applied over concrete at ground level or below ground level must have a moisture barrier underlayment to prevent moisture from reaching the backside of the laminate. Not only will moisture cause mold and mildew, it can cause the flooring to buckle. If standing water on the laminate would get down between the seams of the laminate planks, it can cause the floor to buckle.

Heavy Objects

• If you must move heavy objects across a laminate floor, you should lay down plywood over the laminate so when you move the heavy object, such as a refrigerator, the plywood will support the weight of the unit and protect the floor from scratching. The weight can cause the floor to buckle. Heavy items placed in the laminate flooring that prevents the flooring from contracting and expanding will also cause buckling.