Laminate flooring is definitely a lot more durable than most other types flooring; laminate really could be considered the toughest of floors. Of course, there are still some issues with even laminate floors, and warping is the main one. So, let's look at warping as it pertains to laminate. A laminated floor that develops a look of something coming from under the house are being affected by peaking. The effect is a bit disturbing. Many people assume that water has somehow gotten under their laminate floor, or that their foundation is cracked, but this is very rarely the case.

The Major Causes Of This Phenomenon

There are a few different reasons that your laminated floor might begin peaking. It's very important to know why this is happening before you begin trying to fix things. Don't just assume that something that caused someone else laminate floors to peak is the reason yours is. Making this kind of assumption can cause you to waste a lot of time and money.

Lack Of Expansion Space Is A Top Cause Of Peaking

Everything expands and contracts, and laminate flooring is certainly no exception. This is why laminated floors are supposed to be installed with space between their edges and the molding. If this space is not available to expand into, the planks will push against each other. Once the pressure is sufficient, the floor will go the only direction that it can: up. If ignored for long enough, the floor will end up with a sort of hump in it, almost like a permanent wave.

Fixed Moldings Will Cause Peaking

Even if there is room to expand, your laminated flooring cannot take advantage of it if the moldings cannot move. This can sometimes be a nightmare to track down if the original installer was not consistent. Since laminate flooring is intended to be floating, which means not attached to either the moldings or the sub-floor, any solid point can cause an issue. Amateur installers will occasionally attach the laminate floor to molding to keep it from moving during install, or simply because they don't know any better.

The Length Of The Boards Can Cause Peaking

This one really depends on the manufacturer of the laminate flooring, and is probably the least likely. When a single board is too long, it can have the same effect as not having enough room to expand. This issue is avoided by never installing any single plank that is longer than is recommended by the manufacturer. If you did not install your floor, however, it can be difficult to find out who the manufacturer of your flooring is. As this generally only happens in situations where there are straight runs of 40 feet or more, you can probably rule this out unless you have a rather large house, or are dealing with a long hallway. However, if you can't find any place where your laminate floor is fixed, then it may be time to start looking for markings on the bottom of planks.

Check out Laminate Floor Facts for more information on everything about laminate floors.