- The only good thing about moisture problems with laminate is that they present themselves early, and if caught soon enough, will not cause serious issues. The earliest sign to look for is shallow bubbling on the surface of the laminate. These bubbles can start out as small as the size of a dime, but if left untreated can grow to several inches long. After the bubbling stage, moisture issues can escalate to warping and eventually cracking of the laminate material.
- The most common culprit of causing moisture problems is heavy water traffic. Whether you have a leaky refrigerator or a large amount of wet foot traffic, limiting the amount of direct moisture that the floor comes in contact with. Any moisture on the floor needs to be mopped up and dried immediately. If you live in a humid area, it will also help to run dehumidifiers periodically to prevent moisture in the air from exacerbating current problems.
- If you have yet to encounter moisture problems, there are several things you can do to prevent these issues in the first place. Keeping the floor clean is paramount, and removing spills as soon as they occur will keep your floor free of problems. Also making sure that your laminate has been treated or "sealed" with water-repellent chemicals after installation is also important, as this gives your flooring a natural defense against moisture issues.
- Unfortunately, sometimes problems stemming from moisture cause enough damage that the floor cannot be treated at home, and a flooring professional will need to be called to fix the problem. If there is massive damage to one of the planks, or you are seeing bubbling or warping across several planks, parts of the laminate floor will need to be replaced. Call a flooring specialist for help matching your current laminate floor color and style and to schedule a repair installation.
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