Eliminate Bubbles from Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is one of the easiest to install and most inexpensive flooring materials available in the market today. Aside from this, there are many other advantages that laminate flooring can provide including a wide range of finishes, designs, and textures. However, if you do not properly install these flooring materials you might end up with floors that have bubbles in them. Removing bubbles from laminate flooring is quite easy.

Step 1 - Check the Floor

The first order of business is to check the area on your floor where there are bubbles. Bubbling on laminate flooring can be caused by moisture build up under the flooring or when too much tension is present in between the planks. Walk along your laminate floor to check the areas where you feel bubbles present.

Step 2 - Remove the Wall Molding

Once you have identified the area where there are bubbles or the planks where there are bubbles, you need to replace them. To do this, start from the wall molding that is nearest to the damaged laminate flooring. Using a screwdriver or hammer, carefully remove the wall molding. Make sure that the wall molding is undamaged otherwise you have another problem on your hands.

Step 3 - Remove the Floorboards

Once you have removed the wall moldings, you can start removing the flooring or planks that lead up to the damaged one. If you are using the snap and lock type of laminate flooring then this part will be easier. All you need to do is lift the board and slide it out of the other plank. If you are using the glue type of flooring, then you will need to remove all the glued planks carefully by prying the planks up.

Step 4 - Replace the Damaged Laminate Flooring

After you have taken out all the laminate boards leading up to the damaged one, you can then start replacing the damaged part. Make sure you have the same kind of laminate flooring to replace the damaged one, otherwise you will end up with an uneven look on your floor. Just slide and lock the new laminate flooring in place.

Step 5 - Put the Floorboards Back

After you have replaced the damaged laminate flooring, put all the other boards back in their original places, making sure to slide and lock the tongue and groove tightly. Always start from the newly replaced flooring up to the wall area. Put the wall molding back.

Step 6 - Replace Peaked Laminate Floors

If the bubbles are due to peaking, which is when the flooring does not have enough space left at the walls for expansion, then you need to relieve the tension that built up. To do this, remove the wall molding near the damaged area. The gap between the edge of the plank and the wall should be ¼ inch to an inch. If it is not, just cut the plank nearest the molding to create more space to allow the planks to expand properly. Place some weights on the peaked area until it has settled down. Return the wall molding back to its place.