How To Stop Laminate Flooring From Bubbling

Laminate flooring is a hugely popular choice in homes and commercial spaces. This is all down to its neat, stylish appearance, alongside the durability that it offers, at an affordable price point. 

Laminate is a fantastic, low maintenance and cost-effective alternative to hardwood flooring and carpets. 

When it is installed correctly, by a professional flooring installer like Floor Giants, laminate flooring should continue looking flawless for many years to come. 

However, a low quality installation can lead to the laminate encountering performance issues over time. 

Below, we’ll share our guide to some of the most common laminate flooring issues - bubbling, peeling, curing and lifting - and explain how you can stop them occurring in your flooring. 

 

What are the benefits of laminate flooring?

The main benefits of opting for laminate flooring include: 

  • Affordability, and great cost-effectiveness (low upfront cost, and a long predicted lifespan)

  • High durability 

  • Hard-wearing, with high scratch-resistance, stain-resistance, and low risk of denting 

  • Easy to clean 

  • Low maintenance requirements 

  • Quick and easy to install

  • Fade-resistant

  • Moisture-resistant

  • Soft, warm and comfortable underfoot

  • Compatible with underfloor heating systems

  • Available in a huge range of different designs, colours, patterns and styles

  • Offers realistic finishes to replicate other materials (including wood, stone and tiles) 

 

What causes laminate flooring to bubble, peel, curl or lift?

In the majority of cases, laminate is an extremely reliable type of flooring. 

However, in some instances, issues can develop, with the main problems being:

  • Bubbling

  • Peeling

  • Curling at the edges

  • Lifting or warping of the boards

Generally speaking, these issues are a result of either poor-quality materials, poorly-fitting flooring, or incorrect installation. 

 

These problems could be caused by: 

  • Exposure to moisture - If laminate flooring is exposed to moisture, then the high-density fibreboard can start to absorb water, resulting in swelling. This can result in bubbles, or the flooring starting to lift. 

  • Exposure to sunlight and heat - High temperatures can also result in these issues, as it causes the laminate boards (especially if they are of a lower quality) to expand at a faster rate. 

  • Poor-quality laminate - Lower quality laminates often lack proper water resistance, and are a lot less durable, making these issues more likely to occur.

  • Incorrect installation - Mistakes during the installation process can lead to these issues developing over time. For example, laminate flooring is fitted with a small expansion gap around its edges (to allow for some movement to occur). Without this, the flooring can buckle and lift when it expands. Other common causes of these issues are uneven subfloors, unprepared subfloors, the wrong choice of underlay, and faulty sealing. 

  • Heavy impact - As this can damage the flooring’s protective layer, making these types of damage more likely to occur. This layer can also be damaged by dragging heavy furniture, for example. 

 

How can you prevent laminate flooring issues?

Thankfully, these issues are largely preventable. 

Firstly, you will need to make sure that you choose a trusted, reputable and skilled installer for your laminate flooring. They will install your flooring with care and precision, ensuring that there is minimal risk of any of these faults arising. 

This includes using the correct underlay for your specific choice of flooring, ensuring your subfloors are properly prepared, and leaving appropriate expansion gaps around the perimeter of your flooring. 

They will also be able to recommend a high quality laminate flooring, which will achieve the right level of durability. We also advise that you look for a moisture-resistant laminate, particularly if you are installing the flooring in moist areas (e.g. kitchens or bathrooms), and areas that are prone to spills or near entrance points to the property (e.g. hallways). 

From there, the most effective ways to protect your investment are: 

  • Use felt pads under any heavy items of furniture 

  • Clean up any spills as quickly as possible 

  • Keep moisture-prone rooms and areas well-ventilated 

 

Why Choose Floor Giants?


At Floor Giants, we are one of the UK’s leading flooring suppliers, with a huge range of premium quality laminate flooring, in a wide variety of styles, designs, colours and final finishes. 

We provide expert advice, helping you find the best fit laminate flooring for your specific property. Then, our skilled team of specialists also offer a professional fitting service, ensuring your flooring is finished to the highest standard, and effectively preventing these frustrating issues. 

To explore our full range of laminate flooring, or to find out more about our fitting service, don’t hesitate to get in touch.