Why Is My Flooring Lifting, Bouncing, or Separating ?

If you are asking this question, then you likely have a failed floor. Let’s look at the reasons why this could happen.

Why is my flooring lifting or bouncing?

When we talk about flooring 'lifting' or 'bouncing', we mean that the boards are moving vertically from the subfloor due to horizontal movement. The boards push against each other in peaks, as if something is pushing them from beneath. This would present itself as a bounce in the flooring. Whilst it is a common fault, it is not normal for flooring to lift or bounce in any way, either at the edges or in the middle of the room. This issue should not be ignored, as it is often an early warning sign that something is wrong underneath the surface and needs to be addressed to ensure your flooring remains safe and stable.

• Flooring such as laminates is designed to float on your subfloor, without glue or nails fixing them in place. When there is an issue with your subfloor, such as unevenness or other imperfections, it will affect the stability of the flooring, often making it seem like it is peaking or lifting from the subfloor. Your flooring may feel bouncy or spongy.

• When installing flooring, an expansion gap must be left around the perimeter of the room and all fixed and immovable objects (this would even include kitchen islands). This allows the flooring to expand and contract when the temperature and humidity rise or fall. Without it, the boards will try to expand until they hit the wall or immovable object, leading to the floor lifting at its weakest points or at the edges, depending on where the pressure builds up.

• There is an emphasis on flooring needing time to acclimatise to a room before it is fitted to reduce bounce, movement, and damage. You need to allow the boards time to swell and contract as they acclimate to the temperature and moisture levels in the room. Your home is unlikely to be the same temperature or humidity as a warehouse, so this is an important step that shouldn’t be ignored. If you or your fitter try to fit the floor too early, it will lift as it expands and contracts, and this could void any existing warranty.
• Another issue that could cause a floor to lift is poor underlay positioning. Overlapping or incorrect underlay can prevent boards from lying flat. The only solution is to uplift your laminate flooring and reinstall the underlay correctly.

• Wood is a naturally hygroscopic product, meaning that whenever it comes into contact with moisture of any kind, it soaks it up. All wood-based flooring products do not react well to large amounts of moisture, whether it’s from burst pipes, overflowing basins and baths, or significant liquid spills.
• It is also important to take care when cleaning or maintaining your laminate flooring. Using too much water or a soaking wet or steam mop will cause issues. The moisture causes the wood to expand as it absorbs it, and it contracts as the moisture leaves. This can cause laminate flooring to bubble and lift.
• It is best practice to look after your laminate flooring by only using slightly damp or dry mops or cloths to clean it.
• If your flooring has taken on too much moisture and has begun to warp out of shape, the first step is to address the cause of the damage. Unfortunately, the affected flooring will need to be refinished or replaced.

• Buy high-quality laminate boards and have them professionally fitted.
• Always check the subfloor for flatness or moisture issues before installing your flooring.
• Do not buy cheap underlay or adhesive, as this is the only level of protection your flooring has from minor anomalies and subfloor moisture. It also helps keep the floor covering and the subfloor from damaging each other.
• Allow the floors to acclimatise to the room's atmospheric conditions for a few days before installation. Over time, your flooring will not expand and contract as much with temperature changes, thanks to this acclimation period.
• Avoid water spills or accidents – wipe up any spills as soon as they occur, never use a soaking or steam mop on your laminate floors, and regularly check your water pressure levels and pipes to avoid mishaps.