Ideal for kitchens, utility spaces and other rooms where dirt and splashes are commonplace, our water resistant flooring can cope with almost anything – from wet wellies, muddy paw prints, to spilt drinks. Read more
Yes, laminate flooring naturally expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. The inner layer acts like natural wood, swelling when humidity is high and shrinking when the air is dry. This is why it’s important to leave an expansion gap for laminate flooring around the edges of the room, to give the boards enough room to move without warping.
If your laminate flooring has been damaged by water, the boards will usually need to be replaced rather than repaired. This is because excess water can damage the wood-based core of your laminate, causing the boards to swell and warp. Before replacing your boards, make sure the source of the water has been addressed to prevent any more issues!
If water gets underneath your laminate flooring, it can seep into the wood-based core of the boards and cause them to swell, buckle and lift. Because laminate is tightly locked together with no airflow, the trapped moisture cannot easily evaporate, damaging the boards beyond repair.
While water resistant and waterproof laminate provide greater protection, spills should still be dried quickly to keep your laminate looking its best.