Why does my laminate floor feel spongy?

Laminate flooring is known for its tough and durable properties – however, sometimes problems such as dipping, bulging or soft spots can occur, making your laminate flooring feel spongy. 

This guide will look at what causes spongy laminate flooring and what you can do to prevent your laminate floor from feeling spongy in the first place. From laminate floor soft spots to water and expansion issues, we’ll take a closer look to help you resolve them.

In this guide:

• What causes spongy laminate flooring?
• Uneven subfloor issue
• Underlay issue
• Expansion gap issue
• Water damage
• How to prevent your laminate floor from feeling spongy

Uneven subfloor issue

If your new laminate floor feels spongy when you walk over it, it could be an issue with your subfloor. When your laminate flooring was installed, your subfloor should have been checked to ensure it was even, dry, and clean.

Laminate flooring is quite thin, so any unevenness in the subfloor will eventually begin to show as the floor settles into position. The spongy effect can be caused by a dip in the subfloor, which can cause an air gap underneath the laminate flooring.

An uneven subfloor is most likely to be the culprit if your laminate floor feels spongy but the issue only occurs in specific areas, especially if you can rule out causes such as water damage if the flooring is newly installed. Be particularly suspicious if the trouble spot looks normal to the eye, without lumps or bumps, only flexing underfoot when you tread on it directly.

How to fix an uneven subfloor issue

A professional contractor can smooth out an uneven subfloor. We wouldn’t recommend trying it yourself – there are too many different types of subfloor, all of which require different approaches depending on the issue at hand!

Underlay issue

Underlay is laid over the subfloor before placing the laminate flooring, to help with sound absorption and impact on the boards. However, when you start to feel that dreaded spongy feeling, it could mean that there’s a problem with your underlay. 

The most common way that underlay can cause spongy laminate flooring is when the wrong type has been used. For example, carpet underlay is much thicker and softer than laminate underlay, which can cause an unwanted spongy feeling. Creases or overlaps in the underlay can also cause unevenness underneath the laminate boards. 

How to fix an underlay issue

Unfortunately, this type of issue means that you have to take up all your laminate flooring. You’ll either need to correct the alignment of the underlay or replace the underlay itself before reinstalling your laminate boards on top again. Again, we would recommend arranging a professional to do this to minimise the possibility of damaging your laminate flooring.

Expansion gap issue

Laminate flooring needs room to expand and contract, to “breathe” with temperature and humidity changes. When your laminate flooring was fitted, there should have been an expansion gap left around the edges of the entire room, up to half an inch in most cases. Without this gap, there’s nowhere for any expansion in the laminate boards to go, so it’s forced upwards, causing bubbles, shifting and instability underfoot. 

To tell if this is the issue you’re facing, step on the bulging/spongy board and see if the problem travels across the boards in a wave, as if rippling as you walk. This means that the problem is causing the pressure to shift between boards because there isn’t sufficient release at the edges. 

How to fix an expansion gap issue

If this is the problem, you can create the missing expansion gap by trimming off a little of the laminate around the perimeter of the room. As this doesn’t require the laminate itself to be taken up, it may be possible to do this yourself if you have the right tools (i.e. safety equipment and a multi-tool with a circular blade).

However, for your safety and the benefit of your laminate flooring, we’d strongly advise calling in a professional instead. Any skirting boards or scotia will have to be removed and re-installed after you’re done, which can damage both the woodwork itself and your plaster.

Water damage

If your new laminate floor feels spongy or squishy, this can sometimes be a sign of water damage, either to the boards themselves or the subfloor. This is caused by one of three things:

1. Fitting laminate in a room where there's a lot of moisture, like a bathroom, kitchen or utility room
2. Using too much water on the laminate to clean it, such as using a sopping wet mop or steam mop, which damages the wooden core of the laminate boards
3. By circumstances beyond your control, such as burst pipes or flooding  

It’s best to look after your laminate flooring by only using very slightly damp mops or cloths to clean it. Another way to prevent water damage is by making sure you choose a water resistant option, such as Quick-Step laminate. You can find more information on how to keep your laminate flooring in great condition for longer in our laminate flooring care guide.

How to fix a water damage issue

Unfortunately, damaged boards need to be replaced, as not all types of laminate flooring are water resistant. They can't be used again as they won’t be strong enough to act as safe and solid flooring.

The priority is to address the cause of your water damage – whether by fixing a burst pipe or installing a new moisture barrier under your laminate boards. You’ll need to ensure that your subfloor and joists are not damaged as this is integral to building a new floor.

This work is best left to a professional team to ensure that the structural integrity of your home and floor are not compromised. If you think your spongy laminate flooring could be due to water damage, read our guide on how to find out if your flooring needs replacing.

How to prevent your laminate floor from feeling spongy

Laminate flooring should feel sturdy and durable – at least if you buy good quality laminate flooring, like those available at Tapi! It should never feel spongy, so the best way to avoid laminate floor soft spots is to begin by buying good quality laminate and using professional installation methods. 

• Once you have your laminate flooring, the best way to prevent it from going spongy is to ensure that your subfloor is checked for suitability first.
• Then, it’s equally important that the laminate is installed correctly. Here at Tapi, our flooring installation experts can pop by for a free home visit to check out the suitability of your subfloor for laminate flooring. 
• You can also keep your floors in great condition and avoid spongy laminate flooring by maintaining it correctly. Remember – don’t oversaturate your laminate floors during cleaning! 

Got a different issue with your laminate flooring? We’ve got you covered. Explore our guides on why your laminate flooring feels bouncy or why your laminate boards are lifting to learn more.

Alternatively, if you’re thinking of shaking up your look, check out our amazing range of laminate flooring options today. Get peace of mind that your flooring will be of great quality and installed professionally, so you can enjoy your floors for years to come.