Why is my laminate flooring lifting?

You can find laminate flooring in lots of homes these days, and it’s little wonder why! It’s durable, easy to maintain, beautiful, and reasonably priced. It also has a reputation for being easy to install yourself. However, sometimes problems can occur – such as your laminate flooring lifting at the edges or even lifting in the middle. Mistakes during installation are one possible cause, but there are several other reasons why this issue might appear.

We’re here to take you through the different issues that can cause laminate flooring to lift. From how to fix lifting laminate flooring to how to prevent it from happening in the first place, we’ll offer some tips and advice on how to take care of your floors. 

In this guide:

• Why is my laminate floor lifting?
• How to fix laminate flooring that is lifting 
• How to stop laminate flooring from lifting

Why is my laminate floor lifting?

When we discuss laminate flooring ‘lifting’, we mean that the boards rise from the subfloor and push against each other in peaks, as if something has pushed them from underneath. It might show as gaps between the planks, or feel bouncy or make a noise underfoot.

Your laminate flooring shouldn’t be lifting in any way, either at the edges or in the middle of the room. This should not be dismissed, as it’s often a warning sign that something is wrong underneath the surface. If you notice this problem, it needs to be sorted for your flooring to remain safe and stable.

1. Uneven subfloors

Laminate flooring is designed to sit or ‘float’ above your subfloor, because the pieces interlock in a ‘click and lock’ method without glue or nails. If you have any issues with your subfloor, such as unevenness, a blockage, or other imperfections, this can affect the stability of the laminate’s locking mechanism.

Another sign that uneven subfloors could be the cause of your problem is if your flooring feels bouncy or spongy. You can find guides on ‘Why is my laminate flooring bouncy’ and ‘Why does my laminate flooring feel spongy’ if you think this could be your issue.

2. Lack of expansion gaps

When installing laminate flooring, an expansion gap must be left around the perimeter of the room. This allows the laminate boards to swell and contract when the temperature climbs or drops. Without it, the boards will try to expand beyond the available space, leading to the laminate floor lifting in the middle or at the edges, depending on where the pressure builds up.

3. Incorrect installation

We talk a lot about laminate flooring needing time to acclimate to a room before it’s fitted to reduce bounce, movement, and damage. If you want your flooring to stay put, you need to allow the boards time to swell and contract as they get used to the temperature and moisture levels in a room. If you try to put the boards in too early, they’ll lift as they move, and this can be tricky to resolve.

Another issue that could cause laminate floor lifting is poor underlay positioning. Overlapping or incorrect underlay can also prevent laminate boards from lying flat.

4. Excess moisture

Wood flooring products don’t react well to lots of moisture, whether it’s burst pipes, overflowing sinks and baths, or large liquid spills. Even poor maintenance can lead to your laminate flooring lifting – such as using too much water on the laminate to clean it or using a sopping wet mop or steam mop, which damages the wooden core of the laminate boards. The moisture causes the wooden core in the laminate boards to swell, and this can cause the laminate flooring to bubble and lift.

To help avoid your laminate flooring lifting due to water damage, it’s best practice to clean it by only using slightly damp (almost dry) mops or microfibre cloths. We’ve got plenty more information on how to keep your laminate flooring in great condition for longer in our laminate flooring care guide.

How to fix laminate flooring that is lifting 

Our top recommendations for how to fix laminate flooring that’s lifting are as follows:

1. Get a trusted expert to help you assess and fix the problem

The easiest and most efficient way to fix lifting laminate flooring is to get a trusted expert to help. They can quickly assess the cause of the damage and let you know what you’ll need to do to resolve it. It’s best to call a professional if you notice any of the following serious issues:

• Uneven flooring and laminate buckling where the subfloor could be at fault
• Laminate lifting across a large area of flooring
• Major water damage or mould growth

We recommend calling in a trusted expert to level out an uneven subfloor rather than attempting to do it yourself. They’ll know how to fix lifting laminate flooring based on your type of subfloor and the exact nature of the problem. Levelling out your subfloor often takes a high level of precision, and getting it wrong could be costly!

Perhaps your flooring was recently installed by professional fitters and you’re already noticing lifting issues. If so, reach out to them and explain the problems you’ve found. Make sure to take photos of the issues and find out if you can request a repair.

2. Trim the expansion gap around the room

If the expansion gap is too small or non-existent, trimming away a thin strip of laminate all around the edges of the room will create the 7-10mm space you need. If you have the right tools, you might be able to do this yourself. You would need safety equipment and a multi-tool with a circular blade.

Still, it’s often wiser to opt for a professional, as your skirting boards may have to be removed and reinstalled, which could damage your plaster, or the skirting boards themselves.

3. Check your underlay is fitted correctly

If your underlay is at fault, there’s only one solution, and that’s bringing up all your laminate flooring and relaying your underlay correctly. Whether this means buying the correct underlay to cover any imperfections on your subfloor or ensuring that it’s laid properly, this should help your flooring lie smoothly and reduce the chances of laminate flooring lifting again.

4. Fix any issues that might be causing water damage to your planks

If your laminate flooring has taken on too much moisture and is warping out of shape, the first step is to address the cause of the damage – fixing any leaking pipes or other sources of damp. Unfortunately, the affected laminate boards will need to be replaced. This is why it’s often a good idea to keep a selection of spare planks left over from your initial installation – if you have space in your loft or cupboards, that is.

You can always browse Tapi’s product range or make an appointment with one of our floorologists to explore your options. If you think your laminate is too damaged or has seen better days, take a look at our guide on how to tell if you need to replace your flooring.

How do you flatten raised laminate flooring?

You can weigh down and roll laminate planks as much as you like, but if there’s an underlying issue, this will need to be resolved before you can flatten your flooring for good. If you’re dealing with a subfloor, underlay or expansion gap issue and your planks aren’t damaged, you should be able to carefully remove them to fix the issue underneath. Then, once the issue is fixed, you can reinstall your original planks one by one.

How to stop laminate flooring from lifting

From the moment you bring it home, taking the correct steps to care for your laminate flooring can make all the difference to keep it in the great condition it arrived in. To ensure that your floors don’t shift, here are our top tips on how to stop laminate floor lifting before you even install it:

1. Buy great quality laminate boards and have them fitted professionally.
2. Always check the subfloor for unevenness or moisture issues before installing your flooring.
3. Don’t buy cheap underlay – this is what’ll protect your laminate flooring from minor anomalies on the subfloor and keep both the laminate and the subfloor from damaging each other. 
4. Allow the laminate floors to acclimatise to the atmospheric conditions of your room for a few days before you begin to lay them. Over time, your flooring won’t expand and contract as much with temperature changes, thanks to this acclimation period.
5. Avoid water spills or accidents as much as possible – wipe up any spills as soon as they occur, never use a sodden or steam mop on your laminate floors and regularly check your water pressure levels and pipes to avoid mishaps.

To help you get off to the right start, learn more about how to acclimatise your laminate flooring with our guide. That way, you can enjoy your beautiful laminate flooring for years to come!

If you find that your laminate flooring is lifting beyond repair, you can always come down to your local Tapi store to check out our range of solid, dependable, and beautiful laminate styles, including our own collections and top laminate brands such as Quick-Step. Browse our laminate flooring buying guide to find inspiration today.

You can also explore our other guides on laminate, vinyl, and carpet if you need help with any other flooring problems or inspiration on our Ideas Hub.