Although laminate wood flooring is not natural wood, it still needs time to acclimate to your space. The particleboard core of the boards is moisture sensitive and can expand and contract, causing gaps or buckling in your floor. Laminate needs a minimum of 48 hours to acclimate, but a full three days is best.
Laminate flooring is very thin, so any unevenness on the subfloor will eventually begin to show as the floor settles into position – you can find out more about this in our advantages of laminate flooring guide.
Never install your new laminate floor as soon as the cartons arrive at your home. Any new laminate floor product, including Swiss Krono, needs to sit in your house for at least 48 hours in the room it will be installed in order to acclimate or to become accustomed to a new climate or conditions.
wait for the floor to cure
Before you use your new floor or move into the room, make sure the floor is completely cured. Do not walk on the floor for 24 hours after installation. If you do, it will damage the installation, resulting in an uneven floor.
Laminate flooring is designed to be fitted as a floating floor with an expansion gap to be left around the perimeter of the room. Expansion gaps vary in size by product and would be specified by the manufacturer. If the expansion gap is too small this can cause flooring to rise and give the feeling of a bouncy floor.
Using a floor levelling compound can help to even out an uneven subfloor, providing a more stable base for your laminate flooring and reducing bounce. Before applying the floor levelling compound, it is crucial to thoroughly clean the subfloor, removing any debris, dust, or grease that might hinder the adhesion.
Start by drying out the affected area using fans or dehumidifiers. If the swelling is minor, you may be able to fix it by gently tapping the swollen boards back into place using a rubber mallet. However, if the swelling is severe, you may need to replace the damaged boards altogether.
Inadequate expansion gaps can also lead to the floor lifting. As temperature and humidity levels change, laminate floors can expand or contract. Without sufficient expansion gaps left around the room's perimeter during installation, the floor has nowhere to go and may start lifting.
How Long To Acclimate Laminate Flooring? Ensuring that the site is now within the advised parameters, most manufacturers consider a period of 24-72 hrs suitable to acclimate laminate flooring. This means leaving the laminate flooring packs in the room in which they are going to be laid.
Like luxury vinyl, carpet and laminate that is not glued to the subfloor can be walked on immediately. Brands that must be glued down are not ready for furniture for at least 24 hours. Some brands set quickly so they can be walked on right away.
As the laminate acclimates to the humidity and temperature in the room, the fiberboard core becomes accustomed to the environment. Ignoring acclimation can lead to the floor bending, warping, or twisting after installation.
— Moisture and Temperature Fluctuations
The impact of moisture and temperature changes on laminate flooring cannot be overstated. Increased moisture levels can cause laminate floorboards to expand, separate, warp, buckle, or lift. This is particularly problematic in cases of flooding or water leaks within the home.
Buckling or Warping – Laminate flooring is not waterproof. If you fit laminate in wet or moisture-rich areas, the floor can become damaged, often beyond repair.
An uneven subfloor
If the subfloor wasn't perfectly flat when the laminate was laid, this can significantly affect its stability. Laminate flooring is fairly thin, so any imperfections will eventually begin to show. The boards create 'bridges' over dips, which will bend or 'bounce' as you walk across them.
Causes of Bouncy Floors in Your Home
Over Spanned Joists: Joists supporting floors above crawl spaces may be spaced too far apart or be too long, causing excess flexing. Inadequate Support: Insufficient support structures like poorly installed or shifted posts and beams can lead to bouncy floors.
Before walking on it, you should wait at least 24 hours after most laminate flooring installation. A curing period will ensure that laminate flooring settles into place and won't warp.
The average lifespan of laminate flooring ranges from 15 to 25 years. Several factors influence its longevity: Quality: High-quality laminate with a thicker wear layer will outlast budget-friendly options. Installation: Proper installation on a level subfloor ensures greater stability and wear resistance.
Failing to properly acclimate wood flooring may cause excessive expansion, shrinkage, dimensional distortion or structural damage.
Laminate flooring needs a minimum of 48 hours to acclimatise, however, you can leave your flooring up to 72 hours if your manufacturer hasn't provided any instructions and you want to be extra careful that it's had time to get used to the conditions in the room.
No, it's not an illusion. Laminate flooring, while solid at the beginning, can start to feel bouncy for a number of reasons. A big one is an uneven subfloor. If the subfloor has dents or bumps, the laminate won't lay flat, causing that spongy feeling.
The importance of leveling your subfloor
Unevenness can cause planks to flex or gap, leading to an unstable surface that's prone to squeaking and damage. It can also compromise the locking mechanism of laminate planks, causing them to come apart over time.
Moisture Concerns
Being comprised of wood fiberboard, laminate flooring is susceptible to permanent damage if it comes into contact with water for a considerable amount of time. When the proper precautions are taken, however, it can deliver long last performance.
Generally, a gap of 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch is recommended for hardwood flooring, while laminate flooring typically requires a gap of 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch. It's important to note that the expansion gap should be consistent throughout the room, including around obstacles such as doorways, cabinets, and pipes.
Minor bubbles can be fixed by “bursting” them. Place a damp cloth on the bubble and cut a slit on the bubbled area using a sharp knife. Squeeze wood glue into the slit you have opened and press the veneer down. Place a weight overnight so that it is entirely flattened.