Courtesy of Lumber Liquidators

Peaking
Peaking refers to a situation in which the laminate floorboards push up against each other, resulting in high points at the joints. There are a number of reasons why this can happen. The most common cause of peaking is a lack of expansion space between the laminate floor and the walls around the perimeter of the installation, or a lack of expansion space between the laminate floor and laminate moldings. This situation can be easily remedied. Follow the peaking board perpendicular to the wall or molding, remove the necessary molding — if against the wall, remove the baseboard and cut out a section or enough of the laminate board that meets the wall or molding that will give the floor more space to expand. The peaking will not dissipate immediately, however; it may be necessary to place a weighted object on the peaking areas for a period of time.

Another reason for peaking could be due to the fact that the moldings in the doorways or around the perimeter of the room have been fixed/nailed to the floor, thus preventing the floor from expanding. Remember that a laminate floor is a floating floor and must not be fixed to the subfloor or moldings at any point as this will not allow the floor to expand and contract, as these floors naturally do.

Peaking can also arise due to the fact that a continuous area of flooring is too long in one direction without a center "T" molding expansion joint to relieve the pressure. This will generally happen in areas where the floor runs for more than 27 feet in any direction; this number differs per manufacturer.

Buckling or Warping
Buckling or warping is almost always a result of moisture and/or water damage. Laminate flooring is affected by water in a number of ways. High moisture content in the air can sometimes lead to buckling or warping. Excessive water on the surface of the floor can also lead to buckling or warping. For this reason, it is important never to wet-mop a laminate floor. The most common cause of edge-warping or buckling is water or dampness rising from the subfloor in conjunction with the lack of a sufficient moisture barrier.

Buckling or warping can also be a result of inferior product construction. Laminate floor surfaces are laminated under extremely high pressure. For this reason, it is necessary to have a balancing layer on the bottom of the boards. This layer is made up of a rigid material that equalizes the pressure exerted form above.

Gapping
Gapping is not common with laminate flooring. Gapping is a situation in which the laminate flooring boards tend to pull away from one another, resulting in gaps between the boards. This situation will occur if the temperature drops to a point way below what is considered normal (60 to 80 degrees). For this reason, it is very important to acclimate your flooring to the room temperature and conditions of the room in which the laminate is to be installed before installation.

Mold and Mildew
Issues concerning mold and mildew are gaining increased attention from both residential and commercial property owners as well as the public at large. In virtually all situations if there is a mold issue, there is an excessive moisture issue. In order to prevent, control or eradicate mold and mildew, one must first identify, evaluate and eliminate the source of excessive moisture. Prior to removing an existing flooring or installing a new floor or repairing an existing laminate floor, if there are visible indications of mold or mildew or the presence of a strong musty odor in the area where flooring is to be removed or installed, the source of the problem should be identified and corrected.

Expanding
The core (middle section) of a laminate floor plank is made from high-density fiberboard (HDF). However, most laminate cores are treated with water-repellent chemicals. If your flooring is water damaged, your only remedy is to replace the affected boards.