Problems arising with a laminate and ways to solve them in questions and answers
- Why are all the joints of the laminate visible, as if cleft?
- Can the laminate be varnished to protect the surface from damage and give a higher gloss?
- The laid laminate is swollen - what to do?
- Laminate went in a wave - what is the reason?
- How to remove whitewash stains on a laminate?
- Why does the new laminate have a rough surface?
Why are all the joints of the laminate visible, as if cleft?
If the base on which the laminate is laid is even, and there is no gap between the joints, then most likely the matter is in the laminate. Some manufacturers have problems with the geometry of the boards. This is especially true for some Chinese manufacturers who produce their products on obsolete equipment. I understand what you are talking about, but I met this on a laminate that had been lying for a long time. It seems that the board is even and there is no gap, but there where there is no convergence, there you have it.
Can the laminate be varnished to protect the surface from damage and give a higher gloss?
I do not recommend categorically laminating the laminate floor. I will explain why. As you know, the floors during the operation of the room are constantly experiencing certain loads. In some part of the room this is a static load, in some dynamic. In places where constant dynamic loading acts on the floor (walkways, corridors), the laminate floor begins to gradually sag. About one to two millimeters. Just the thickness of the special substrate, which is installed to improve the operational characteristics of the laminate and extend its service life.
Lacquer, when applied to the surface of the laminate, penetrates the joints between the laminate boards and acquires significant rigidity after drying. As a result, under constant load, the laminate begins to sag and, at the joints, the lacquer coating begins to crack. After a couple of weeks, the varnish starts to bulge, which leads to subsequent exfoliation and peeling. The further process of destruction of the varnish coating will take place very quickly, since the floors are constantly washed and give in to other negative influences.
What kind of floors will have, I think it is quite possible to imagine. I hope this information will be useful to you.
The laid laminate is swollen - what to do?
Do not worry ahead of time. First you need to set the source of the deformation. And if the laminate is swollen, then you should decide what to do only after finding out the cause of the swelling. There may be several, more precisely, three. Let's consider each of them.
The first reason is a puddle on the floor
What to do if the laminate was swollen from the water, and after that lay for a long time? If the laminate swells as a result of getting wet, you must carefully remove the floorboards in this place. Usually underneath is water. Dry the floor and change the backing. Some wet boards will have to be replaced completely. As a rule, such actions are quite enough.
The second reason - there is too little space between the laminate and the wall
If it is clear that only the edges of the floorboards and the joints between them are bloated, then it becomes clear why the laminate is raised. The gap between the floor and the wall is too narrow, or simply absent and needs to be increased. To do this, remove the baseboard and cut the extreme boards. In general, such mistakes are made by inexperienced masters; for more details on laying laminate, see the article: How to lay a laminate step by step instructions.
Important: between the laminate and the wall we leave at least 1 or 1.5 cm. We close this gap with the baseboard.
Reason Three - Poor Laminate Quality
If suspiciously cheap material is bought on the market, then it is entirely possible that it is deformed over time.And then, figuring out why the laminate was swollen, you have to blame only yourself. After all, high-quality boards will not bend when heated or when wet. By the way, in wet rooms it is better to use a moisture resistant laminate. Let more expensive, but more reliable.
Laminate went in a wave - what is the reason?
If there are gaps between the laminate flooring and the wall, the cause may be poor material quality or moisture. This may be the absence of a waterproofing film, then the laminate is able to stretch moisture even from a concrete floor. Deformation from a commonplace spill of water on the floor surface is also possible. The room may be too wet.
If the cause of deformation lies in humidity, it is necessary to dismantle the curved panels, wipe the floor under them dry, and if necessary replace the substrate. Put deformed laminate boards overnight under load. If after 10-15 hours they do not align, replace with new ones.
How to remove whitewash stains on a laminate?
Judging by the issue, the spots could remain from gypsum plaster, lime whitewash or from water-based paint. In all three cases, we are talking about the penetration of microparticles into the relief of a rough surface.
Of the household products that can be used to clean the laminate are:
- soap solution
- White Spirit,
- acetone,
- wiper,
- washing powder
- ammonia.
When cleaning the laminate, the use of abrasive cleaners should be avoided, but you can wipe off the stain with clerical gum. Of the special cleaning and care products, you can take, for example, HG.
Why does the new laminate have a rough surface?
The top coating of the laminate board determines the class of the laminate by abrasion, and therefore by durability. The coating can be anti-skid (ribbed, rough) and smooth (glossy). However, they do not mix in one collection. Perhaps in the store unscrupulous managers sold you a laminate with a similar pattern, but of different types. This could be determined only by marking on the package. In addition, even a rough surface only has a relief, not splinters, which suggests a defective product.
Woodstyle laminate reviews can be read here. They are quite diverse, this is due to the fact that the company has many production facilities located both in Europe and in Russia and China. Perhaps you came across a marriage from a Chinese or Russian manufacturer. In any case, you need to take a sales receipt and contact the seller for a warranty card, and then with a claim on the quality of the goods. Without a warranty card and a purchase receipt, nothing can be proved.