How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing [2023 Guide]

Published by Ahmad Jamal on April 25, 2023

Longevity, durability, and versatility are some of the main aspects you look for in the flooring type you’ll use, but laminate flooring has already been covering such aspects & more.

Unfortunately, even with such important features, accidents can happen and damage can be lethal to your laminate flooring.

Therefore, this CleanersAdvisor guide shall help you know How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing them, as the removing and reinstalling can be quite expensive.

There are multiple types of damages that can be intercepted, but since you’re already reading this guide, then that ship has sailed, and now we’re looking for How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing

But as usual, by the end of this guide, we’ll provide essential tips & precautions to help you avoid failing for the same mistakes once more.

Let’s start by explaining why the laminate flooring gets swollen.

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Why Is Laminate Flooring Swollen

We’re here to discuss why your laminate flooring is swollen, as it’s the main type of damage that we’re trying to fix/ avoid.

Here are the main reasons why the laminate flooring is swollen:

1. Improper Installation

Having your laminate flooring improperly installed means that the positioning and the status of the laminate flooring will hastily respond to temperature changes.

This means that it’ll expand and contract depending on how high or low the temperature gets inside your house.

If it’s not properly installed and doesn’t incorporate the “Expansion Gaps” between the planks, it’ll have zero space for the laminate to respond properly to the temperature changes, and thus suffer damages.

This goes for both the hot and cold temperatures, as both conditions should be put in mind when installing the laminate flooring.

2. Moisture

Laminate Flooring is waterproof, but not water resistant to the highest of levels.

This means that when water gets underneath the laminate floor, moisture can easily form, and this is the main cause of problems afterward.

When the water reaches the laminate core due to some spillage or improper sealing of the planks, it’ll allow more problems underneath the floor that you can’t see with your bare eye until it’s too late.

Therefore, refrain from excessively using wet mops or steam cleaners on your floor, and use other cleaning methods disclosed in this guide on how to clean coretec laminate flooring.

3. Trapped Air

Trapped air can be linked to improper installation as well.

As air trapped underneath the laminate flooring during the installation process can be the main reason why bubbling is spotted underneath the floor, leading to a swollen floor.

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How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing

We already established that replacing the swollen laminate flooring is expensive compared to the repairing process, but How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing them completely?

We have a set of methods you can use, depending on how damaged your flooring is:

1. Use a Heater (or a Hair dryer)

This method relies heavily on you spotting the moisture as early as possible.

The earlier you spot it the higher the chance you will be able to salvage the whole situation.

Use a hair dryer or a heater to speed up the drying process of the moisture you spotted underneath the laminate flooring.

However, if you’ve already spotted it bubbling underneath the laminate flooring a bit late, using this method won’t yield you much since the moisture has been absorbed and dried out and the damage has already been inflicted unfortunately.

2. Burst The Bubbles

The fewer the number of bubbles and the smaller they are, the easier it is to burst them and get rid of them for good.

Place a damp cloth over the bubble, then use a knife to cut a slit in the area.

Then, apply wood glue to the slit and press down using a weight. Pressing down the weight isn’t enough as you’ll be required to leave the weight overnight over the spot, then remove it first thing in the morning.

3. A Dehumidifier

Similar to the heater method, you can get rid of the wetness in the area using a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers can get rid of wet spots in the room, but it’ll take much needed time to become active.

Therefore, dehumidifiers are also considered a precaution after you’ve cleaned the laminate floor, to make sure the cleaning hasn’t resulted in any spillage or damage to the floor.

Does A Dehumidifier Cool a Room? This guide will help you with it.

Convinced you should obtain a dehumidifier? Read our guide on the best 30 pint dehumidifiers.

4. Laminate Repair Kit 

Whenever you spot damage to the laminate flooring, use a laminate repair kit to repair the scratches and cracks.

Laminate repair kits come in different colors and sizes, and can fit different scratches and cracks easily, all you need to do is follow the instructions written on the kit.

5. Replacing Is the Final Option

If you’ve tried all the above options and the damage is still there, then you can calculate the cost of replacing the whole area.

However, even replacing can become an option when the cost of time is little, and the cost of money isn’t surmountable.

Moreover, replacing the laminate floor installed around the whole house shouldn’t be the first thing that comes to your mind, but try replacing smaller areas first, and see what the cost will be.

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How to Repair Laminate Flooring Scratches and Chips

Scratches, cracks, chipping damage, and other types of damage can be fixed by obtaining the suitable color-matching laminate repair kit.

We’ve already established that they come in various colors and prices, and they aren’t expensive by any means.

However, you should always read the instructions on the repair kit, to make sure they’re matching your type of laminate flooring properly.

Remove the dust and debris around the area you’re looking to repair, make sure you’ve cleaned the area properly, and then get down to business as detailed in the instructions on the kit.

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How to Repair Laminate Floor that is Separating

High humidity is the main cause of any separation between laminate flooring planks.

Therefore, make sure the temperature inside your room isn’t too hot or humid, and use dehumidifiers when necessary.

To repair laminate floor that is separating, use a wood glue in between the gaps, but make sure you’re using the correct glue type that suits your floor, and that you have got rid of the main cause to the separating problem.

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Water Damaged Laminate Flooring-How To Fix It Without Replacing It

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Precautions to Help You Maintain Laminate Floor from Swelling

1. Don’t Water Laminate Floor for Longer Periods of Time
2. Remove Excess Water Immediately.
3. Avoid Using Wet Mops on Your Laminate Floor.
4. Monitor Your Room’s Humidity Levels Constantly.
5. Don’t Hesitate to Use a Dehumidifier.

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How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing FAQs

To Wrap Up

This concludes our guide to How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing, as we’ve disclosed the causes to the swollen laminate floor, and how to repair the flooring properly.

Additionally, even if it comes to replacing the floor, this CleanersAdvisor guide helped you minimize the cost of time and money to the replacing procedures as well.

If you have any questions in regard to this guide to How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing, feel free to ask us in the comments section below.