Laminate floor problems tend to be minimal and easy to correct.
Laminate flooring, invented in Sweden by the Pergo Company in 1977, combines the best features of natural and manmade flooring. Made with wood products but no solid wood, it has a moisture-resistant layer underneath and a photographic image of natural wood flooring on top, finished with a hard, clear coating. It rivals hardwood in beauty and elegance and compares to vinyl in durability and ease of maintenance.
Start with regular maintenance
Laminate floor problems will be kept to a minimum with simple, regular cleaning. Start with sweeping, light vacuuming, or dry mopping to remove everyday dirt and dust. This will also keep grit off your floor and avoid scratches from foot traffic. Place mats inside the doors, and ask people to remove their shoes at the door as much as possible.
Deeper cleaning
Common substances such as mud or spilled food and drink are easy to clean. Just use a damp rag, and if necessary, a homemade solution of either ¼ cup vinegar and a quart of water, or if necessary, a few drops of dish soap or baby shampoo dissolved in warm water. You may use a commercial product made for cleaning laminate floors if you prefer. Dry the floor afterward with a soft cloth, and don't leave any standing water as it may cause problems (see below).
Paint, marker, and other harder-to-remove substances can usually be removed with alcohol or nail polish remover.
More serious laminate floor problems
Other problems you may encounter include:
· Peaking. "Peaking" is a high point at a joint where two adjacent panels are pushing against each other, caused by a lack of expansion space between the floor and the wall. You can correct this by removing the baseboard at the wall parallel to the long direction of the planks, trimming the edge of the floor, and replacing the baseboard. The peaking should dissipate over time-more quickly if you place a weight on it.
· Buckling or warping. These are either a convex or a concave curvature of the planks, usually caused by excess moisture-either dampness rising from the subfloor, lack of a sufficient moisture barrier, and/or high humidity in the room. Another common cause is using too much water in cleaning the floor, easily avoided by following the cleaning guidelines above.
· Chipping. Chipping may indicate a poor quality floor or faulty installation. Vacuuming the laminate floor with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a beater bar may also cause chipping.
Other ways to avoid laminate floor problems
Most laminate flooring manufacturers do not recommend using Oil Soaps to clean their floors, as the citrus tends to dull the surface. Never use anything abrasive to clean your laminate floors, such as cleanser, sandpaper, or steel wool. Never wax, polish, or attempt to refinish your floors.
More help
If your floors show any of the above problems-dullness, scratches, cheap quality, poor installation-you can still make them look better. Even if you just want to make regular maintenance of your laminate floors easier, a good quality floor restoration product should be your final touch.
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