Why Does Your Laminate Flooring Feel Spongy and How to Fix It?

When walking on the laminate wood flooring, you suddenly find that an area is immersed, soft or air bubbles appear, or it is unnaturally spongy when stepped on. This may indicate that there are small problems that can be easily solved in engineered laminate flooring, or it may indicate that there are bigger problems hidden under the floor. In either case, you first need to determine the root cause of the floor being immersed or spongy in order to be able to resolve it appropriately.

Why is the textured laminate flooring unnaturally spongy when stepped on? The main reasons are uneven floor, cushion problems, expansion joint problems, water damage or termite damage. Although some of these issues can be easily resolved, you may still need to hire a professional to help you. Once the root cause of the spongy or mushy area on the laminate is determined, it is easy to prescribe the right medicine to deal with the problem.

1. Soft spots of laminate flooring caused by uneven floor

The horizontal deviation of the ground cannot exceed two millimeters. If it exceeds the level, we must find a way to level it. If the ground is uneven, the foot feel after the floor is laid will naturally be bad. Laying laminate flooring is no exception. If the laminate is installed on an uneven subfloor, any flaws on the subfloor will be reflected on the light wood laminate flooring and may even cause soft spots.

The subfloor is a tongue-and-groove floor, and some floors will move when walking. These floors were not properly secured before the laminate was installed.

How to repair the soft spot of laminate floor caused by uneven floor? You can try the following three methods.

In the first method, you need to drill a small hole that fits the inflation needle, and then inject the expanded foam under the board to fill any air gaps under the waterproof laminate floor.

The second method requires you to remove the depressions or low spots on the lower floor. Specifically, you apply thin mortar to the lower part of the subfloor.

The third method is suitable for the case where the tongue-and-groove floor is used as a sub-floor that is not firmly fixed. Fix the moving area of the subfloor to the floor joist with multiple screws.

2. Improper floor installation leads to soft spots on the laminate floor

If the wrong floor type is used or installed incorrectly, the lining may cause soft spots or spongy areas on the laminate. Only use the underlayment specially used for laminate flooring or reinstall the entire layer of high gloss laminate flooring.

3. Lack of expansion joints causes soft spots or blistering on the laminate

Do we need to reserve expansion joints when paving waterproof laminate flooring? The answer is yes. In fact, any floor including engineered wood flooring must be reserved for expansion joints.

Expansion joints are generally reserved on the walls around the room. The width of the seam is generally based on the thickness of the skirting line on the side of the wall. There is no need to keep too big. Otherwise, the interface is not easy to handle, and it also affects the beauty of the ground. In the event of soft spots or blisters on the laminate due to lack of expansion joints, it is recommended to use nails or glue to strengthen the floor. You have to carefully remove the decorative strip to expose the corner where the laminate floor meets the edge of the wall.

4. Sponge or sponge-like laminates caused by water damage

Water in the floor may result in a soft sponge-like laminate. Specific reasons include mopping the floor with a very wet mop, flooding from a broken water pipe, and insufficient moisture barriers installed underneath it. The damaged laminate cannot be repaired. The only option is to replace it completely and reinstall a new laminate.

Before reinstalling waterproof laminate flooring for kitchens, the subfloor and structural members that have been damaged by water damage must be replaced or repaired. Involving the damage of the subfloor and floor joists, it is best to have a professional repair and solve it.

5. Soft sponge-like laminate caused by termite damage

Termite damage can also cause laminate flooring to become spongy or soft. The best way is to completely replace the floor. Before replacement, it is necessary to understand the cause of termite damage. In addition, you have to check whether termites have invaded floor joists and structural wood components. These tasks are left to professionals! At the same time, professionals can help you evaluate the structural stability of the floor and repair it when problems occur.

Reference:

All about Materials, How to Fix 5 Likely Causes of a Spongy Laminate Floor.