Handyman tips
Why your laminate floor is lifting or creaking — and how to fix it
Common causes of lifting, bouncy or creaky laminate floors in Cardiff homes, and what you can fix yourself.
Laminate is a floating floor: it isn't glued down, so it needs a small gap around the edges to expand and contract. Most problems come back to that gap, moisture, or an uneven subfloor.
Common causes
- No expansion gap at walls, door frames or radiator pipes, so the boards push up when they swell.
- Moisture from a leak, a wet doormat area or no damp-proof membrane on a concrete floor.
- An uneven subfloor that lets boards flex and click as you walk.
What you can try
- Take off the skirting or beading at the swollen edge and trim a few millimetres off the boards.
- Find and fix any source of water before replacing damaged boards.
- Check door thresholds — the floor shouldn't be pinned under a trim.
When it's time for help
Swollen board edges don't shrink back. If several boards are damaged or the floor feels soft underfoot, it's usually quicker to relay that section on a proper underlay.