What can I do about giant air bubbles in laminate flooring?

Ljc24643678
by Ljc24643678
I got ripped off horribly, oh well live and learn! I had guys install laminated floor in living room and 1 bed room. Now in a spot..there is like a giant air bubble...what do I do now? Anyone know what flooring I can do in the remaining 2 bedrooms? At a cost that wont break the bank??


  6 answers
  • Cindy Borgen Cindy Borgen on Aug 13, 2017

    Hi Ljcentella. Sorry to hear about your flooring. I believe I understand what you are speaking of and if correct, the flooring does not have any room to expand and contract or moisture has gotten under the floor. I am going to assume its the floor not having room to move. This can be fixed rather easy. I had this happen in a hallway and here is what Hunker states to do:


    Replacing Peaked Flooring

    Step 1

    Inspect the bubbled floorboards. If the inspection shows a large bubble centered on a seam between floorboards, then the floor is peaking. Peaking is when the floor has been installed without enough space left at the walls for expansion, causing the boards to squeeze together and rise at a joined seam. To fix it you must relieve the tension in the floor.

    Step 2

    Remove the molding nearest the floorboard, putting it aside for later.

    Step 3

    Check that the gap between the floorboard edge and the wall is at least a quarter to a half an inch to allow for expansion of the floorboards.

    Step 4

    Cut the floorboard nearest the wall to create more space for expansion using a rotary saw.

    Step 15

    Press down on the peaked area and note whether the floorboards settle into place without the peak. If not, place a weight onto the peaked area until it settles.

  • So sorry! Who did you have install? The guy installed too tightly and can be fixed. If purchased at a flooring store, go back and tell them what happened, chances are they will want to make it right. If you used a handyperson, call and see if he will come fix. If you are willing to go through the trouble, you could take photos or videos and take him to small claims court to get your money back. Or just hire a licensed professional to take up part of your current floor and reinstall properly.


    As to the remaining portions of the house, I would put down a vinyl product - easy to clean and not expensive.

  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Aug 13, 2017

    If a local handyman installed it for you, call him and ask him to come back & fix it. Hopefully he'll honor his obligation & take pride in his work, enough to repair the problem. If not, NEVER call him again for any work. It's probably a spacing adjustment that needs to be corrected for 'movement.' If a store installed it, call them immediately for repair work. Or maybe they could recommend someone who can help you. Best of luck.

  • Nor25769418 Nor25769418 on Aug 13, 2017

    I had that happen in my new home two years ago...it wasn't a very big area and he said it would work out in time and it did...is it is possible to contact the guy who installed it for you?...or is it a case like the 8 ' x 8' deck I had installed for me at the same time ? . He did a lousy job and not even safe to use...it was a complete eyesore..I ended up I had to hire another carpentar to redo it like it was susposed to be in the first place if he had a clue what he was he was doing instead of lying to his customers..... The repair of it cost me almost as much as what he charged me in the first place.. I was furious..... I turned him over to my lawyer just to get back the extra money it cost me...but it was useless as the guy turned out to be a liar and a complete fraud....a very bad experience..

  • Sharon Sharon on Aug 13, 2017

    If the guy is a licensed contractor and he won't come fix it, contact your state contractors licensing board and file a complaint, Then he has to either fix it, or they will take action against him. It will remain on his record either way, so every time some smart consumer checks their contractor before they hire him, they will see he has unresolved complaints and don't hire him. Check to see if he has insurance and file a claim against them. Document the damage with pictures, and even an estimate of the cost to fix.

  • Ljc24643678 Ljc24643678 on Aug 14, 2017

    hello...no he was not licensed...he was cutting my lawn..we talked basically said he could do...and basically I domt hav leg 2 stand on...really cant prove anthing...gave him cash