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Laminate and engineered wood floors can be durable and attractive options for home flooring. However, they are still susceptible to certain issues over time. Being aware of the most common problems these types of floors develop can help you address them promptly to maintain the beauty and function of your floors.

Water Damage

One of the biggest enemies of both laminate and engineered wood floors is water. If water seeps into the flooring, it can cause the wood layers or composite core of the flooring to swell, warp, or delaminate. Sources of water exposure include spills, leaks, flooding, excessive moisture from cleaning, and humidity. The seams between planks can be particularly vulnerable to moisture infiltration.

Once water damage has occurred, it often cannot be repaired, and full plank replacement is needed. Prevention is key, so be sure to promptly wipe up all spills and leaks and use care when cleaning. Adding leak alarms, overflow drain pans under appliances like the washing machine, dehumidifiers, and proper humidity levels in your home can also keep excessive moisture at bay.

Scratches and Dents

The layered surface of laminate flooring and thin wood veneer of engineered wood make them prone to scratches, dents, and gouges over time. Dragging furniture, active pets, high heels, toys – anything that can cut or dent the protective top layer can damage laminate or engineered floors. The lighter the floor color, the more every nick and scratch tends to show.

While minor scratches can sometimes be repaired with putty sticks, deeper damage often requires full plank replacements. Using furniture pads under chair and table legs and being careful when moving furniture or other heavy objects can greatly reduce surface damage events.

Plank Gapping

Seasonal fluctuations in home humidity levels combined with a floor’s natural expansion and contraction can lead to gaps appearing between the long edges of laminate / engineered wood flooring planks. In most cases the gaps are only visible in certain seasons, while tighter during other times of year.

Still, repeatedly wide gaps that don’t close back up on their own over time indicate the flooring was not properly acclimated before installation or is insufficiently attached to the subfloor. This can allow excessive shifting, board movement, and gapping. The fix involves removing floorboards and using advanced sealing methods when reinstalling them. Maintenance of moderate indoor humidity levels year-round can also minimize plank shrinking and swelling.

Loose or Creaking Planks

Just like gaps appearing between flooring planks, you can sometimes get individual boards that become loose and sound hollow or creak when stepped on. The cause is the same – incorrect installation or inadequate bonding of the floor to the subfloor.

Moisture seeping under poorly sealed planks can degrade the attachments even further. Fixing creaking, unstable boards requires cutting out and re-adhering the affected planks. Using advanced adhesives and moisture barriers when replacing loose planks helps prevent a recurrence. Proper installation is key to preventing this hassle.

Discoloration, Fading, and Wear

Although the layered surface protects the inner core of laminate floors, the top protective coating can still experience staining, color fading, and visible wear patterns over years of use. Spills that aren't wiped up immediately and UV sunlight can both degrade and discolor the visual appeal of laminate over time. The same is true for the thin veneer layer on top of engineered wood floors.

Areas in direct sunlight or high traffic paths tend to show wear and fading most. Re-coating services every few years can renew the layer of surface protection on floors for improved aesthetics and continued stain resistance.

Final Words

While beautiful, durable, and easy to install and clean, laminate and engineered wood floors come with their own common trouble spots. Paying attention to moisture protection, scratch prevention, humidity maintenance, and installation quality goes a long way for preventing issues down the road and extending the usable life of your floors. Addressing any problems promptly when they do arise also keeps floors looking their best for decades. With some preventative care and maintenance vigilance, laminate and engineered wood can deliver lasting beauty in your home.