Preventing Laminate Floor Seam Separation
If you’ve started noticing gaps between your laminate planks, you're not alone. Seam separation is one of the most common issues people run into with laminate flooring. While it often starts small, the spaces between planks can grow over time, becoming more noticeable and frustrating. It can affect the appearance of your floor and sometimes point to deeper issues.
In Vancouver, regular shifts in humidity, temperature, and other environmental elements are part of daily life. These factors can put strain on laminate flooring, especially when it hasn’t been installed or cared for correctly. That doesn’t mean laminate is a bad choice for homes throughout the city. It just needs the right support. In this article, we’ll look at what causes laminate floors to separate at the seams and what you can do to avoid or fix the problem.
Common Causes Of Laminate Floor Separation
There are a few reasons why gaps might be forming between laminate planks. Knowing what’s behind the issue is the first step to getting it sorted out.
1. Temperature and Humidity Changes
Laminate reacts to changes in the air. During colder seasons, indoor heating often dries out the air, which causes the boards to shrink. They pull back and create gaps. When it gets humid again, the boards can swell. This ongoing movement can eventually make the gaps more noticeable.
2. Improper Installation
Laminate flooring needs room to breathe. If the person installing it didn’t leave the right amount of space around the edges or didn’t click the planks in fully, problems can show up over time. Boards expand and contract with changes in temperature and moisture. Without space to move, pressure builds up, leading to separation.
3. Subfloor Issues
An uneven or unstable subfloor makes it harder for laminate planks to stay in place. Over time, small dips and bumps underneath can throw things off balance, making it easier for the seams to part ways.
4. Water Damage or Moisture
Laminate is often promoted as water-resistant, but that doesn’t make it waterproof. If water seeps below or between the planks — often from spills, wet shoes, or even steam mops — it can swell the edges and break the plank-to-plank lock. We often see this happen near kitchens, bathrooms, or entrances.
In high-moisture areas like basements, it’s even more common. One issue we see often is a room where everything looks great for months, then slowly begins to show separation starting from the middle of the floor where moisture has built up unnoticed.
How Seasonal Changes in Vancouver Affect Laminate Floors
Vancouver has a unique climate. With damp winters and mild summers, it's easy for indoor conditions to shift in ways that flooring picks up on. These changes can take a toll on laminate over time.
Late summer and early fall tend to be drier, especially indoors. As heaters prepare to kick in, the air starts drying out too. Without proper humidity control, the laminate planks react by contracting. Gaps can start to form even with slight dryness. If those gaps aren’t dealt with, they can expand into visible seams over the course of a few months.
Here are a few ways to help laminate floors adjust better through each season:
- Use a humidifier during drier months to keep indoor air from getting too dry.
- In rainy seasons, consider using a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements.
- Keep the humidity inside your home between 35 and 55 percent if you can.
- Avoid direct airflow from AC units and heaters on the floor, as it can lead to fast changes that laminate doesn’t handle well.
Maintaining balance all year long can go a long way in keeping the floor stable. You don’t have to constantly monitor everything — just a few small adjustments can make a real difference.
Preventative Measures for Laminate Floor Separation
If you’re looking at putting in new laminate floors or want to make sure the ones you have last longer, prevention is always easier than the fix. It starts with making good choices and taking care of your floors regularly.
Begin by choosing products that are made to handle Vancouver’s weather. Some laminates are better than others at dealing with moisture. If you're working with a concrete subfloor or basements, ask about using a moisture barrier during installation.
Professional installation is another big part. A floor that’s level, with enough space to expand, is one that’s more likely to last longer. If corners were cut during the original setup, you’re more likely to face problems down the line. Professional installers will know how to leave the right expansion gaps and check for subfloor corrections beforehand.
Once the floors are in, caring for them doesn’t have to be complicated. A few smart habits go a long way:
- Wipe up spills right away, especially around bathrooms, kitchens, and front entries.
- Place floor mats near sinks, showers, and doorways to catch stray drips.
- Vacuum or sweep regularly to reduce wear on the edges.
- Add felt pads under chairs and furniture to stop clunky movement.
- Avoid steam mops and soak-heavy cleaning cloths — these introduce moisture to the seams.
These habits might feel minor, but they go a long way. Laminate floors are tough, but even the strongest ones need help holding up against moisture and daily wear.
What to Do If Your Laminate Floors Are Already Separating
If the gaps between your boards are now something you can see or feel, it’s time to act. These issues usually don’t go away on their own.
If you’ve caught it early, and the planks haven’t fully popped out of place or suffered damage, it may be possible to gently shift them back or correct the environment with humidifiers. But if water has seeped between the planks, caused warping, or affected the locking system, the fix likely requires replacing some boards or reinstalling sections.
This is where professional help matters most. A flooring expert can assess not just the surface, but also the deeper layers like underlayment and subfloor. Sometimes the cause of separation can’t be seen without lifting part of the flooring. Trying to fix it yourself could make things worse.
Some long-term ways to prevent the same thing from happening again include:
- Replacing damaged planks while correcting the installation issue.
- Making sure expansion gaps are added during the reinstall.
- Controlling the moisture and temperature around the floors more effectively.
- Using water guards or seals in rooms that are prone to spills or wet footing.
One example that stands out came from a homeowner in East Vancouver. After a particularly wet winter, their living room floor started bubbling and separating. The cause turned out to be unchecked indoor humidity. Once they reinstalled the damaged area and added a dehumidifier, the floor held steady even through the following rainy season.
Keeping Your Laminate Floors in Top Shape
Seam separation happens more often than people think, especially in homes across Vancouver. With so many climate shifts, along with moisture and installation issues, it’s a problem that can show up over time if the right steps aren’t taken.
Laminate can still be a great option for your space, especially if you stay on top of simple maintenance. Keep an eye on humidity. Deal with spills fast. Make sure the boards are installed with the room they need to expand and contract. And if you spot something early, don’t put off the fix. Waiting too long can mean starting over.
With the right preparation and regular care, your laminate floors can stay smooth, safe, and good-looking for years to come.
If you want to avoid future issues with seam separation and keep your floors looking their best, maintaining and investing in the right laminate floors in Vancouver is a smart step. At Global Carpets and Hardwood, we offer expert advice, quality products, and professional installation to help your floors stay solid and stylish through every season.