Help, joint opening in laminate floor

iscamaid

We fitted a new kitchen in April and put down B & Q click loc laminate flooring. Like fools we did not save the receipt, thinking that as the floor was cut and laid professionally by a carpenter it would be fine. Now 2 months later one of the joints is opening up slightly, almost as though the laminate has shrunk. Obviously B & Q are not interested as we do not have a receipt. From experience it is virtually impossible to take up this type of flooing and replace the one pice without the flanged edges being damaged. the kitchen is 20ft by 12ft so there is a serious amount of money, time and effort to pull up half of it to get to this one piece. I am worried that when I wash the floor water will seep into the joint and warp it making it much worse. Can I simply put some form of silicone down the crack to stop water getting in and fill it slightly (it is the width of one plank - say 20cm by 1-2mm).

Jonesya

You can get acrylic sealants designed for sealing around the edges of a floor in typical timber-like colours, not sure how it would standup to repeated water exposure, probably not as good as silicone or as flexible but I've not seen silicone coloured to match flooring, just the standard 'brown'.

Before putting anything down on the floor I'd make a sample and let it fully dry to compare the colour match, they do change shades as they dry.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Adhesives+Sealants/General+Sealants/Timber+Laminate+Sealant+310ml+Oak/d180/sd2350/p73688

[Edit] Of course the other alternative is some form of conventional wood filler, something like this:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Painting+Decorating/Fillers+Putty/Wood+Filler+2+Part+500ml+Pine/d150/sd3169/p55454

Or this:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Painting+Decorating/Fillers+Putty/Wood+Filler+1+Part+250ml+Pine/d150/sd3169/p79488

mr_vampy

Have a look on Ebay for Unika colour sealant. It's like the sealant sold in Toolstation as suggested by Jonesya, but they make a much wider variety of colours and shades.

One thing that does concern me is when you say "wash the floor", how exactly are you cleaning the laminate floor? Water and laminate flooring don't mix.

SUESMITH_2

was it laminate designed for kitchens? the reason i ask is that if it isn't and it gets wet when you mop it this problem will reoccur - personal experience here!

keystone

iscamaid wrote: »

I am worried that when I wash the floor water will seep into the joint and warp it making it much worse.

There seems to be a bit of a clue here as to why it has happened and it will only get worse if you continue to do this. Laminate flooring isn't designed to be washed - sorry. If you had intended to "wash" it then the joints should have been glued/sealed in the first instance but even so its not 100% neither the floor layer nor B&Q can really be held liable for this situation which seems to be of your own creation.

I too would go with the Unika products but it won't be a universal panacea and you must stop putting water on the floor deliberately.

Cheers

iscamaid

keystone wrote: »

There seems to be a bit of a clue here as to why it has happened and it will only get worse if you continue to do this. Laminate flooring isn't designed to be washed - sorry. If you had intended to "wash" it then the joints should have been glued/sealed in the first instance but even so its not 100% neither the floor layer nor B&Q can really be held liable for this situation which seems to be of your own creation.

I too would go with the Unika products but it won't be a universal panacea and you must stop putting water on the floor deliberately.

Cheers

Big thank you to all that have replied. The laminate is a slate effect suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Currently I use a dry duster type floor "mop" to get up dust, dustpan and brush for crumbs and a Vileda mop to wet mop it once it is covered with sticky marks - not too much water it is well wrung out. Any ideas how it should be cleaned bearing in mind it is a kitchen and has spills and mucky children? I had througt laminate pretty tough and ok for a kitchen - though I would much have preferred Amtico but do not have that money!

derrick

iscamaid wrote: »

We fitted a new kitchen in April and put down B & Q click loc laminate flooring. Like fools we did not save the receipt, thinking that as the floor was cut and laid professionally by a carpenter it would be fine. Now 2 months later one of the joints is opening up slightly, almost as though the laminate has shrunk. Obviously B & Q are not interested as we do not have a receipt. From experience it is virtually impossible to take up this type of flooing and replace the one pice without the flanged edges being damaged. the kitchen is 20ft by 12ft so there is a serious amount of money, time and effort to pull up half of it to get to this one piece. I am worried that when I wash the floor water will seep into the joint and warp it making it much worse. Can I simply put some form of silicone down the crack to stop water getting in and fill it slightly (it is the width of one plank - say 20cm by 1-2mm).

Get the carpenter back, he fitted it and as such has a duty of care under Goods and Services Act.

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fudgecat

No matter how much you have wrung out a mop, it will be too wet for laminate. You can use the floor wipes that supermarkets sell in packets ( a bit like baby wipes!). I have to confess that I very rarely even do this in my house - maybe twice a year, but then again I am not a houseproud housewife!

keystone

iscamaid wrote: »

and a Vileda mop to wet mop it once it is covered with sticky marks - not too much water it is well wrung out.

Therein lies the problem methinks. It doesn't take much mosisture to start it off and then you add a bit more next time etc etc.

I had througt laminate pretty tough and ok for a kitchen - though I would much have preferred Amtico but do not have that money!

I would never recommend laminate for a kitchen or a bathroom even if it says suitable for and Amtico is overpriced and overhyped IMHO. You'd have been better off with a sheet vinyl or ceramics tbh.

Cheers

keystone

derrick wrote: »

Get the carpenter back, he fitted it and as such has a duty of care under Goods and Services Act.

:rotfl::rotfl: Worryingly I think you are serious. OP has admitted to mopping the stuff. How do you propose to pin it on the installer in those circumstances?

Cheers

derrick

keystone wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl: Worryingly I think you are serious. OP has admitted to mopping the stuff. How do you propose to pin it on the installer in those circumstances?

Cheers

Because the laminate is suitable for bathrooms and kitchens, hence the usually premium price, it is suitable to be mopped albeit not soaked.

We have bathroom/kitchen quality laminate in the bathroom, it is cleaned with a Vileda mop when necessary, usually twice a week, it has been down for 5-6 years and there is no problems with it due to water ingress, in fact it is like it was laid yesterday.

The reason I would "pin it on the installer in those circumstances?", is he obviously did not install it correctly,(didn't glue it?), if he thought there would be a problem with it being in a bathroom he should have said so and, being a tradesman, should have refused to fit it, onus definitely with him.

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