# New floor buckling?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-floor-buckling/723195>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 22, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-floor-buckling/723195 "2015-06-22T23:29:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-floor-buckling/723195/1 "2015-06-22T23:29:52Z")

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We had one of those Pergo “wood” floors installed a few months ago. After a few weeks, it seemed to buckle in a few places - you can feel it recede when you step on it. Contractor is supposed to be here Wednesday to take a look, but I’d like to get an independent idea of what the problem might be. We’ve been in this house for over 20 years, and never had a water leak, if that’s germane.

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-floor-buckling/723195/2 "2015-06-22T23:41:11Z")

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Response to same questions:

> **[DIY Home Additions and Home Remodeling](https://homeadditionplus.com/)**
>
> Expert Home addition planning on building home additions and Custom Homes, and DIY Home Improvement and home remodeling tips.

[http://www.flooring-professionals.com/why-floating-floors-fail/](http://www.flooring-professionals.com/why-floating-floors-fail/)

Did you read these Installation Essentials?

> **[Installation\_Essentials\_Guide\_072313.pdf](https://www.pergoflooring.com/pdfs/installation/Installation_Essentials_Guide_072313.pdf)**

Maybe something got ignored.

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-floor-buckling/723195/3 "2015-06-23T00:08:47Z")

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Did it get wet?

Was it installed with the (VERY) required gap around walls?

Moisture barrier under it?

Laminate is not wood and does not act like wood.

I have seen “flooring” sold for $0.99/sq ft (real flooring is sold by sq yard) - it was cardboard. I saw one install of such crap - the heavy person in the house had cut 1/16" (1 mm) deep grooves in it with the legs of a dining chair.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-floor-buckling/723195/4 "2015-06-23T02:15:54Z")

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Thanks for the links. I plan to go over these issues with the contractor.