our landlords installed some laminate wood floor right before we moved in, and i noticed that there was a couple bubbles in the floor, but i thought they would go away, now the floor under where our rolling computer chair is, is breaking, it's almost like the top layer of floor is peeling away and then the edges are breaking off, it literally looks like very cheap wood panelling peeling off? is this because of the rolling chair or is it something that was done wrong during installation? we also live in a high humidity area, does this make a difference?

Danika, February 2010

I've installed a fair number of laminate floors for myself and friends. I had the same problem where a computer chair chipped the floor to the point that it destroyed the floor. If you use a computer chair on laminate floor you have to replace the casters with soft casters available at Staples etc. or it will ruin most laminate floors. As far as bubbles, the laminate floor was obviously installed improperly or was forced together while being installed rather than working with the material to find a smooth interlocking action.

Gerard

Gerard Higgins, March 2010

First take a digital picture of the damage setting the camera to print on the photo date and time for reference.
I doubt it's been laid properly as even the cheapest should not break up like you describe and there should have been no bubles. if it was bubbles in one strip the it could have been a fault strip, so my guess there was a void under that area [uneven floor] and inadequately filled.
www.diydoctor.org.uk click on diy project on left side of page. click L for laminate flooring scroll down a wee bit to laminate flooring click then on the next page scroll down a wee bit to laying laminate flooring clcik then either read first all of it re-underlay especially, or continue scroll down to bottom of information page and before reaching tools click laying laminate flooring to watch the videos all this will give you ammunition to throw back at the landlord if he says he's going to charge you for the damage. Also check what is the possible cause.

Bob, February 2010