Laminate flooring in new build chipping easily

joe123 · 11-04-2020 3:07pm #1

Hey all, hopefully this is the right forum. Recently I moved into a new build house. The living room has laminate flooring. We are only in two weeks in but already I've noticed two small chips gone in the laminate flooring.

Today the connection for the hoover came apart as it does, hit the ground and again chipped the laminate about a 1cm again or so. The wood effect looks to be paper thin and comes away way to easily imo.

Is this going to happen every time myself or girlfriend drop something the weight of a hoover handle, knife, mug?? It's annoying as we are very careful and particular.

Should I mention this to the builder or is this the case with all laminate? The laminate flooring is called Vitality laminate flooring. Any thoughts appreciated.

the_pen_turner · 11-04-2020 5:10pm

who supplied the flooring you or the builder.

it shouldn't chip that easily. is it a gloss finish . iv hit laminate with a hammer to show people how durable it is

listermint · 11-04-2020 8:28pm

Cheap laminate will do this. It's probably the spec they are installing. They may replace some pieces for you though. But be prepared for them not to and this to be the continued theme. Always check the spec they are installing you generally get what you pay for.

s7ryf3925pivug · 11-04-2020 8:31pm

Vitality is Balterio, right? That is a good brand. We have their laminate in several rooms. Don't have anything like that happening. Maybe the subfloor is uneven? Or maybe you need an underlay to absorb shocks.

basillarkin · 11-04-2020 8:31pm

Pics?

s7ryf3925pivug · 11-04-2020 8:34pm

the_pen_turner wrote: »

who supplied the flooring you or the builder.

it shouldn't chip that easily. is it a gloss finish . iv hit laminate with a hammer to show people how durable it is

Yeah I'd question if it is the professed product tbh because ours is good. Also I've a relation who had a flooring business and he said the product is very good too.

Who2 · 11-04-2020 8:48pm

Find out what ac coding it is? Sitting room would want to be ac4 grade or even ac5 if it’s really busy. Ac3 is ok for bedrooms but even at that I won’t use it anymore.

joe123 · 12-04-2020 12:20pm

the_pen_turner wrote: »

who supplied the flooring you or the builder.

it shouldn't chip that easily. is it a gloss finish . iv hit laminate with a hammer to show people how durable it is

Builder supplied the flooring. Il get pictures of the chip examples. They are small but if they start to add up it will look terrible in no time.

joe123 · 13-04-2020 12:43pm

So here is an example of the chips that are appearing. Again this one is from the hoover handle coming away from the connection and hitting the ground.

https://i.imgur.com/0VICRkq.jpg

http://imgur.com/a/UjqobKy

This is the packaging of the flooring. http://imgur.com/a/TAahITW

http://imgur.com/a/0NufBjq

s7ryf3925pivug · 13-04-2020 1:27pm

joe123 wrote: »

So here is an example of the chips that are appearing. Again this one is from the hoover handle coming away from the connection and hitting the ground.

https://i.imgur.com/0VICRkq.jpg

http://imgur.com/a/UjqobKy

This is the packaging of the flooring. http://imgur.com/a/TAahITW

http://imgur.com/a/0NufBjq

Ac5.
I don't know if fake laminate flooring is a thing but we have similar Balterio floors for a year and they've taken much worse abuse than that with zero damage.

Tails142 · 13-04-2020 1:49pm

I have the same problem, I think it's just more noticeable on darker shades of laminate which have become popular

GingerLily · 13-04-2020 2:20pm

Tails142 wrote: »

I have the same problem, I think it's just more noticeable on darker shades of laminate which have become popular

I have a dark laminate and no issues, we have them done over 2 years now!

s7ryf3925pivug · 14-04-2020 12:57am

Google supports my notion that underlay might make a big difference here. I'm guessing you don't have a proper underlay.

listermint · 14-04-2020 8:38am

If that's AC5 then something is wrong. Or your hoover handle is made of lead. AC5 should not be chipping like that at all. Those sorts of chips would come from dropping heavy objects like a hammer or a chisel on the floor. Do you know what underlay was used.

May be case of going to manufacture because I'd be unhappy with that .

Graham · 14-04-2020 8:48am

Jaxson Uneven Ankle wrote: »

Vitality is Balterio, right?

It is. Really surprised to see it chipping like that.

We have Balterio Select Walnut in the hall & lounge, not a mark on it after 2 years and it's much darker than the OPs.

Irish_peppa · 15-04-2020 7:23am

I have walnut gloss flooring and didnt know anything about the gradings i heard it was a case of "the thicker the better"
In any event I bought this stuff from bargaintown
https://www.donedeal.ie/carpets-for-sale/calgary-walnut-high-gloss-12-3mm/10433115
https://www.bargaintown.ie/p/eskema-gloss-12mm-calgary-walnut/2100014

Now it looks great but my god. If you drop anything slightly heavy with any edge you have yourself a nasty gouge. You literally have to walk on eggshells.:rolleyes: I know for wood colors you can get a wax that you melt onto damage that masks it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEKTON-DT95910-Laminate-Repair-Silver/dp/B01H3XWFYK

tenbob1 · 15-04-2020 6:32pm

Vitality is not a balterio floor, it is however decent enough stuff.

If this was a new build you need to check if there was a moisture test on the sub floor done prior to installation, "brittleness", can be caused by moisture ingress through the floor causing the laminate part at the top to partly come away from the board, meaning that it will get damaged much easier. Post a pic of the overall floor, and have a look for some tenting, even if is very very subtle, it can be a giveaway (not always though).

The stuff that Irish Peppa has, suffice to say we no longer sell it.

Graham · 15-04-2020 7:42pm

My mistake tenbob1, I see it's a Unilin product.

A few of the online suppliers have it listed as Balterio for some reason.

Morby · 17-04-2020 12:33pm

Irish_peppa wrote: »

I have walnut gloss flooring and didnt know anything about the gradings i heard it was a case of "the thicker the better"
In any event I bought this stuff from bargaintown
https://www.donedeal.ie/carpets-for-sale/calgary-walnut-high-gloss-12-3mm/10433115
https://www.bargaintown.ie/p/eskema-gloss-12mm-calgary-walnut/2100014

Now it looks great but my god. If you drop anything slightly heavy with any edge you have yourself a nasty gouge. You literally have to walk on eggshells.:rolleyes: I know for wood colors you can get a wax that you melt onto damage that masks it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEKTON-DT95910-Laminate-Repair-Silver/dp/B01H3XWFYK

I was thinking of getting the same gloss Laminate bit was worried how it would wear. Do you have it down long, how is it for general wear and maintenance, does the gloss finish dull?

If you had to redo it, would you go for it again?

the_pen_turner · 17-04-2020 1:28pm

Morby wrote: »

I was thinking of getting the same gloss Laminate bit was worried how it would wear. Do you have it down long, how is it for general wear and maintenance, does the gloss finish dull?

If you had to redo it, would you go for it again?

Gloss is a nightmare.
Get a same board and see how it wears with a stone in your shoe or drop stuff on it

DaikinTest · 26-02-2021 11:43am

@Joe123 Did you ever get to the bottom of this chipping issue?

Laminate flooring in new build chipping easily

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