November 3, 2026
Hybrid floor lifting or buckling usually comes back to two things: the floor could not move the way a floating floor needs to, or water got underneath it. Hybrid boards expand and contract slightly with temperature, so they need room at the edges, a flat, dry subfloor and nothing pinning them down. Here are the causes, how to prevent them and what to do if it happens.
Look for boards rising into a ridge (peaking), a spot that bounces, gaps opening or a door that catches. One installation guide covers Royal 6.5mm Premium, Royal Hybrid Pro 9mm and Royal Hybrid Herringbone. It warns that restricting the floor’s movement can cause gapping, cupping or failure of boards.
A hybrid floor floats, unattached to the subfloor. As it warms it grows a little, and if it meets a wall, door frame or pipe it can only go up. That guide asks for a 10mm expansion gap around the perimeter (the warranty refers to more than 10mm), plus gaps around pipes, under doors and at doorsteps.
Islands and built-in joinery should not sit on a floating floor. The guide says island benches require the floor to be cut in around them, and that pianos, fish tanks and filing cabinets should not be placed on hybrid flooring.
Skirting and scotia hide the gap, but the guide says they are fixed to the wall, never to the floor, and should cover the gap by at least 3mm. A nail through the scotia into the boards, or a trim screwed through them, pins the floor.
The guide’s general rule is no more than 2mm deviation over 1 metre, or 4mm over 2 metres, checked with a straight edge. It warns that humps and dips can damage the joints and cause movement and noise.
A waterproof core stops water soaking into the board, but the guide says it is no substitute for a moisture barrier and is not impervious to sustained moisture from beneath. It requires a 200 micron plastic moisture barrier on all subfloors and says concrete should not exceed 75% RH when tested to AS1884-2012. We test concrete and timber subfloors for moisture free of charge at the measure.
The guide says Royal hybrid flooring should not go in sunrooms, conservatories or areas exposed to heat above 27 degrees Celsius, and recommends builder’s plastic under the floor where sunlight or heaters cause rapid temperature changes. Our made-to-measure blinds and shutters help you control the sun reaching the floor.
Some manufacturers set an acclimatisation period, so follow your range’s guide. The Royal hybrid guide says the floor goes in last, once plastering, painting and concrete are dry, with cartons stored in the room being floored, not on concrete or near outside walls, and no more than two weeks before the home is lived in.
A burst pipe, leaking dishwasher or overflowing tub can put water under the boards, where it is trapped. The warranty guidelines for those three ranges exclude flooding, leaking pipes and appliance failure from the water-resistance cover. In a laundry, the installation guide asks for the whole perimeter to be sealed with flexible silicone. A floating floor goes over the room’s waterproofing, never instead of it, and never in a shower or on a floor that falls to a waste. See our guide to flooring for wet areas.
| Cause | What you might notice | How it is prevented |
|---|---|---|
| No expansion gap | Peaking near walls or doorways | Leave the gap the range’s guide sets |
| Heavy fixed items | Ridges near the island or joinery | Fit cabinets first and cut the floor around them |
| Skirting or trims fixed down | Peaking along one wall | Fix skirting and scotia to the wall only |
| Uneven subfloor | Bounce, creaking, broken joints | Check flatness and level first |
| Moisture from below | Lifting, odour or mould | Moisture test and a moisture barrier |
| Heat and sun | Movement near windows | Blinds, shutters and builder’s plastic where advised |
| Floods and leaks | Swelling at joins, damp smell | Fix leaks fast and seal laundry perimeters |
Book a free measure and quote and we will check your subfloor, test moisture and set out what the installation needs in a written quote.
Three of our hybrid ranges have a waterproof core:
We also stock Royal 10MM Extreme, our thickest hybrid, AC5 rated; Korlok, Karndean rigid-core planks with 5G click locking; and Royal Hybrid Herringbone in 625 x 125mm blocks. Browse all our hybrid flooring, or compare it with our laminate flooring in our hybrid vs laminate guide.
It usually means the floor has expanded and has nowhere to go, so check the edges first. A missing expansion gap, skirting fixed into the floor or a heavy fixed item can all stop it moving. Moisture underneath or an uneven subfloor can cause it too.
It stops water soaking into the board, which helps with spills. It does not stop water getting under the floor from a flood, leak or overflow, and water trapped under the boards can cause damage and mould.
Often, yes. The cause is fixed first, such as freeing the edges, drying the subfloor or stopping a leak. Then the affected boards can be relaid or replaced.
Product warranties come from the manufacturer and depend on correct installation and care. The warranty guidelines for Royal 6.5mm Premium, Royal Hybrid Pro 9mm and Royal Hybrid Herringbone exclude flooding, leaking pipes and installations that do not follow the installation guide.
With over 20 years of experience, we can help you choose a hybrid floor and have it laid right. Visit Royal Floors in Penrith, Campbelltown, Hornsby or Logan, book a free measure and quote, or call 1300 980 501.
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