Curling/Cupping or Edge Lifting
Cupping
Cupping
Cupping
Cupping
Edges are higher than the center
Cupping
Dry cupping
Edges are higher than the center
Check expansion space
Floor locked in place
Check floor flatness
Flatness issues
Floor temperature
Rh and Temp
Cupping
Cupping
Device Used to measure Sample Change
Sample showing .75 inch curl
Curling
Curling / Edge Lift (Resilient Plank)
Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide
Summary
Curling or edge lift in resilient plank flooring is a condition in which plank edges or ends become elevated relative to the center of the plank. The condition develops when uneven dimensional movement or stress within the plank creates curvature forces between the upper and lower portions of the product. That imbalance may be influenced by environmental exposure, substrate moisture, chemical interaction, product construction, differential support, or repeated service stress. Curling may appear as raised long edges, end lift, isolated plank deformation, or broader rippled surface appearance and may be present at installation or develop gradually during service life. Broad-area curling commonly reflects interaction between dimensional stress, environmental exposure, substrate influence, chemical interaction, and overall flooring-system behavior. The presence of curling alone does not independently establish a single cause or manufacturing nonconformance. Proper evaluation requires correlation of distribution pattern, measurable deformation, environmental conditions, substrate interaction, support characteristics, and flooring-system behavior rather than reliance on appearance alone. See also Peaked End Joints, Buckling Resilient Flooring, and LVT and SPC Floor Problems for broader context.
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