Peaking end joints

Lack of expansion space

Peaking end joints

Measure peaking

Up-and-down movement when applying finger pressure

Isolated peaking

Peaking end joints

Peaking end joints

Check floor temperature

Peaking end joints

Peaking

Peaking end joints

Steel ruler shows peaking

Steel ruler shows peaking

Lack of expansion space

Floor locked in place

Check expansion space

Peaked End Joints (Resilient Plank)

Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide

Summary

Peaked end joints in resilient plank flooring are localized areas where adjoining plank ends rise upward at the short-edge joint interface, creating visible height displacement or edge ledging between adjacent planks. The condition develops when compressive stress becomes concentrated at plank ends and is redirected vertically rather than dissipated through normal flooring-system movement or support continuity. End joints are mechanically sensitive locations because they typically contain less engagement area and reduced structural support compared to long-side joints. Peaking may be influenced by dimensional expansion, movement restriction, substrate irregularity, support discontinuity, adhesive behavior, thermal exposure, locking-joint stress, or pre-existing plank distortion. Floating and glue-down resilient flooring systems may develop visually similar peaked joints through different underlying mechanisms. Visibility commonly increases under directional or reflective lighting, although lighting does not create the condition itself. The presence of peaked end joints does not independently establish manufacturing nonconformance. Proper evaluation requires correlation of measurable displacement, distribution pattern, environmental exposure, support geometry, flooring-system interaction, and material behavior rather than appearance alone. See also Gaps Resilient Plank, Buckling Resilient Flooring, and LVT and SPC Floor Problems for broader context.

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