The loyal and luxurious and kinda life-saving Laminate Flooring is one of the most practical and favorably sustaining floor treatment choices. Besides the legit aesthetic benefits, it does prove to be the most serviceable and durable home improvement investment. However, this seemingly amazing flooring despite being structurally resistant to water is still likely to get subjected to “water damage” at times.
While this might be a bit surprising since Laminate flooring is considered to be waterproof, this is fair enough is a very real issue associated with Laminate Flooring. And this can also be understood by the fact that most Laminate manufacturers do not recommend its installation within moisture-prone areas. Besides, water damage to Laminate floors is a phenomenon that develops over time and often remains undetected till the point of viability of the very destruction that has taken place.
Thus it is needless to say that those are really unpleasant times when you get to come across apparent water damage to your Laminate Flooring. Still, the great news is that you can absolutely fix the situation with the help of none other but the Pro Flooring Guide.
So let’s dive into those solutions that will help us effectively address the problematic aspects of our Laminate Flooring.
What Causes Water Damage Of Laminate Flooring
- Laminate Flooring water damage takes place when water gets soaked within the Laminate layers (remember, Laminate “The layered flooring”!) and causes swelling and warping of the boards.
- Water, upon reaching the Laminate Flooring, weakens the adhesive holding Laminate boards together and this can even lead them to fall apart.
- Bacteria and mold growth is also likely to take place real soon when moisture reaches Laminate flooring or stays in contact with it for longer periods of time.
As a matter of fact, there are multiple factors that can lead to Laminate Flooring water damage.
1. Leaking Plumbing/ Appliances
Any of the surrounding water objects that have been damaged/ ruptured or leaking such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, or washing machine is the most likely to cause water damage to Laminate Flooring. And the worst-case scenario is when the damage keeps taking place without getting noticed.
2. Standing Water
Stagnant water is certainly the most disastrous factor for Laminate Flooring as it can easily penetrate through the Laminate planks/boards, eventually causing them to swell and warp. Moreover, the same goes for the weakening of the adhesive which leads to the dislocation of planks.
3. Incorrect Installation
There are multiple ways in which a faulty installation can result in damage to Laminate Planks. While not leaving adequate space for the Laminate planks to expand and contract can cause their gapping and eventually separating, the installation carried out while leaving excessive gaps can provide room for water to seep through the planks and lead to adverse consequences.
4. Ground Water
Groundwater or simply the moisture from the subfloors can easily reach Laminate boards/ planks and lead the situation to an irreversible stage. This often happens due to the installation that’s carried out over subfloors with water problems or those that have not been dried and treated properly before laying the flooring. Perforated or damaged vapor barriers also serve as a major reason.
5. Spills And Splashes
Mishandling or accidents of any source of water atop Laminate floors is one of the primary and more “user involving” generating factors of Laminate Flooring water damage. Besides plain water, this does include the prolonged contact of Laminate floors with other liquids and fluids, too.
How To Fix Laminate Floor Water Damage
This convent and smart method can guarantee you optimally advantageous outcomes and does work for a reasonable severity level of water damage done to the Laminate Floors.
Things You’ll Need
- Mops
- Wet-dry Vacuum
- Circular Saw/ Crowbar
- Putty Knife/ Butter Knife
- Planks for replacement (get the similar planks or utilize the excessive ones from the time of installation)
- Adhesive
Drying And Repairing Procedures
- First things first, you’ll need to locate and treat the root cause of the problem. That could literally be anything such as a leaking plumbing nearby or an appliance such as a dishwasher or refrigerator. Locate the source and fix it thoroughly before you do anything with the floor treatment.
- Start by removing any of the shoe moldings or thresholds that overlap your Laminate Flooring, so as to make your workspace totally clear of any hurdling objects.
- Look for the affected areas keenly and try not to miss any spot. This can also be done by walking on the floors to see for the planks that show any kind of movement or an indication of water present beneath them.
- Mark the boards that you notice to be damaged with either a note or flag. The most common signs of water-damaged Laminate Planks are discoloration, buckling, and often a dislocation from the original positioning.
- Next up, comes the removal of the damaged boards for which you can use any suitable knife or the specified tool. Insert the knife or tool on the side of the plank, eventually forcing it out from the barrier present underneath Extremely damaged or essentially warped Laminate boards can be easily removed by hands only.
- Sweep and clean the underlayment thoroughly, followed by drying it completely with the help of fans. You can also use a dry-wet vacuum for this purpose and also to speed up the drying process.
- Take the new Laminate Planks and spread them on the adhesive according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Start lining up the tongue and groove on each side of the planks, followed by slowly tapping the new plank in between the non-damaged ones. In case of any cuts are needed, do that while considering the direction of the tongue and groove.
- For those Laminate planks that go immediately next to the walls, remember to cut them up to a quarter-inch short, so as to allow maximum room for expansion and contraction.
- Finish off by reinstalling all the shoe moldings and thresholds.
Additional Concerns Of Laminate Flooring Water Damage
Laminate Flooring water damage gets developed in various different forms and so goes the methods adopted for fixing the situation.
We have compiled some of the other issues related to Laminate Flooring water damage.
How To Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing It?
Laminate Flooring with minor damage or simply bubbling can be easily treated without the need to replace the planks. This minor version of Laminate floor fixing can be conveniently carried out as a DIY project, without excessive time, money, or effort consumption.
We’ve got you a number of fixes for the very concerns of Laminate Floor bubbling and swelling.
1. X-Acto Knife
X-Acto Knife is an effective way of treating the bubbling of Laminate Flooring.
2. Epoxy Laminate Repair Kits
Epoxy Laminate Repair Kits is the solution to consider when you don’t find the X-acto knife to be working for swelling or bubbling of the Laminate Floors
3. Rolling Up The Floor
Rolling up the Laminate Floor with a 100-pound roller is a perfect way to smooth out the area that has been lifted up due to water damage.
4. Drying The Damaged Area
A hairdryer or a heater can provide you with optimum outcomes since the idea is to get rid of all the moisture that’s causing damage to the Laminate planks/ boards.
5. Popping Method
Popping is also an efficient method for addressing the bubbling of Laminate Flooring
6. Bursting The Bubbles
Bursting is a way of eradicating minor bubbles and is done by placing a damp cloth on the bubbling and cutting a slit on the area with a sharp knife. Next up, is squeezing wood glue into the slit, followed by pressing the veneer down. The last step is the placement of weight on the treated area overnight for ensuring a perfect flattening of the floor.
How To Dry Laminate Flooring With Water Under It?
Drying is necessary because:
- It’s always a favorable idea to not wait for the water to dry on its own and speed up the process so that the flooring’s exposure to moisture does not lead the situation to an irreversible point.
- Delaying the water drying can also give rise to the growth of mold and bacteria.
- Not addressing the moisture content in a timely manner can later ask for professional assistance, which of course, can be a costly treatment.
This method can be used to eradicate water present beneath the Laminate Flooring.
1. Start by cleaning up the Laminate surface moisture with the help of dry towels or cleaning cloths, so as to clear out most of the puddling or splashing.
2. Pull out the rest of the moisture with Dehumidifiers and fans, since they provide better air circulation, thus eventually accelerating the process of drying.
3. You can also consider taking help from the HVAC system in your place as this will turn up the heat, causing the moisture to evaporate and therefore get eradicated rapidly.
4. Next up, is the removal of the floorboards, for which you should ideally begin from a wall that is on the groove side of the Laminate Board. This will also require removing the trim, after which you can begin pulling up one board at a time.
5. Dry the entire wet flooring by exposing it to either a Dehumidifier or electric fans, while also ensuring to keep the boards flat, in order to prevent warping.
6. Clean up the whole underlayment with a mixture of water and Ammonia-free dish soap which will help against any greasing or stickiness, as well. After cleaning, go over the whole underlayment with a bleach solution to diminish any mold or bacteria buildup. Remember to replace the underlayment if it is severely damaged.
7. Soak up all the moisture from the subfloor followed by cleaning it in the same way with a soap solution and bleach solution.
8. Next comes the disinfection of the floorboards for which you’ll have to consider the Ammonia-free soap solution once again and then go over them with the bleach solution, after drying thoroughly.
9. If you’re replacing the underlayment, then ensure to read the direction before placing the new one. As for putting the former one, make sure to check the right fitting of tapes and adhesion.
10. Finish off by reinstalling your Laminate Flooring and putting all the trims and baseboards back.
When To Seek A Professional For Laminate Floor Water Damage?
Laminate Flooring is highly susceptible to developing serious issues which can’t possibly be fixed by DIYs or basic toolkits, in any way. One major example is water damage which, at times, turns out to be so severe that you cannot address it yourself.
Considering professional assistance is a mandatory factor when you own Laminate Flooring and you shouldn’t want to delay this and end up with more adverse consequences.
- Professional treatment is crucial when you don’t find any of the above-mentioned methods to be functional or helpful against Laminate Flooring water damage.
- Excessive warping, swelling, buckling, bubbling, or at worst the defiling or dislocation of the boards are also some other phenomena that do ask for professional treatment and any DIY attempt is much more likely to worsen the situation.
Precautionary Measures Against Laminate Flooring Water Damage
These are some of the essential tips and tricks which should be considered while maintaining your Laminate Floors. They will not just prevent any major damages from taking place but will also make your floors last long and give you the best value of your money.
- Ensure using Silicone to keep warping rotting and bending of the floorboards at bay. The same goes for the need of caulking all the expansion gaps.
- Have the Polyurethane top coating for your Laminate Flooring, as this will keep scratching, denting, and impact damage away.
- Do not let even the slightest amounts of water stay stagnant on your flooring and clear out every single spill in a timely manner.
- Watch out for leaking plumbing and appliances and consider having them fixed right away.
- Ensure that the Laminate joints are well-sealed specifically within moisture-prone areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
- Try keeping your pets away from the flooring and clear out their urination ASAP in case they go for this otherwise unusual act.
- Invest in waterproof Laminate Flooring, since that of course, is a way sturdier and more resilient floor treatment choice than the regular one.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Is Water Harmful For Laminate Flooring?
Water can absolutely cause a lot of damage to Laminate Flooring and if not taken into account timely, the damage can be irreversible over time. That’s because water gets soaked into the Laminate layers, eventually causing their swelling and warping, as it gets inside the boards. In addition to that, water also tends to weaken the adhesive that holds laminate planks together, leading them to fall apart.
Is It Possible To Fix Swollen Laminate Flooring?
The most effective fixing of Laminate Flooring involves disassembling the floor and installation of new boards, once the source of water has been thoroughly addressed, which happened to be the root cause of all the damage. In order to reach out to and remove the bubbling board, you’ll need to take out one row of boards at a time, eventually making your way towards the troubled (bubbled) one. The bubbled board(s) need to be replaced and then the rest of the boards can be put back.
How To Get Water Out Of Under The Floor?
You can start by soaking up small spills and puddles with the help of a couple of mops, cleaning rags, and towels. As for addressing the rest of the water, you’ll require a wet vacuum which will work by pulling up the large water sources from out of the flooring, Besides, one thing that needs to be taken care of properly at this point is not to stop wet vacuuming even if there is no water visible on the wood surface anymore, since the idea is to carry out a detailed drying.
How To Fix A Bubble In Laminate Flooring?
Minor bubbles present in the Laminate flooring have to be “burst” in order to be eradicated. This can be done by placing a damp cloth on the bubble and cutting a slit on the bubbled area with the help of a sharp knife. Next up, comes the squeezing of wood glue into the slit that has been opened, followed by pressing the veneer down. Lastly, a weight can be put overnight so as to totally flatten the treated area.
How To Clean Laminate Floors That Are Not Waterproof?
White distilled vinegar is what will come to your rescue in addressing this concern. Start mixing one part of distilled vinegar to make a cleaning solution. Add in a teaspoon of any washing-up liquid and mix well. Fill this cleaning solution into a spray bottle for easier handling and application. This DIY cleaner can be used to effectively clean those Laminate Floors that have not been waterproofed, that too, without the likelihood of any damage.
How Do You Maintain Waterproof Laminate Flooring?
For regular cleaning of waterproof laminate flooring, damp mopping using warm water and a diluted floor cleaner is quite a favorable idea. Over and above, it’s extremely crucial to stay away from any of the harsh or abrasive cleaners and chemicals and only stick to mild substances, when it comes to maintaining and sustaining waterproof laminate flooring. Moreover, this goes the same for avoiding the usage of abrasive cleaning tools, as well.
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