Water Damaged Laminate

If laminate flooring becomes saturated with water it tends to warp quickly.

Water damaged laminate.

Direct water damage caused by improper or unprofessional installations is a different matter that can lead to unexpected expenses. You can typically use a circular saw or crowbar to repair water damage to a laminate floor by removing the wet sections. Mop up standing water quickly as water can migrate into laminate s seams. If it s installed properly laminate flooring can stand up to occasional spills that are removed quickly.

Laminate flooring s sides open seams damaged areas and bottoms can never get wet. If you spill some water on laminate flooring but promptly wipe it up the floor will suffer no damage. However if laminate flooring is submerged or stays in contact with water long enough it can swell and break down. Go over every tile individually when you check.

In most cases you will need to use a chisel and hammer to start pulling away the damaged pieces without ruining the surrounding surface. Individual laminate planks that have been damaged will need to be removed to prevent the water damage from spreading to any more areas. The cause of this damage is often such things as a flood slow leak from plumbing improper maintenance and spills. As long as you wipe up any spilled water promptly the floor should be no worse for the wear.

When laminate becomes supersaturated with water it starts to absorb the moisture which breaks down the composition of the laminate material. Water damaged boards can t be fixed but they can be replaced. Tiles can also be pushed apart by water damage. Damaged planks typically will have some level of discoloration and can sometimes buckle and become misshapen after being exposed to any amount of water.

Laminate flooring is technically resistant to water damage. Just about any way you can get water onto many laminate floors seems to result water damage to many of these laminate floors. The next step is to remove the tongue part of the laminate board using a knife. Flooding or other significant water damage is a different story.

Unfortunately the situation changes if and when flooding occurs. Make a note of or flag each board that stands out to you for the next step. When laminate gets saturated by water it absorbs the moisture which in turn breaks down the structure of the flooring. There are a number of signs that point to your floor being water damaged including bending or cracking.

Water on top of laminate flooring laminate flooring can get wet but only the top.