How To Fix Wet Laminate Flooring. Tips From Professionals

If you have a laminate floor and notice standing water on it, there’s always a chance it could have water damage. While water damage can be frustrating, there are some things you can do to save your laminate flooring or replace it if the damage is severe enough to call for it. Here are some things to keep in mind if you think your laminate flooring may be damaged.

How To Fix Wet Laminate Flooring:

The first step is always to dry the floor completely. The faster you remove the water and dry the floor, the less damage there will be. The next step is to use a roller to flatten out swollen parts. Use a laminate replacement kit if the damage is only on the top. To reduce minor swelling and prevent the floor from swelling more, you can put something heavy on the swollen parts. For more severe damage you need to replace the swollen planks.

In this blog, I will further explain in detail how you can fix a swollen laminate floor without replacing it. And also how to dry laminate flooring with water under it, how to fix a warped laminate floor, how to fix a Pergo water damage, and how to fix a damaged vinyl floor.

How Do You Fix A Swollen Laminate Floor Without Replacing It?

If you notice that your laminate floor is swollen slightly and do not see any standing water, it may not need to be replaced. Here are some alternatives to replacing it.

● Step 1: Dry It Completely

Dry the floor as soon as you notice it’s wet. The swelling comes from the water that is absorbed over time. The faster you remove the water and dry the floor, the less damage there will be. You can dry the floor by opening windows, adding fans to the room, and putting in a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the air and pull it out of the flooring.

● Step 2: Use A Roller

You can roll down the swollen areas to help remove the water and flatten out the swollen portions of laminate flooring. You can rent a roller from your local home improvement store or a flooring store.

● Step 3: Laminate Repair Kit

If you notice that the top of the laminate floor is damaged but the structural part is still intact, you can find laminate replacement kits that allow you to resurface the laminate to make it look flat and normal.

● Step 4: Weigh It Down

To reduce minor swelling and prevent the floor from swelling more, you can put something heavy on the swollen parts. This will help push out the water that is inside the laminate and make it harder for the floor to absorb any more water. I prefer to use a stack of large books, but some professionals will use anvils and bricks to weigh down the flooring.

How To Dry Laminate Flooring With Water Under It

Laminate flooring is water-resistant, but it can still be damaged if there is a flood or serious water leak. The sooner you remove the water from the laminate flooring, the less severe the damage.

Use the following steps to dry it properly:

● Step 1: Soak Up The Water

You need to get any standing water off the floor as soon as possible. You may need to use a mop or towels to soak up the water. Keep in mind that the laminate flooring can absorb a lot of water and may swell as a result. Removing the water before it can soak into the floor is crucial.

● Step 2: Open The Windows

The best way to prevent moisture buildup and dry the floors is by improving the air circulation in a room. You can do this by opening the windows in the room or the entire home. Depending on the severity of the flood or the amount of standing water in the room, it may take several hours or days for the flooring to dry.

With water under the top floor, it may be hard to see if it is dry or not. The top may look dry, but the bottom can still be wet. If you can not check the subfloor, dry some additional days after you think it is dry.

● Step 3: Use Fans or a Dehumidifier

Fans can also help circulate the air and dry the floors faster. You can use personal fans to help dry the floors, or you can rent commercial equipment that is larger and works faster to dry out the floors so you can make any necessary repairs.

Using a dehumidifier can also be a great help to dry the floor faster. Bear in mind that the household dehumidifiers can only remove a small amount of water per hour. Professional models are more potent. You can rent them at various locations.

How Do You Fix A Warped Laminate Floor?

If your laminate flooring is damaged and needs to be replaced, you want to make sure you do it properly. Follow these steps to get the job done right.

● Step 1: Assess The Damage

In many cases, you won’t need to repair the entire floor. If only a portion of the laminate is damaged, you may be able to replace that part of it. You should check the flooring to determine where the damage starts and stops and remove any damaged pieces.

● Step 2: Replace The Damaged Areas

Choose the new laminate flooring and install it in the room. You may need to remove any molding or trim around the walls to install the laminate flooring properly. Before installing any new flooring, check to ensure the subfloor is not damaged and completely dry. If you see that it is, you will need to replace it before replacing the laminate boards.

● Step 3: Correct Any Gaps

When you have a flooded floor, the laminate flooring can be messed up, so the gaps are not correct, or the pieces do not line up properly. You will need to go through the pieces as you install them and make sure they are connecting correctly and that the boards are lined up, and the gaps are evenly spaced.

● Step 4: Add A Protectant

If you want to make sure you don’t have the same problem in the future, you can apply a protectant to the laminate flooring. This helps reduce the speed that water can be absorbed and could prevent water from ruining the laminate or soaking deeper into the subfloor if there is another spill, leak, or flood. I always recommend applying such a protectant to your floor, even if they aren’t susceptible to flooding or water damage.

How Do You Fix Pergo Water Damage?

Pergo laminate flooring is very popular and durable. It is highly water-resistant, but that doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to water damage. If you notice that your Pergo floor has been flooded or shows signs of water damage, follow these steps to fix it:

● Step 1: Find The Leak

Before you can start repairing your Pergo flooring, you need to find the leak and make sure it is repaired. If water continues to leak into the flooring, it will do no good to replace it.

● Step 2: Dry The Floor

Dry the floor entirely before you start to work on it. This will make your work area better and allow you to determine the severity of the damage. And how much of the floor needs to be repaired. You can dry the floor by opening windows in your home to provide air circulation or bringing in fans to move the air around.

Using a dehumidifier will speed up the drying process considerably. I always recommend renting a professional dehumidifier. Those models can remove a lot more water per hour than a household model. Remember that drying a really wet floor can take a lot of time (days, depending no the amount of water). And if the top of the floor looks dry, it does not mean the bottom and subfloor are dry as well.

● Step 3: Assess The Damage

The severity of the damage will determine what repairs are needed. If there is only minor swelling, you may not need to pull up any of the boards. Moderate damage may require some of the laminate boards to be replaced, and severe damage may result in the whole flooring needing replacing.

● Step 4: Make The Necessary Repairs

If you find that the floor only has minor damage, you can add a stack of books or something large and heavy to the swollen area. This will help push the excess water out and should allow the floor to level out. If there are areas that need to be replaced or if the entire floor is damaged, you will want to remove the damaged piece and replace them with new Pergo laminate flooring.

How To Fix Water Damaged Vinyl Floor

Vinyl flooring is durable and water-resistant, but if there is a big leak or a severe flood, the water could soak into the flooring and can cause damage. If you notice standing water on your vinyl floor, follow these steps to fix it:

● Step 1: Remove The Water

Locate the source of the water and fix it before removing the water. Remove the standing water with towels or a sump pump. It would be best if you allowed the floors to dry for several days so you could check the damage. You can dry the floors with fans, a dehumidifier, or open the windows.

● Step 2: Look For Signs Of Damage

The signs of water damage on vinyl flooring can vary based on the type of flooring and the color. In general, some common signs to look for include,

• Stains or discoloration
• Bulging planks
• Cupping
• Separation
• Squishy sounds
• Musty odors
• Mold growth

● Step 3: Prep The Floor

Whether you are planning to replace the entire floor or just a few damaged sections, you will need to prep the subfloor. You want to make sure it is completely dry, install the padding, and ensure any areas that are not being removed are lined up and ready to connect to the new pieces.

● Step 4: Install New Planks

Your new vinyl floor planks should line up well with your current ones. I’ve found that this can be the trickiest part of the process. It’s best to use the same type and color of flooring so it will connect correctly and look cohesive. You may need to remove the trim around your walls and doors to ensure the flooring fits well in the room.

● Step 5: Protect It

You can use a protectant spray on the floor to keep it from being damaged by water in the future. This will not protect the floor completely, but it will add an extra level of water resistance to help reduce any damage that may occur if there is a spill or flood in your home.

Tips For Protecting Floors From Water Damage

Repairing your water-damaged floor can be stressful, and the best way to avoid it is to prevent the water damage in the first place. Here are some tips that can help you do that.

• Keep drinks out of the room
• Check appliances for leaks often
• Add a dehumidifier to the room
• Keep windows sealed tightly during storms
• Check pipes to ensure there are no leaks or drips
• Clean up any spills immediately
• Apply water-resistant protectants to all floors