Can Laminate or Engineered Flooring Be Restored After Water Damage?

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

The answer for the most part is, NO (depending on how much water has affected the floor of course)

If enough water has spilled on your floor it will begin to soak through the joints as well as the edges of the walls, thus getting underneath the flooring. If water has seeped underneath the flooring then it will most likely not be restorable.

The reason for this is the lack of air-flow or drying that can be applied under the floor which makes it not able to dry fast enough on its own. The water beneath will soak into the flooring material and you will start to see surface damage such as cupping. 

Engineered and laminate flooring is commonly installed with a vapor barrier or cushion underneath. This vapor barrier is a plastic sheeting that makes it very difficult for water to evaporate and it ends up just getting trapped. There is little even a professional restorer can do to restore these flooring types, mainly due to the vapor barrier beneath the flooring, as no drying method would be effective enough.

Of course this will depend on the severity of your water damage situation. If the damage is just a small puddle or spillage then there is no need to start ripping up the flooring. However if water is squishing out of the edges of the floor when you walk on it then it is more than likely you will be needing a floor replacement.

When it comes to wet hardwood flooring (solid, true hardwood) the answer is YES, the flooring can be restored after being water damaged.

Solid hardwood flooring as you may have guessed is made of solid hardwood throughout and is made with a special set of grooves underneath it, called flutes. These grooves allow for the wood to naturally expand and contract. This enables airflow movement underneath the flooring, which allows for the professional restorer to dry the floor properly.

Through the use of specialty drying equipment such as the “dri-ease mat drying system” a property restoration company can save and restore your expensive hardwood flooring.

Once the moisture levels in the hardwood has been restored back to acceptable levels you can begin to repair or refinish any surface damages that may have occurred during the flooding.

So there you have it, now you know what to expect when you find yourself with water damaged flooring. The trick is always to act immediately and clean up any water mess as soon as possible so that it doesn’t soak in and spread further than it has to.

Water Damage In Your Home Or Business? Contact the professionals here at SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County. 502.241.6861

SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County also proudly serves Spencer, Henry and Trimble Counties.