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Laminate flooringand water do not mix.
Laminate flooring falls in the latter camp.
If inexpertly installed, laminate flooring will be a disaster in high-moisture environments.
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Delaminate is the main problem.
Slowly the image layer and wear layer begin to de-laminate from the top of the board.
Because laminate is a dense fiberboard, it can take days to dry.
Installed laminate flooring may take weeks to dry.
After complete drying, the laminate flooring will never return to its original dimensions.
Given this, it is absolutely critical that water is kept away from laminate flooring as much as possible.
Laminate flooring’s sides, open seams, damaged areas, and bottoms can never get wet.
Mop upstanding water quickly, as water can migrate into laminate’s seams.
The edge areas of the laminate are more of a problem sinceedges are cutand exposed.
If the water has reached edge areas or open seams, thoroughly extract the water with a wet-dry vacuum.
Installation in half bathrooms is acceptable, because water is not as prevalent as in rooms with bathing facilities.
In these rooms, the main areas of concern would be around the toilet and below the sink.
If the water is not pervasive, you may be able to extract it with a wet-dry vacuum.
Your best bet is to remove the affected floorboards.
you’re able to then progressively take up boards as far as you need.
In this case, it’s crucial that you remove all of the laminate floorboards.
Laminate flooring with open edges will maintain its original dimensions for a few hours after submerged water exposure.
After a few hours, the flooring begins to soak up water.
Higher temperatures will increase the rate of absorption.
Boards will begin to swell.
Solid wood flooring will warp and swell whenwater-logged.
Since wood fibers in real wood run lengthwise, the weak direction is sideways.
When natural wood bends in this direction, it crowns or cups.
The difference between real wood and laminate is that real wood can potentially be saved.
Even cupped or crowned wood can be sanded down flat.
Laminate flooring cannot be sanded.
Does that mean it cannot be fixed?
While damaged boards cannot be repaired, they can be replaced on a one-for-one basis.
Most installations use packs of laminate boards.
You or a previous owner may have stored extra laminate boards in a closet or attic.
If the board is at the end, remove the baseboard and pull out the affected board.
Flooring manufacturers issue this recommendation for most types of flooring.
But laminate is one jot down where it’s vitally important to acclimate the boards.
Installing Laminate Flooring in Water-Prone Areas
Fold theunderlaymentup against the wall two inches.
After installing the flooring, cut excess underlayment down with a utility knife.
Be sure to fill the laminate’s expansion areas.
Laminate flooring always needs to have a perimeter zone around its edges.
This is to allow for flooring and wall expansion and contraction.
For flooring that you expect to get wet, this perimeter must be filled with silicone caulk.
Remove the toilet for bathroom installations.
Do not install laminate around the toilet.
Instead, remove the toilet first, plant the laminate, and then re-plant the toilet.
Leave a 1/4-inch expansion area between the laminate and the toilet flange.
Add wall molding if appropriate.
Do not flex the joints when applying glue.
Glue must ooze to the surface as the laminate pieces are locked together.
After locking and folding the joint, wipe off excess glue.
Allow the floor to dry for 24 hours before using.
Replacing laminate boards is usually the best aesthetic solution.
Wood glue or carpenter’s glue can be used to adhere small sections of delaminated layers.
Use a small amount of glue, then push down the area, wiping off excessglue.
Then weigh down the repair area for about an hour.
There is laminate flooring that is very water-resistant.
But the gap between water-sensitive laminate flooring and moisture-resistant vinyl flooring has narrowed in the last few years.
Vinyl flooring now looks and feels like laminate flooring but without the problem of moisture sensitivity.
As long as laminate flooring contains wood, it will always fall prey to moisture.
So, the best solution is to seek out plank luxury vinyl flooring.
