Have you experienced a leak in the kitchen or bathroom and after drying the surface you still feel water squishing underfoot? This is water trapped beneath the laminate flooring. The next question is how to dry laminate flooring with water under it?
If water is not dried immediately, you run the risk of mold and mildew developing underneath your laminate flooring.
Water and laminate flooring do not blend well. If the water gets under the edges one can pull up molding around the perimeter. A wet/dry vacuum may be used to extract the water that is not pervasive.
How to Remove Water Under Laminate Flooring
Step one:
Take up the affected floorboards, one by one. After you have removed the quarter-round and baseboards the floorboards running parallel to the spill will be easier to remove. Continue to remove the floorboards until you expose all floor areas that have been affected by wetness.
Step two:
The floorboards that run horizontal to the wetness are the most difficult to extract. For this reason, you will need to clear away all these laminate floorboards. Once the boards are removed, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to remove all the water remaining. This takes us to the next step of repairing the water-damaged areas.
Step three:
A lot of floor types are prone to water damage. When you have wooden floorboards, they are solid. These solid floorboards can easily become swollen and welp because of water damage. Real wood floors can be sanded to repair water damage. However, you cannot sand laminate boards, does this mean you will be unable to repair the water-damaged boards?
You will need to replace on a one-for-one basis each damaged laminate board. If the damaged boards are on the ends, you can take off the baseboard and lift up each damaged board. Center boards will need to be cut out using a circular saw’s fine-finish blade.
Step four:
After all the laminate boards are removed and the water extracted, you need to replace the boards. Ensure to allow a perimeter around the edges, this permits contraction and expansion of the walls and flooring. Fill in areas of anticipated wetness with silicone caulking. If appropriate, add the wall molding or you can use the caulking in its place.
Place some glue on the tongue area of each plank, this will make certain they are securely in place. Once you have all the new or repaired planks in place allow the floor to dry for at least 24 hours.
Pro Tips
Once you have the water cleared away, if the flooring still remains wet you need to leave the area exposed. Placing a heavy-duty fan on the area will allow it to dry more rapidly. In some cases, you might need to use a saw to remove damaged sections of the floor.
In addition, use a chisel and hammer to remove the damaged floor pieces. This ensures these areas are removed without causing more damage. You can scrape the softer areas of the floor using the sharp edges of these tools. Once this is complete, verify the fit for each piece is snug.
How to Dry Water from the Boards?
The best way to do this is when the boards have been removed (step 1) lie them flat and place a dehumidifier or high-volume fan in its direction. Do not use heat to dry the boards. This will cause the boards to warp or shrink and they will not fit in their previous position.
How can You Fix Laminate Flooring that has Bubbled Up?
Sometimes the water trapped beneath your laminate flooring will cause it to bubble. When this happens they need to be removed to prevent further permanent damage to your laminate flooring.
Put a damp cloth on the area, using a sharp knife cut a slit in the bubble. Now pour a bit of wood glue into the slit area. Press it down firmly and place something heavy on the area. Leave to set overnight, so it can flatten out and dry completely.
How to Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring without having to Replace it?
When excessive water or moisture has caused your laminate flooring to swell you must remove the moisture underneath. The best way to do this is to create an expansion between the joints. You can decrease moisture by placing a dehumidifier in the room. This will reduce the amount of swelling and bubbling in your laminate flooring.
