Water Damaged Vinyl Flooring

Water damaged vinyl flooring problems are more common over concrete than with vinyl floors installed over wood substrates.

Water damaged vinyl flooring.

Extended exposure to water causes vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring can either be glued to the subfloor or it can float on top of it and either way moisture underneath it causes problems. Over wood the problem is usually a water leak flooding or the underlayment was too wet when installed. Pull up the damaged section of vinyl flooring.

Remove any adhesive on the subfloor. Vinyl flooring damage one advantage to vinyl flooring is its ability to resist water saturation but this is when exposure time is limited. Luxury vinyl planks or tiles are in themselves completely water proof and cannot be damaged by exposure to moisture. This is a bit complicated.

Moisture weakens glue bonds and causes the edges to lift and. When laminate gets saturated by water it absorbs the moisture which in turn breaks down the structure of the flooring. Tiles can also be pushed apart by water damage. Use a sharp utility knife and metal straight edge to cut around the damaged piece of vinyl flooring following the lines in the pattern.

There are a number of signs that point to your floor being water damaged including bending or cracking. Once water has found its way underneath the tiles the tiles must be removed. If a vinyl floor is affected by water damage it can be saved depending on the amount of time the water has been dwelling. Vinyl acts as a vapor barrier and does not allow for evaporation which is needed in the drying process.

Cut a repair patch the same size as the hole from a scrap of vinyl flooring. For that reason they are an excellent choice for laundry rooms bathrooms kitchens and other areas where moisture is around. In the event of significant leaks or flooding it may be possible to save the vinyl or tile but you ll need to pull it up in order to allow the subfloor beneath to dry and to make any necessary repairs.