How to Dry Laminate Flooring With Water Under It [4 Methods]

Laminate floors are more appealing to homeowners than wood floors because they are more appealing to the eye.

He adopted this multi-layered synthetic floor only because of his passion for design.

Laminate floors are quite attractive, and if you keep them away from water, they will last a long time.

If you notice a small amount of water on this type of floor, don’t be concerned.

Water can also collect below its level, in which case the water can be swiftly dried beneath the laminate floor.

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What Causes Water Damage to Laminate Floors?

When you discover water spilled on the laminate floor, there’s no need to panic; just as you need to repair all of these issues, you also need to figure out what caused the damage.

If you have a laminate floor, you should be prepared for these scenarios ahead of time.

It will be simple to clean as long as the water stays on the floorboard; but, if water enters the floorboard’s planks, it may be harmed.

Your laminate floor’s protective layer will attempt to protect it from damage.

Even if water does not reach the gap between the floorboards, the fiberboard core area will become moist, causing the laminate floor to swell.

If you’ve ever used particle boards, you’ll know that when they’re wet, they swell and swell.

When such boards are wet, tables and bookcases made of them are commonly employed in such situations.

This isn’t just a problem with particleboard; it might also be a problem with your floorboard.

The core of the board becomes saturated with moisture if a substantial volume of water can penetrate the board’s seams.

If you discover water bubbles on your laminate floor, you know that water is to blame; water has caused damage to your laminate floor.

Water will inevitably inflate and shatter your floorboard, resulting in a terrible bending situation.

Water on Top of Laminate Flooring is a serious hazard.

Only the top layer of laminate flooring is susceptible to water damage.

The sides, open seams, damaged regions, and bottoms of laminate flooring are all impervious to water.

Remove any standing water as soon as possible since water can seep into the laminate’s seams.

Because the margins of the laminate are sliced and exposed, they represent a greater risk of cracking and breaking.

If the water has reached the edge areas or open seams, use a wet-dry vacuum to thoroughly extract the water from the area. ​

Using laminate flooring in a complete bathroom requires you to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for extreme safety precautions.

Installation in guest or half bathrooms without precautions is permissible because water is not as prevalent as it is in rooms with bathing facilities, therefore there is no need to take measures.

The primary areas of worry in these rooms would be the area surrounding the toilet and the space below the sink.

Water Under Laminate Flooring is a Problem

When water seeps through the subflooring of laminate flooring, it must be removed as soon as possible. Identify any quarter-round (shoe molding) or baseboards that have been exposed to a tiny bit of water along the edges of the flooring and pull them up.

Using a wet-dry vacuum, you may be able to extract the water if it is not too prevalent.

The best course of action is to have the floors removed.

Those floorboards that run parallel to the spill may be quite straightforward to remove (after the quarter-round and baseboards have been removed) because they should slant upward once the last course of parallel laminate boards is lifted.

After then, you can gradually increase the number of boards you have until you reach your desired level.

There are several floorboards that cannot be simply removed, including those that run perpendicular to the spill and the initial course of boards.

This requires the removal of all of the laminate floorboards in this situation.

THE LAYERS OF THE LAMINATE FLOOR

Let’s take a closer look at the many layers that make up laminate flooring to have a better understanding of how water affects it.

Laminate floors are typically constructed of four layers:

1. The backing layer is the layer that touches the ground at the very bottom of the structure.

The backing layer aids in the stabilization of the board on the subflooring and serves as a moisture-resistant barrier.

2. The base or core layer is located above the backing layer and is responsible for providing structural support.

This is the primary structural component, and it is typically constructed of a composite wood substance such as high-density fiberwood.

The image or design layer is responsible for providing the pattern or design on the floorboard.

On thin paper or on a resin layer that is adhered to the substrate, an image is printed out and placed over it.

3. The wear layer is the ultimate and topmost layer, which is composed of numerous layers of clear resin.

This helps to protect the board from normal wear and tear as well as scratches.

This also aids in the prevention of moisture buildup.

Water damage is most likely to occur at the lowest layer of the structure.

Once something has been ruined, the only option is to replace it.

In order to protect your laminate floor in the long run, waterproofing it is the finest thing you can do for it.

As with any home, yard, or property, taking preventative measures will save you time and money in the long run.

4 Methods for Drying Laminate Flooring When there is Water Under It

This chapter will teach you how to remove water from beneath a laminate floor and dry the wet area that has been exposed.

So let’s take it a step further.

Method 1: Use a dry cloth and a fan to dry the area

Preventing water from reaching the floor should be your first priority before beginning any restoration methods.

The greater the amount of water that is present on the floor, the greater the likelihood that it will be ruined.

It is feasible to prevent the growth of mold on wet laminate flooring by following these steps.

As much water as you can use a cloth should be collected.

Small spills can be cleaned up with a cloth or paper towel if they are not too large.

However, if there is more water on the laminate floor, it will take longer and more work to dry it.

If the water depth is greater than one inch, use a vacuum cleaner or a pump to remove it as soon as possible.

Moreover, if the gap is smaller than one inch, a towel will be sufficient.

After the laminate board has been cleaned with water, it is time to dry it.

Remove the floorboards one at a time, being careful not to damage them.

Utilize a fan to dry the floors; if they aren’t allowed to air dry completely, they will bend or warp.

If you already have mold developing on your surfaces, clean them with warm water and dish detergent.

Before you can reinstall them, you must thoroughly clean and sterilize them.

But keep in mind that until the water swells the board, it is possible to repair laminate floor water damage.

Method 2: Use a hairdryer or a heat source to dry out your hair

It will be difficult to dry a laminate floor if the water has not spread over the surface of the floor but has instead gotten below it.

Sometimes water seeps beneath the laminate floor, necessitating the usage of a baseboard to drain the excess water.

It would be preferable if you completed the task before the water totally destroyed the region.

Now, remove the damaged floor section and dry it thoroughly; the longer the water remains under the floor, the more damage it will have done to it.

You must ensure that the wet area is not accessible and that every drop of water is thoroughly cleansed.

And, once you’ve discovered the source of the water, you’ll need to fix it.

To dry the floors and subfloors, you can use a hairdryer or a heater to heat the room.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will not be able to dry the laminate floor until it has been removed from the damp surface.

If you continue to replace the laminate floors on the damp surface, you will cause structural damage to the building.

You will be forced to replace the entire floorboard as a result of the swelling of the flooring board itself.

Method 3: Replace the damaged plank with the extra floorboards that were saved from before.

When it comes to laminate floor repair, water damage is unthinkable; I mean, there is no way to fix it; you have to replace the floors entirely.

If your laminate floorboards have been damaged by water, you will not be able to reinstall them, and even if you can, it will not look nice.

The laminate floorboard, when used in conjunction with another, will cause damage to the linked one.

You are aware that moisture may move quite quickly from one place to another.

What options do you have at this point?

Typically, floors are sent in a package, so you may discover some extras once they have been installed.

You may put those additional floorboards to good use now before some of the floors become damaged.

If you don’t have any leftovers, you’ll have to go out and buy some.

However, you must replace them immediately, or else the entire laminate floor would be damaged.

Method 4: Contact your Homeowner’s Insurance Company

If you are the owner of the property, do not hesitate to contact your homeowner’s insurance company.

They will dispatch a crew to remove the flooring and properly dry the moist subfloor beneath it.

Keep in mind that until you remove the laminate floor, you will never be able to dry the subfloor.

If you carry out the removal operation incorrectly, you could cause even more structural damage and create an environment conducive to mold growth in the process.

Taking advantage of their services, on the other hand, will set you back an arm and a leg.

It is recommended that you get in touch with property management if you are a renter, as this service is completely free of charge to you.

What Should You Do If Your Laminate Floor Gets Wet or If Water Seeps Through It?

If you don’t use any kind of drying instrument to dry the laminate floors, it will take weeks for them to dry.

You’ll need to employ some sort of tools, such as a fan or a high voltage fan.

Generally speaking, if you use high-volume fans, it will take 15-30 hours for the laminate board to dry completely.

However, this time isn’t quite set in stone.

It is dependent on the amount of water that has been spilled and the fan that has been used to dry it.

If you use a conventional, everyday-useable fan, it will take at least one week to dry completely.

However, if you use a high-volume fan with enough power to dry the laminate floors, it will dry in a short period of time.

In 20 hours, your laminate flooring will be completely dry and ready to be reinstalled.

But first, make sure all of the water has been wiped away using a cloth.

If there is a lot of water present, no matter how powerful the fan is, it will not be able to dry off the spilled liquid.

Our Final Thoughts

Even after all of the water has been removed, the floor will still be wet and will need to be exposed for a period of time to dry.

Install a fan on the floor to help speed up the process.

A crowbar or a circular saw may be required to remove sections of the floor that have been damaged.

Using a chisel and hammer, you may remove the broken sections of the floor without causing damage to the areas on the surrounding floor.

Floors under damaged sections are softer and should be scraped with a sharp edge such as a knife or a similar tool to remove the damaged material.

Construction glue should be used while replacing pieces on the floor, and you should check that each piece fits precisely before moving on to the next one.

Frequently Ask Questions