Is it possible to DIY? Beneath continuous flooring, moisture can also cause ripped or separate seams, air bubble efflorescence deposits, and other deterioration. Do you compare steam clean vs shampoo carpet cleaning methods? Hello, we installed vinyl plank flooring directly on top of our concrete slab in the basement (the flooring is 100% water proof). Vinyl surface is the fastest to clean. Linoleum or Vinyl Floor. Get a really good dehumidifier to run for several days. There may be a leaky pipe that runs through the ceiling or humid air may be leaking out of a dryer vent. You can scrape it off with a floor scraper or you can cover it with plastic, lay 1/4-inch plywood on top of it, and glue new vinyl to the plywood. Leave it for a while, and if there is any water or moisture in it, you'll know it's coming through the concrete. Vinyl: Many homeowners use vinyl in areas like bathrooms and kitchens that are prone to water. Warning. If the water is not pervasive, you may be able to extract it with a wet-dry vacuum. You'll probably be able to pull the vinyl off of the wettest areas without scraping. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. In this case, linoleum or vinyl floor may trap water in the sub floors underneath, leading to additional damage. I installed vinyl in my bathroom, but it looks awful. Every wood subfloor over a crawl space should be tested for moisture. 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. Website operating DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Do I need to cut it with formica side down? I contacted our insurance, and they would replace the floor, but then there is the $500 deductible regardless. Can You Overlay Several Layers of Old Vinyl With Laminate Flooring? I started to remove a section of the flooring and found there was a good amount of moisture/water under it. Types of Vinyl Flooring. It sounds like there is water beneath the planks. Water under wood laminate flooring. Hello all! All information is provided "AS IS." If you suspect this, call a professional to remove the vinyl. Purchased pre-made side splash that will rest against a pantry cabinet. To allow the sub floor to thoroughly dry, carefully remove the floor … I just know having water under there is a receipe for mold, so I want to make sure I can dry it well, but really really don't want to have to tear everything out to get to it. After thoroughly drying the floor using a mop and towels, run a dehumidifier in the room where the water leak occurred. For example, if you see water draining through the crawlspace, dig a trench outside to divert it. The most popular product in flooring right now! Sound ok? If the floor is spongy, you should replace the plywood subfloor. Mop up spills as they happen and avoid washing or wet-mopping your laminate floor using soap, water, oil-soaps, or any type of liquid cleaner to prevent swelling, warping or delamination. Time is working against you. If water has seeped under sheet flooring, remove the entire sheet.” Dry visible water immediately after floors get wet. 4. Frequently it affects individual unit… Once water has found its way underneath the tiles, the tiles must be removed. ... as I was told by my dad to get a fan on it to try and dry it out, and hopefully it doesnt get any worse. Keep the air moving using a fan directed at the floor. 3. Vinyl flooring is resistant to moisture, however, if there is standing water around the edges or cracks in the flooring, moisture can easily seep in there. That’s a pretty big task. The seams will not allow water or moisture to easily penetrate the locking mechanism so the real worry comes from water that has run under the floor from the edges. COREtec – This popular floor covering will probably hold up the best in instances of flooding. 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. If the water leak is localized in one area, make sure to isolate that area by either closing the door or blocking off the … Even if there is concrete board below the tile, there is still a wood floor under there somewhere. Other harmful effects include damage to flat electrical cable systems, buckling of carpet or carpet tiles, odors, and fungi growth. Pull or scrape the flooring off of a concrete subfloor if moisture is damaging it. To check for moisture in the concrete, tape a large square piece of clear vinyl down using duct tape (at least a foot square) at a time when the floor is very dry. With the vinyl flooring, a little water underneath isn't going to warp the vinyl. It can even damage the concrete itself and corrode steel reinforcements within the concrete. Look at the floor surface in the room. Never allow water to remain standing on your laminate floors for any length of time. The first step is to absorb any water lurking on the surface of the floor. Using these products may also void your flooring's warranty. The fact that these are planks instead of sheet vinyl is beneficial too. I would recommend uninstalling the floor, letting the subfloor and vinyl dry completely and re-install the planks. I pulled up the old caulk sealing it the shower pan and pulled a bit of the vinyl up. If the vinyl predates 1970, the adhesive holding it may contain asbestos. Ventilate the crawlspace with one or two fans for several days -- or even one or two weeks -- to dry out the subfloor. “In vinyl floors with wood subflooring, the floor covering should be removed so the subflooring can be replaced. Unfortunately, if the water is stuck beneath the planks, there is a possibility for mold to start growing under the floor. Air flow in the room in no way translates into no problem under the flooring. If the vinyl is glued, you have two options. When installed correctly, vinyl is fairly waterproof. Vinyl is considered to be as versatile and warm, as carpeting. All rights reserved. Stepping on the floating floor you should not feel it give way, or feel springy, in a specific area. If the subfloor is wood, moisture may be seeping up from the crawl space, and you may be able to dry out the floor from underneath. Flooring over crawl spaces is a nightmare to begin with. Copyright© Although scraping is difficult, you should do it if the subfloor is spongy. The faster you can dry the floor, the better off you’ll be. suggestions. Over a few years it must have kept working its way in. Basements that are wet, or commonly take on water when it rains are most prone to developing mold under flooring. You won’t be able to dry water that has seeped … Address obvious sources of moisture. Loose tiles may be replaced individually if the floor hasn’t been soaked. Hi Gregory, thanks for the question. As long as you have airflow, there shouldn't be any issue with mold either. Water or water vapor rising out of a concrete slab on grade can cause flooring to lose adhesion, to warp, and to peel. Spread tile adhesive on the floor, using a putty knife, and replace the tiles. Vinyl or Tile – In the event of minor spills or leaks, these can simply be dried with absorbent towels. This is a definite sign that there is a rot issue under that area of the flooring. It could take up to 24 hours for the carpets to dry completely. Although vinyl floors are resistant to moisture, mold and mildew can grow if there is standing water around the edges, grooves or under the floor. Second, any water under a floor is a problem. The side splash is about 1.25" too long. How to Troubleshoot Bubbles in Glueless Vinyl Flooring, How to Remove Vinyl Felt Backing From Flooring, Riverwoods Flooring: Protecting Vinyl Flooring from Moisture, The Flooring Lady: Removing Vinyl Flooring, How to Pull a Section of Carpet Up After a Water Leak, How to Repair a Floor & Re-Install the Carpet. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be 4 - Spots On The Flooring. View our Privacy Policy here. Sweep the mop in an S-pattern, without retracing your strokes, to maximize efficacy. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. I'll let it dry, then hit the wood with Killz, let that dry and glue the vinyl back down. When the flooring is dry, remove damaged areas and replace it with new vinyl. However, its sleek surface is much easier to clean. The concrete probably hasn't cured yet, and the only way to dry it out is to uncover it.