Laminate floors are synthetic floorboards that give natural wood floor aesthetics. Compared to hardwood and other floors, laminate floors are cheaper, reliable, long-lasting, and a better option overall. Laminate flooring is also a go-to option if you have pets or infants in the house. You can clean up a small spill and excessive dirt with this floor while keeping it scratchless and bearing no bends.
What if you expose these floors to moisture? One thing that laminate floors cannot tolerate is excess water. These floors are sturdy and of good quality, but water can take all that away in a few seconds.
Let’s look more into whether laminate floors can get wet or not.
What Is Laminate Flooring?
Why choose laminate flooring, and what is this flooring made from? Laminate floors have four layers. The laminate floors construction process involves subjecting small wood chips to extreme pressure. A design layer is then applied to this laminate plank, and the photographic image layer gives a wooden look to the laminated planks. The final step is the application of the resin layer that sets the design in place.
The correct order of the laminate flooring is:
- Backing Layer: This layer is at the bottom and is directly in contact with the concrete floor. The backing layer stops the moisture between the floor and the laminate planks.
- Core Layer: This is the core of the laminate flooring. The base layer or the core comprises composite wood material subject to compression, and it makes up the main structure of the laminate flooring.
- Design Layer: This layer gives a wooden finish to the laminate floors. It prints an intricate image on a thin paper or clear resin and is glued to the wooden plank.
- Wear Layer: This layer is resistant to everyday wear and keeps the laminate floor fresh. This topmost layer acts as a blockade to moisture.
Why Choose Laminate Floorboards?
Laminate flooring is the best user option on the market. It is strong and sturdy against scratches, bends, stains and is cost-effective. Laminate floors come at a low price with the same features compared to vinyl, hardwood, and other floorboards.
You might even hear that melamine resin in melamine floorboards is better than laminate floors. The truth is, Laminate flooring is better than melamine because it can withstand high heat and different chemicals. Additionally, laminate planks also have a comparatively more dense fiberboard.
Can Laminate Flooring Get Wet?
Laminate flooring is excellent for sustaining everyday wear and water damage to a certain extent. Still, what happens when there is groundwater flooding or further damage because of water exposure?
All the promises about laminate flooring being 100% waterproof aren’t precisely a lie. However, they’re not complete facts either. Laminate floors can handle some spilled water, but constant exposure to moisture can pose additional risks. The top layer of the laminate floor consists of clear resin. It is resistant to water damage and does its job extremely well.
Nevertheless, if the water spill is just on the top layer, you can easily wipe it off and save the floor. However, concerns arise when the water reaches the bottom-most layer.
What Causes Laminate Floors to Be Wet?
Laminate floor water damage is a genuine concern if you use these planks in your house. Laminate flooring can be wet due to excessive water spillage that isn’t allowed to dry appropriately, humidity, and exposure to moisture. You can quickly clean a wet surface from a water spill, but standing water can ruin the floorboard fast.
A few things that you need to care for to avoid irreversible damage to laminate floors are:
- Submerged Water Exposure: Constant exposure to water ruins the laminate boards. Furthermore, any drainage leak or the rise in underground water levels and sewage backup can affect the laminate boards. It is better to plan and then choose where you install the laminate flooring.
- Condensation: If the surrounding temperatures are high, it can cause condensation between the backing layer and the floor. The condensation results in moisture, which can build up over time and result in swollen boards. As a result, you will see, and you will see mold grow.
- Wrong Installation: The laminate floor that got wet has another big culprit; the wrong installation. Incorrect laminate flooring installation can leave gaps and make the planks look weird. These gaps will allow water to seep through, which then causes water damage.
- Moisture: High moisture levels in the surroundings are no friend of yours. Moisture promotes mold growth. Extended mold exposure can also be harmful to your health. Moisture damages the planks significantly, and these damaged planks then require your urgent attention.
How to Fix a Laminate Floor?
The laminate floor that got wet needs to be fixed as soon as possible. The wet areas in the laminate floorboards need addressing to avoid structural damage. To dry laminate flooring, you can follow some simple steps. You can wish to repair laminate flooring yourself or call an expert. Here, we will guide you through the process of doing it yourself.
You can treat laminate floor water damage by doing the following:
- Detect the Cause: To fix a laminate floor, the first step is to detect the cause. You need to know whether the reason is standing water, sewage backup, or moisture. Once you know the problem completely, you can adequately treat the damaged areas.
- Dry the Water: Whether it is a small spill or standing water, dry it out properly. You can use towels or a wet-dry vacuum in severe cases. By the end of this step, make sure there is no remaining water around the laminated floor.
- Remove the Flooring: It’s now time to uninstall the laminate planks. You can carefully remove them one by one quickly and dry them using high-volume fans or regular house fans.
- Disinfect the Floor: Use bleach and strong cleaning methods to disinfect the concrete floor for proper health safety measures. This helps to kill mold that builds up over time. You can also use warm water for thorough cleaning and to prevent odors.
- Reinstall the Laminate Floor: After cleaning, air dry the floor and plank before reinstalling the boards.
Conclusion
Wet flooring can have specific side effects on health and ruin the look of the house. Keeping up with laminated flooring might seem like a hectic task. However, it’s not much more work than any other maintenance job needed around the house. Still, the laminated floor can suffer damage due to exposure to water. As such, this water damage should be treated immediately. Cleaning the laminated floors is simple, and you can do it easily.
You need not worry about getting a laminate floor because of the risk present due to water exposure. It’s not that easy for water to ruin these sturdy floorboards.
Laminate floors are strong, reliable, and low maintenance. They do not require extra care or effort. Just a little checkup now and then is good enough.