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How do I Repair Water Damage to a Laminate Floor?

Autumn Rivers
Autumn Rivers

Laminate flooring is typically resistant to water damage, but a large amount of moisture can still eventually destroy the floor. Fortunately, since this type of flooring is made up of several sections locked together, you can usually repair water damage on your own without having to peel the entire floor up. The first step is to dry the wet area so that there is no more water on the surface. You can then remove the parts that are damaged, and then dry the floor underneath. The final step is to put down new laminate in place of the damaged sections.

In many cases, a laminate floor becomes flooded when a dishwasher, washing machine, or refrigerator leaks, though of course standing water of any kind can cause damage. Once the source of the water is determined and fixed, the laminate floor should be dried thoroughly. This task can usually be completed by mopping or using a wet-dry vacuum, depending on the amount of water. Once any excess water is dried up, a fan should be placed on the floor to help dry the floorboards underneath before you repair the damaged sections.

Laminate flooring is made up of several sections locked together, making it easier to repair small damaged sections.
Laminate flooring is made up of several sections locked together, making it easier to repair small damaged sections.

You can typically use a circular saw or crowbar to repair water damage to a laminate floor by removing the wet sections. In most cases, you will need to use a chisel and hammer to start pulling away the damaged pieces without ruining the surrounding surface. The next step is to remove the tongue part of the laminate board using a knife. After you remove the old laminate, you should put a fan on the floorboards in order to dry them before adding new material. This can stop mold from growing in the future as a result of moist floorboards.

Make sure all water is mopped up and floor is completely dried before repair can be done.
Make sure all water is mopped up and floor is completely dried before repair can be done.

Before you put new laminate down, you will need to create a pattern that matches the current flooring. You should then add construction glue, followed by placing the first piece into the correct area according to the pattern. Be sure to wipe off any extra glue before it dries, and then place heavy objects on the area until it is completely dry. You may decide to use nails instead of glue when you repair water damage to a laminate floor. If you choose this route, you will need to nail the first section of the new floorboard to one of the existing sections so that it fits snugly.

Discussion Comments

anon1000063

Sigh! This is not repairing. This is replacing. How do I fix my toaster? Throw it out and get a new one.

anon330849

Such a great idea. It's very informative to know about to repair the water damage in laminate floors.

jennysmith

Although laminate flooring is durable, it can still be damaged by excessive exposure to water, either through a spill, a plumbing leak or a water damage due to flood or rain water.

I think you should remove any underlying material or the vapor barrier that has been damaged due to the large amount of water, so if you find mold sign then you can replace that portion.

Kat919

I'm not sure what you can do if your laminate floor is just one big piece of vinyl! Guess that's why it's important to have things installed correctly in the first place.

In my very first apartment, which was kind of dump (whose first apartment isn't?), they had installed a vinyl floor by just cutting around the outside of the toilet and caulking it down because they were too cheap to have the toilet pulled up, which of course is the approved method. Well, the toilet got a little leak and sewer gas leaked under the vinyl and stained it just terribly.

They fixed the leak but we didn't want them to tear up our bathroom, so we just lived with the stain (and the stains on our living room ceiling from the roof leak that they didn't listen to us about the first time) until we were ready to upgrade to a nicer place!

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    • Laminate flooring is made up of several sections locked together, making it easier to repair small damaged sections.
      By: akf
      Laminate flooring is made up of several sections locked together, making it easier to repair small damaged sections.
    • Make sure all water is mopped up and floor is completely dried before repair can be done.
      By: Mitarart
      Make sure all water is mopped up and floor is completely dried before repair can be done.
    • Laminate flooring can easily be replaced if water damage is irreparable.
      By: Konstantin Sutyagin
      Laminate flooring can easily be replaced if water damage is irreparable.
    • A hammer and a chisel may be needed to remove the water-damaged laminate flooring.
      By: donatas1205
      A hammer and a chisel may be needed to remove the water-damaged laminate flooring.