Understanding Waterproof Laminate Flooring and Water Damage Restoration

1/28/2022 (Permalink)

Laminate Flooring is one of the most popular flooring options that homeowners choose for its decorative, functional, durable and cost efficient properties.   Laminate floor gives the appearance of real hardwood floors at a fraction of the cost.  These floors are composed of a laminate surface over an image layer bonded to compressed particle board that interlocks with adjoining pieces.   Traditional laminate flooring is subject to swelling and delamination if it gets wet.  When water gets inside the joints and absorbs into the particle board substructure the results are catastrophic and the flooring must be removed and replaced.  However; there is a new version of laminate flooring that touts that the flooring is waterproof. 

Waterproof laminate flooring has new features including:

• Waterproof seal: First, the surface features a water-repellent seal that keeps spills and moisture from the core.
• Watertight joints: Each plank locks together tightly to prevent water from seeping through. Some waterproof laminate flooring features bevels that wrap over the plank’s edges for even better moisture protection at the joints.
• Water-resistant core: Then, waterproof laminate’s core layer is made of compressed high-density fiberboard (HDF) with resins. This makes it less susceptible to swelling and ensures better water resistance.

These floors can be highly effective if the edges are sealed against the walls to prevent water from getting underneath the floors. If the edges are not sealed and water intrudes between the laminate and the subfloor the flooring will still require removal because the water will be trapped between the laminate, the membrane, and the subfloor.  The trapped water cannot be dried until the laminate flooring is removed. If however; the laminate flooring is manufactured with the bottom membrane adhered to the core, drying can occur if there is a crawlspace that would allow the flooring to be dried from the bottom though the subfloor.  If you have water damage, contact the specialists of SERVPRO of Orange County at 919-245-0788.