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Water Damaged Laminate Floors

Modern laminate flooring can mimic many beautiful materials. Years ago, it was only available in wood-like patterns.  Photo-realistic patterns come in a variety of colors and styles to look like marble, exotic hardwoods or stone. They come in matte, shiny, beveled and ‘hand-scraped’ finishes– the new technology can really fool your eye!

Benefits of Laminate

Cost is often the first reason homeowners consider laminate, but there are many other advantages that can greatly benefit your Coweta County home. We at Restoration 1 of McDonough would like to introduce those advantages to you.

Laminate flooring can be installed quickly. Often, if your subfloor is straight/even and secure, laminate flooring can be placed on top of the existing floor to reduce time and labor costs.  

Laminate floors are great for those w/allergies or those with asthma. Unlike carpet, laminate will not allow allergens or dust to penetrate and settle in. Laminate flooring is kid, pet, and renter friendly.  

Potential Of Water Damage

Other floor coverings are considered impervious to water: ceramic tile, porcelain tile, luxury vinyl plank flooring, sheet vinyl flooring. Laminate flooring is less successful when faced with standing water. Laminate, on the other hand, is made out of recycled hardwood, so it is not waterproof.  Due to its melamine wear layer, it has a tough finish which resists against scratches and may have minor protection against quick spills.

Like hardwood, laminate does not do well with standing water. But unlike hardwood flooring, laminate floors can not be sanded or refinished. If they get wet, they can not be repaired.   

Generally, laminate flooring with open edges will maintain its original dimensions after about two hours of submerged water exposure. After about four hours, the flooring begins to soak up water, and this is considered the point of no return.  

Delamination

Laminate flooring can get wet, but only the top. Laminate flooring sides, open seams, damaged areas, and bottoms can never get wet. Slowly the image layer and wear layer begin to “delaminate” from the top of the board.

You’ll know delamination when you see it because the flooring top layer begins to separate from the core. The floorboards might bubble or hump in the middle, or the top part might peel back from the edges.

Laminate Care Basics

Never allow water to remain standing on your laminate floors for any length of time. Immediately mop up spills; avoid washing your laminate floor with soap, water, oil-soaps, or any type of liquid cleaner to prevent swelling, warping or delamination. Using these products may also void your flooring’s warranty. Steel wool, chlorinated and ammonia-based cleaners or abrasives are also not recommended.

The difference between real wood and laminate is that real wood can potentially be saved. Even cupped or crowned wood can be sanded down flat. Laminate flooring cannot be sanded. While damaged boards cannot be repaired, they can be replaced on a one-for-one basis. Laminate flooring that swells due to moisture must be disassembled and new pieces installed.

24-Hour Emergency Service in Coweta County

Whether you have laminate, hardwood or carpet, water damage will come when you least expect it. But when it does, your Restoration 1 team is ready to jump in and solve your problems. You cannot wait until morning because the damage will just get worse. Restoration 1 of McDonough is available 24/7 to handle emergency damage.

“Our Restoration 1 Promise”

Our promise is that we will use the best materials and above code quality craftsmanship to restore your damaged property.

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