Here’s What to Do If You Have a Water-Damaged Floor

Spills, leaks, broken pipes, and floods. There are a lot of ways for floors to become waterlogged and, unfortunately, wet floors can easily become water-damaged floors. Here, we share common signs of water damage in popular types of floors, what to do when spills or bigger disasters happen, some helpful water damage repair tips, and how to cope when your cleanup efforts do not do the trick.

Signs of Water Damage in Different Floor Types

If you come home to find flooded flooring, you can start cleaning up right away. But what if you do not see the event or are not sure you have removed all of the water? Here are some signs to watch for that are indicative of water damage to flooring.

Hardwood

When hardwood is exposed to moisture—from a small spill to a whole-house flood—its fibers swell, and it begins to show signs of damage right away. If you do not clean up the water immediately and completely, the damage can quickly become visible and irreversible. Experts who know how to repair hardwood floors may be able to help in minor cases, but hardwood flooring that is physically damaged will likely need to be replaced.

Here is what you may see in water-damaged hardwood floors:

• Warping: When wood absorbs water, the fibers swell. This causes the entire piece of wood to curl, warp, and shift. With wood flooring, individual planks swell and twist, pushing against each other and causing distortion and damage across the entire floor surface. As the water evaporates and the wood dries, the warping becomes permanent.

• Discoloration: Water displaces and deposits minerals and salts in wood, so when it evaporates, these minerals show up as stains, light patches, and dark patches on the wood surface. You may see rings, lines, speckling, and all-over fading or darkening, depending on the type of wood, amount of water, quantity of minerals and salts present, and how quickly the water evaporates.

• Mold and mildew: Mold and mildew will grow in wood where spores are present. They become activated by water, especially when the water sits for long periods of time or dries slowly. Along with telltale signs like dark spots, fuzzy white patches, and discolored streaks on the surface of the flooring, mold and mildew usually also have a musty smell. Because mold and mildew are living organisms, they continue to grow on, in, and under wood flooring, causing rot or dry rot and increasing damage over time if they like the conditions.

Laminate

Laminate is durable and water-resistant. However, high humidity, pooled water, spills, leaks, and flooding can cause irreparable damage to laminate floors because they contain wood-based materials. You’ll most likely need to replace or repair water-damaged laminate floors after any extended water exposure.

Prevention is best. Clean spills and leaks right away, and do not allow water to pool on the floor, even in small amounts. If flooding happens, pull up the laminate and allow the flooring and subflooring underneath to dry completely. 

Here are common signs of water damage in laminate flooring:

• Discoloration: Even small amounts of absorbed water cause surface discoloration like rings, lines, and fading. When flooring gets soaked, minerals and salts become displaced and move around the wood, eventually settling in concentrated areas as the water dries. Once visible, discoloration usually cannot be fixed.

• Warping: When the wood fibers in the base and top layers of laminate flooring become saturated, they swell and will never shrink back to their original size and shape. As the fibers grow and shift, they force individual boards to change shape and press against neighboring boards, causing the entire floor surface to warp and cup. 

• Buckling and curling: Water that seeps into the fiberboard core of laminate flooring pushes the edges up, making the flooring buckle against adjacent planks and curl. Edges will no longer fit tightly together or be flush and flat. There is no way to repair this once it happens; you will need to replace buckled or curled laminate flooring.

• Bubbling: Bubbling is when small areas on the top layers of laminate rise up and peel away from the underlying board; these areas can look like bubbles under the surface or along edges. Most bubbling happens at the edges of laminate where water is able to seep in, but it can happen in the center of boards if scratches or damaged sealant allows water to get inside.

• Splitting and gapping: Prolonged high humidity is usually the cause of splitting and gapping, but water pooling on the surface can create this problem, too. Water content fluctuations in the air make laminate planks expand and contract, and moisture may gather inside and between planks, causing boards to split and seams between boards to gap and become wide. Keeping an even humidity in your home can help prevent this issue, but once planks lose their original shape, they will likely never return to their original size, and you will always see splits and gaps.

• Cracking: After the water that swells the wood fibers evaporates, the fibers shrink but will not go back to their original size, shape, or space within the laminate boards. This makes the internal and external wood surfaces uneven and can cause areas to form stress cracks.

• Mold and mildew: As with hardwood flooring, mold and mildew can grow inside and on laminate flooring because laminate is made with organic materials. Mold and mildew can cause dark spots, light spots, fuzzy growths, and moldy and musty smells that are impossible to remove.

• Sponginess: When water pervades the interior of laminate flooring, it can make wood fibers shrink, causing gaps and air bubbles under the surface. If these areas are large enough or there are enough of them, they will make the flooring feel soft and spongy underfoot. Laminate boards can also come loose from subflooring after extreme water events, if excess water has dissolved adhesives; this makes the whole floor unsteady.

If you notice any of these signs, contact a professional to find out whether repairs are possible and, if so, how to repair laminate flooring.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is usually water resistant, especially if it is installed as a large sheet with few or no seams. When water gets beneath vinyl, however, it is difficult to see, hard to clean up, and takes much longer to evaporate because of the plasticized surface. For this reason, you might not notice water damage right away if you aren’t looking for signs of water damage underneath your floor.

When it does happen, this is what water damage to vinyl flooring often looks like:

• Discoloration: If you suddenly notice growing dark spots, faded or lightening areas, rings, dirty-appearing areas under the surface, and other discoloration, the culprit may be water under your flooring. Even small amounts of water from leaking pipes or breached subflooring can cause visible discoloring of the vinyl surface.

• Gapping seams: Vinyl flooring seams are normally tightly glued down, but water can loosen that adhesive and cause gaps at the juncture of two pieces of laminate. These edges may separate while remaining flat to the floor, or their edges may peak and curl up and away from the surface of the floor. You may see white salt-like deposits along these gaps (sometimes referred to as alkaline buildup or efflorescence) if the water contains minerals that are left behind after the moisture evaporates.

• Bubbling: Water can collect under the surface of vinyl, causing water bubbles that move and squish as you walk across the floor. Even after the water dries, bubbles can remain if the water permanently stretches the vinyl flooring. Bubbles often appear as a group of many tiny bubbles or larger single bubbles, but you should always take bubbling seriously and investigate the cause, as it can be a warning sign of a leak or water intrusion under your flooring.

• Loose adhesive backing: Vinyl adhesives can come loose when exposed to water, and that can make the flooring above unsteady. You may notice corners and edges coming loose and curling, sections gapping or bubbling, or the middle of the floor wrinkling or gathering if large enough sections of adhesive become loose.

• Mold and mildew: Since vinyl flooring is water-resistant, it will prevent water underneath from evaporating quickly. This traps moisture under the flooring and against the subfloor for long periods of time, which can cause mold and mildew to grow. You may see visible signs of mold and mildew, or you may smell a musty odor coming from the floor.

Carpet

It is hard to miss water damage to carpeting. Carpet fibers and carpet padding will readily soak up water and, if there is enough of it to cause damage, you will likely see it and feel it when you walk across the floor. However, small leaks may not be so obvious, and leaks or flooding that happen when you are away and dry before you return can leave sneaky signs.

Here are signs of water damage to carpeting:

• Wetness. Wet carpeting fibers and a wet carpet pad should be easy to see and feel. Whether it is a small spot or the whole floor, do not ignore wet carpet. Even a little water can seep deep into the pile of the carpet and the pad beneath, causing serious damage if it is not dried quickly and completely. 

• Discoloration. Most carpeting resists fading, but a lot of water can change the color by displacing dyes and leaving mineral deposits. Cheap carpeting or carpets that are not properly dyed can be discolored from small spills.

• Wrinkling or buckling: Water can cause carpeting to stretch or shrink, and if the pad or adhesive below is also wet, the whole floor can change appearance. Carpet may be restretched if it becomes saggy or forms waves on the surface, but you will need to be sure the pad and flooring underneath are not compromised.

• Damaged baseboards. Baseboards that show signs of water damage, such as staining or discoloration, can be an early indicator that the carpeting nearby is also susceptible to water damage. Leaks in walls or between rooms can seep through baseboards and into the flooring, and your first warning that leaks are causing damage to the carpet and flooring underneath may be the baseboards.

• Mold and mildew. Even a single spilled glass of water is enough to cause mold or mildew to grow in carpeting under the right circumstances. Mold spores are everywhere, and dampness in carpeting and the pad below can allow mold to grow in as little as 24 hours. Mold and mildew may look like discoloration or fading or may be invisible and simply smell musty. 

Linoleum 

Like vinyl flooring, linoleum is generally considered water-resistant, so when water damage happens, it is usually the result of water getting underneath the flooring and compromising the subfloor and bottom of the linoleum. Linoleum tiles, however, have more seams than linoleum sheet flooring, so they are at greater risk of water damage from flooding, leaks, and even minor spills.

You may not see as many visible signs as with wood and carpeting, but you should watch for these signs of water damage in linoleum flooring:

• Staining: Most early signs of water damage to linoleum present as staining and discoloration on the surface of the flooring. Stains that seem to be coming up from under the floor are often a sign of water intrusion. Watch for ring-shaped stains and discoloration, faded areas, and spots that look like puddles under the surface of the linoleum.

• Bubbling: Water can cause bubbling under the surface of linoleum. These bulges can be full of water or air, and they may be large or small, presenting as single or groups of bubbles.

• Curling: Edges and seams can come loose and curl when exposed to water. These areas may then curl up as they dry, creating sharp points and tripping hazards. Once the linoleum backing becomes wet, it can permanently warp, and there is no way to make it flat again.

• Splitting seams: When water gets under linoleum flooring, it may cause seams to split and separate. This can be due to curling or damage to the actual flooring, or it can be because the adhesive comes loose and no longer secures the seam areas to the subfloor.

• Spongy feel: Dry rot to the floor underneath linoleum is a real danger since moisture trapped under linoleum flooring has a hard time evaporating. This trapped water can cause wood subfloors to rot, crumble, and have a spongy feel underfoot as air pockets and gaps replace solid flooring that is breaking down.

• Mold and mildew: Musty smells, dark spots, discolored dots, mold that appears soft or fuzzy, and mildew’s distinctive splatter-like pattern are all signs of mold and mildew. These often grow under the flooring, with their spores feeding on the combination of moisture and organic materials trapped under the linoleum. 

Linoleum flooring that is damaged will likely have to be replaced. You can learn how to install linoleum flooring yourself if you are very handy, or contact an expert for help.

Tile

When tile is installed correctly and remains tightly affixed to the floor and surrounded by watertight grout, it is very hard for water to get between the tile and the subfloor. But damaged tile, cracked grout, water leaks under the subfloor, and flooding events will cause water damage to tile floors.

Most of the damage will be invisible and under the surface of the tile, impacting the subfloor, but here are some signs to watch for in tile floors:

• Loose tiles: Moisture can make tiles come loose by dissolving the adhesive that sticks tiles to the subfloor. If you notice tiles coming loose or shifting without another explanation (like water on the surface or too-thin subflooring), you should check for water or moisture under your tiles.

• Warping: Subflooring under tiled floors can warp, dip, shift, and soften if it is compromised by water. If your floor was even and suddenly starts showing signs of being uneven or having soft spots, water may be to blame. This can come from a leaky pipe underneath, water wicking up from the ground, or a large event that caused water to get in between the tiles and cause dry rot in the subfloor.

• Wet grout: If your tiles are not wet but your grout lines are consistently damp or wet, or you see water coming up through the grout, you can be reasonably sure there is water underneath your tiles. Take wet grout seriously, as it can be an early indicator of a hidden problem.

• Musty smells: Tiles will not rot or grow mildew themselves, but if your tile floor starts smelling musty, it can be a sign that mold or mildew is growing under them. Moisture that becomes trapped between tiles and the subfloor can grow mold in that dark environment, and smell may be your only sign that something is going wrong.

• Mold and mildew growing between tiles: Ceramic and stone tiles do not harbor mold and mildew, but the grout between them can. Mildew and mold growing between tiles is a sign that water is getting in or is trapped underneath. Look for green or black mold growth, spreading mildew flecks, and discoloration of grout.

• Damage to walls: Water damage is often more visible on walls than it is on tile floors. Because walls are more likely to soak up water and show discoloration or bulging than tiles, you should take any water damage to walls seriously. Water from leaking roofs can come down walls and seep into flooring, or water from leaking pipes can seep up into the subfloor and the walls.

What You Should Do When You Discover Water-Damaged Floors

Coming home to a flooded floor can strike panic in the heart of any homeowner. But before you despair, start drying, cleaning, and sanitizing floors as quickly as possible to mitigate damage. Follow these tips to take care of flooded floors and restore them to their former glory. 

1. Safety First

Before getting started, make sure your electricity is shut off in the flooded area to prevent electrocution hazards. If the electrical box is located in a damp or flooded area, call an electrician to assist you.

You should also wear protective gear like durable boots, gloves, goggles, long pants, and a mask before you start flooded-floor remediation.

2. Remove Water

If you have sitting water, you will need to remove it quickly before it causes serious water damage to your floors and the rest of your home. If there is major flooding, call in a local water damage remediation pro to assist you instead.

• Bucket: Use a plastic bucket to start scooping up the water from the floors.

• Wet-Dry Vacuum: A wet-dry vacuum, or shop vac, will be able to help remove about five to 10 gallons of water per minute. Do not use regular vacuums for sucking up water, as they are not designed to handle water and pose an electrocution risk. If there is major flooding, you will need to do this in stages, so it is best to call in a professional.

• Squeegee: After you remove most of the water, use a squeegee to push smaller puddles of standing water outside or toward the wet-dry vac for collection.

• Mop: Finally, use a mop to soak up any remaining water on the floor.

3. Dry Floors and Subfloors

Water damage can start within one hour of flooding, and mold can start growing within 24 hours. Drying out the room as quickly as possible is crucial to saving flooded floors. Leave fans, dehumidifiers, and the air conditioner constantly running to help dry out the room.

• Windows: So long as the weather is favorable—preferably dry and sunny—open up the windows to help circulate fresh air.

• Air Conditioners: Air conditioners do not just cool the air inside your home. They also can dry out the air.

• Fans: Turn on fans to circulate air.

• Dehumidifiers: Dehumidifiers will help remove moisture from the air.

4. Clean Flooded Floors

Once you have removed the bulk of the water and started the drying process, you will want to get a jump on cleaning your flood-damaged home to remove any mud, dirt, or other debris. If the floors are muddy after flooding, shovel out the mud before you start cleaning the floors.

A note of caution: If the flooding is severe or contains possible biohazardous materials, such as sewage or other biological waste from animals or people, hazardous waste, chemicals, living or dead animals, or electrical hazards like downed power lines or dangerous debris, play it safe and call an expert instead.

Carpeted Floors

As soon as you can, remove the carpet to prevent mold growth or buckling of the subfloor. Unfortunately, if indoor carpets and their padding are flooded, they often soak up contaminated water and will need to be replaced. You might be able to save outdoor carpets or basement carpets that are placed above concrete subfloors.

• Use a wet-dry vacuum to soak up as much water as possible.

• Pull up carpets to dry or replace the padding beneath them.

• Use an extraction or steam cleaner on carpets. Alternatively, hire a local professional carpet cleaner for the deepest clean.

• Sanitize with disinfectant spray.

Hardwood Floors

After removing water from the floors, there may be dirt and debris left behind. After cleaning the floors, you may also have to inspect hardwood floors further for any buckling or damaged planks. The cost to refinish hardwood floors is less than replacing them, so it may be worth talking with a hardwood flooring company if you see remaining damage.

• Use a non-sudsy disinfectant cleaner and a gentle brush to scrub away dirt from the floors.

• Go over the floors with the wet-dry vacuum.

• Follow up with a wood floor cleaner to remove any residue from the disinfectant cleaner.

• Rinse the wood floors to remove any last bits of dirt and cleaner.

• Dry floors thoroughly with a wet-dry vacuum and by continuously running fans, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners.

Vinyl, Linoleum, and Laminate Floors

These types of floors can trap water after a flood, causing water damage to the subfloor. Before you clean these types of flooring, you will need to remove them to inspect the subfloor and let it dry completely. Once the subfloor is dry, you may put down new replacement vinyl, linoleum, or laminate floors. If the original vinyl, linoleum, or laminate floors were not damaged in the flood, you can dry them out completely, then clean and replace them.

• Use soap, warm water, and a scrub brush to remove dirt.

• Rinse with water.

• Dry completely with the wet-dry vacuum.

Tile Floors

Tile floors are pretty water-resistant, so cleaning flooded tile floors is a simple job. You may need to pull up one or two tiles to check the subfloor for water damage, but generally, the tile and grout will prevent water from soaking into the subfloor.

• Scrub the floor with soap and warm water.

• Rinse away the cleaner with water.

• Dry-mop the floors to soak up any remaining water.

5. Prevent or Remove Mold

Mold can start growing within 24 hours and, once it starts, it is hard to stop it. If there is no mold yet, you can prevent it. But if the mold has started growing, you can still remove it to stop it from spreading further.

How to Prevent Mold on Flooded Floors

The key to preventing mold is drying the flooded floors as quickly as possible. Pull up flooring to dry out subflooring, as it can become a hotbed for mold growth when wet. If the subflooring has extensive water damage, you should replace it to prevent mold from growing beneath your replaced flooring.

• Dry floors with a wet-dry vacuum and fans, dehumidifiers, fresh air, and air conditioners.

• Sanitize floors with diluted chlorine bleach with a ratio of one cup of bleach to one gallon of water.

How to Remove Mold From Flooded Floors

If possible, hire a mold removal specialist to handle this job. Mold can be dangerous, and you may end up with mold spores in the air if you clean it yourself. If you choose to do it yourself, take the following precautions:

• Wear an N95-rated or higher mask to protect yourself from mold spores.

• Scrub the floor with a solution of one cup of bleach for every one gallon of water and a stiff brush. You can also use baking soda and water.

• Let the bleach solution sit for 15 minutes.

• Rinse the bleach or baking soda away with water.

• Use a wet-dry vacuum to remove any remaining water.

6. Sanitize Floors

Whether you find mold or not, it is important to sanitize floors. Standing water may contain dirt or other contaminants. Create a sanitizing solution with the following household products:

• Combine one cup of bleach for every one gallon of water.

• Use a squeegee or scrub brush to clean the floors with the diluted bleach.

• Let the bleach solution air-dry to sanitize the floors thoroughly.

How Much Does It Cost to Repair Water-Damaged Floors?

Water damage restoration costs an average of $1,400 to $6,300, with flooring repair or replacement making up a significant part of that total. Floor repair or replacement costs an average of $3 to $20 per square foot, depending on the type of flooring. If the water has also damaged the subfloor, replacing subflooring averages from $3 to $10 per square foot.

When to Call a Pro

Unfortunately, if the floodwater has been sitting for several hours, you may need to replace the flooring. In addition to being susceptible to mold, items that sit in flooded water for long periods of time could also be contaminated. If you are unsure of how to properly clean and sanitize your floors, you may want to consult a floor repair company near you. Hire a water damage restoration company for serious flooring damage—they can assess whether the problem is more widespread than you can see and fix or replace any damaged materials.