Updated at: 05-09-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

What should I do if a Pergo floor board gets wet? The best course of action is to get new flooring. There is a quick and easy way to bring back your floor’s original beauty. Don’t worry about musty odors or warped floorboards; we’ve got you covered.

The Benefits Of Using Pergo Flooring

Whenever you think of laminate flooring, you automatically think of Pergo. These floors mimic the appearance and texture of hardwood without the high cost or extensive maintenance it would require.

How Can I Mend A Water Damaged Pergo Plank: 4 Easy Steps - Krostrade

The elegant appearance of this flooring makes it a great choice for formal rooms like bedrooms and living rooms. Additionally, Pergo flooring has some other wonderful features:

1. It’s easy to install

Laminate floors are easy to install since they do not need to be fastened to the subfloor. If you are an experienced builder, you can do many of the lesser tasks on your own.

2. It’s durable

Laminated wood is protected from spills and stains by a layer of glue that is impervious to water. Taking careful care of the planks will ensure that they don’t fade and can last for up to 25 years.

3. It’s low maintenance

Laminate flooring is easy to maintain because it only requires a dry mop or vacuum to eliminate dust. Keep in mind that damp mopping might lead to wood expanding over time, so it’s best to avoid doing that.

4. It’s budget-friendly

To clean laminate floors, you need only use a dry mop or vacuum to get rid of dust. Just don’t use a damp mop on wood floors; it can cause them to expand over time.

How Do Floors Become Water Damaged?

Laminate flooring can be easily maintained with a dry mop or vacuum to remove dirt and debris. Avoid using a damp mop if you care about preventing wood expansion over time.

But if your floor gets too damp, that can cause problems. A neglected section of Pergo flooring will eventually expand and develop mold.

There are many potential causes of water damage to laminate flooring. The most prevalent reason is broken or corroded pipes.

Because pipes run underneath your home, your floors will sustain the most damage. You’ll have a hard time retrieving your planks from the sea.

It is important to identify the cause of the leak before replacing the floors, as water damage can also arise from leaking appliances.

It’s also not a good idea to put Pergo in the bathroom or kitchen. In these spaces, the laminate boards are susceptible to warping because of the excessive humidity.

Step-By-Step Process On How To Mend A Water Damaged Pergo Plank

Despite the difficulty, you shouldn’t put off starting your endeavor. If you have the right equipment, finishing the task will be a breeze.

Step #1. Repair the leak

A new floor installation can’t begin until the leak is fixed. Check for water seepage from nearby appliances or the pipes. If the damage to the pipes is severe, you should get a plumber out there.

Step #2. Prepare your tools

The only tools and supplies you’ll need are flooring adhesive, a utility knife, hammer, and pliers, a cleaning solution, replacement underlayment material, and safety goggles. When replacing floorboards, it’s important that the new ones blend in with the old ones.

Step #3. Remove the water damaged planks

You can pry the wood away from the edges with a putty knife. Remove the damaged plank in its entirety even if just a small part is compromised. First, check the subfloor for mold and thoroughly clean it before putting the new plank.

Step #4. Put the new planks

Make sure the subfloor is dry and mold-free before installing the new flooring. The new laminate flooring should be laid out before the adhesive is put. Putting something heavy on top of the board for at least two hours will ensure that it stays in place.

Now you’ve completed the task! Minor water damage can be fixed by yourself, but if the affected area is vast, it’s best to call in the pros.

How To Know If Your Home Insurance Covers Water Damage On Floors

When you’re finished here, you’re finished. Small water damage is simple to repair, but if the affected area is sizable, professional help is recommended.

Homeowners insurance is one alternative, as it sets aside a specific sum of money to cover things like repairs or replacement.

The extent of your house insurance coverage will depend on both your policy and the nature of the damage. It’s important to distinguish between three distinct kind of water damage:

  • Leaking or overflowing water is referred to as “clear water.”
  • It’s true that this water contains some undesirable contaminants. Most of the time, broken machinery or a blocked toilet are to blame.
  • Black water, which comes from the sewer, poses a major health risk if it leaks into a building and causes flooding.

Different manufacturers take unique approaches to hardwood and laminate flooring. Keeping track of when and how much water damage occurred will help you negotiate a fair payout with your insurer.

Get in touch with your legal counsel if you feel you need it. If you have a lawyer on your side, you may be able to negotiate a fair settlement with your insurer.

How to Save Your Laminate Floors From Water Damage

Laminate flooring should not be submerged in water. Water-resistant flooring options include ceramic or porcelain tile, luxury vinyl plank, and sheet vinyl. In contrast, solid hardwood, bamboo, and engineered wood are at the upper end of the price spectrum and may require more planning for a bathroom with a shower or bathtub.

Laminate flooring is the last type we will discuss. If not installed correctly, laminate flooring in wet places can be a disaster. If laminate flooring is put according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, it should be able to withstand water.

Water Tests

When laminate flooring becomes wet, what happens to it? Laminate flooring is submerged in water for an entire day for testing purposes, but the damage is already done far sooner.

Laminate flooring with exposed edges usually stays the same size after being submerged in water for around two hours. After roughly four hours, there is no turning back from the flooring soaking up water. As the temperature rises, the rate of absorption improves. Boards with an initial thickness of 5/16 inch will grow to 7/16 inch and beyond.

De-Lamination

Over time, the top layer of the board, which contains the image, begins to detach from the worn layer. It takes a full two days for laminate to dry once it has been applied. Laminate flooring often needs many weeks or even months to dry after installation. Laminate flooring can never be returned to its original size after drying. This means that laminate floors must be kept dry at all times.

How To Repair Swollen Laminate Flooring Without Replacing - Home o'Clock

Water on Top of Laminate Flooring

Water will only penetrate the top layer of a laminate floor. It is impossible for water to penetrate a laminate surface as long as there are no cracks or holes in it.

When laminate is left unused for a long time, water can seep into the seams. Since the laminate has been chopped and the exposed edges have been left exposed, the situation is more precarious there. In order to completely get rid of any water that has made its way to the edges or exposed seams, a wet-dry vacuum should be employed.

The manufacturer’s guidelines must be strictly adhered to when laying laminate flooring in a full bath. Since there is less need for water in a guest or half bathroom than in a master bathroom with a bathtub, they can be placed without restrictions. In these washrooms, the toilet and the space behind the sink would be the most vulnerable points.

Water Under Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring requires immediate water extraction if water penetrates the subflooring. If there is even a drop of water on the floor, you must remove the quarter-round (shoe molding) and baseboards around the room’s perimeter. If the moisture is not too pervasive, a wet-dry vacuum could be used to get rid of it.

Do away with the infested flooring immediately. The last course of parallel laminate boards should slant upward once the quarter-round and baseboards have been removed. When you’re ready, you can increase the number of boards in use.

It will be difficult to remove the initial course of boards or the boards that run perpendicular to the spill. The laminate flooring in this room must be completely removed.

Fixing Water-Damaged Areas

Numerous flooring materials, including laminate, can be harmed by prolonged contact with water. A wooden floor will expand and warp if it is constantly exposed to water. Because its fibers run in a longitudinal direction, real wood is weakest in a transverse direction. As it curves this way, natural wood develops a crown or cup. Even water-resistant floors, such as vinyl, can have their paper backing deteriorate if water gets underneath them.

While real wood may be repaired, laminate cannot. The cupped or crowned shape of the wood is irrelevant. Laminate flooring cannot be sanded. Can it be fixed at all?

In the event that a damaged board cannot be repaired, it can be replaced individually. Prefabricated building materials often include laminated board packs. A certain number of extra boards are included in every pack, so there is no possibility to run out. It’s possible that you, or the previous owner, have a supply of laminate boards tucked away somewhere. If the damaged board is at the very end, remove the baseboard along with it. The broken plank in the centre can be removed with a circular saw equipped with a fine-toothed blade.

Tip

Before installing new flooring, whether it’s a whole room’s worth or just one board, make sure to give the laminate time to acclimate to the temperature in the room.

Installation in Water-Prone Areas

If you’re installing laminate in a bathroom or near a sink, dishwasher, or ice maker, be sure to follow these installation guidelines.

Be sure to adhere to these instructions when putting laminate in a wet area or close to a water source such a sink, dishwasher, or ice machine.

When remodeling a bathroom, the toilet must be removed. Don’t put laminate down there, it’ll just get in the way of the flushing. To lay laminate flooring, first remove the lavatory. Leave a 1/4-inch expansion gap between the laminate and the toilet flange. The lamination won’t crack if you do this.

Crown molding for the walls should be installed if possible. After the molding is complete, the base of the shower or bathtub must be caulked using silicone caulk. Fill in the perimeter with silicone caulk, leaving a 1/4-inch gap if you don’t wish to use molding.

The tongue piece of the plank should be glued in problem areas, even if the planks are lock-and-fold laminate. Joints should not be bent prior to or during the application of glue. Glue must seep out from the laminate’s surface as it is bonded. After the joint has been locked and folded, any excess glue should be wiped away. Leave the floor out in the open for at least a day to dry before walking on it.

How to Clean Pergo Laminate Floors Like a Pro

Laminate flooring is easy to maintain, and understanding how to clean your Pergo floors can keep them looking beautiful for years to come. You can get both natural and commercial products that will clean your floors thoroughly and leave them spotless and dust-free. Also, you’ll learn several things to avoid when working with Pergo flooring.

The Best Way to Clean Pergo Floors Naturally

If you want to avoid having to do a lot of heavy cleaning all the time, make an effort to clean up small messes as soon as they occur. Once a week, perhaps more often if you have pets or a big family. You may either dry mop or wet mop your Pergo floors. However, certain supplies for cleaning will first be required.

Materials You’ll Need

For green cleaning, you’ll need these supplies:

  • A piece of sweeping equipment
  • Broom
  • You should vacuum the floor using a soft brush attachment.
  • Mop
  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Towels that are soft and gentle on the skin while yet doing their job.
  • A Swiffer vacuum cleaner

Sweeping and Dusting Pergo Floors

Because of this, you can clean your Pergo floors with a minimal amount of water. This will be useful for the regular vacuuming of pet hairs and dust.

  1. The floor can be swept with a Swiffer, a dusting mop, or a regular broom with a brush.
  2. Using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment is safe for floors.

You should make the practice of dry cleaning your floors a regular part of your routine. An already laborious cleaning operation could become even more so if dust and dirt are allowed to build up.

How to Clean Pergo Floors: Wet Method

Sometimes, sweeping isn’t going to cut it when it comes to cleaning your floors. Simply grab a bucket, some vinegar, and a mop for the wet method.

  1. Mix one cup of vinegar with one gallon of warm water in a bucket. Instead, you should only use warm or hot water.
  2. Mop must be thoroughly wrung out in the water mixture before use. The floor should be kept moist, but not soaked.
  3. You need to sweep and mop the whole floor.
  4. If you come across any particularly soggy spots or puddles, simply soak them up with a fluffy towel.

Commercial Pergo Cleaner

You can clean your Pergo floors with water and vinegar, but you may also try other professional cleaners like Meyer’s Clean Day or Bona Multipurpose Cleaner. Shops specializing in home improvements are a solid bet for finding these. You should only use them on stubborn stains when you absolutely have to. A second well-liked laminate cleaner is the Swiffer WetJet.

How to Prevent & Repair Water Damage to Laminate Flooring | Claude Browns

Cleaning Pergo Floors With Swiffer WetJet

We were unable to locate a Swiffer WetJet model specifically designed to clean laminate flooring. Laminate flooring can be cleaned using the provided all-purpose cleaner. One of the first things to do when using a Swiffer WetJet is to insert the cartridge. Spray the floor with cleaning solution, and then wipe it down thoroughly. Misting the flooring rather than soaking it is recommended by most manufacturers. Wet spots on the floor shorten its useful life.

Tips for Cleaning Stubborn Stains

Try these suggestions if you’re having trouble eliminating stubborn stains.

  • Additionally, grease, juice, chocolate, or wine can be removed off a surface by using a solution of ammonia and water.
  • Nail Polish Remover with Acrylonitrile Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (Acetonitrile)
  • Strong plastic scraper is useful for scraping candle wax and chewing gum.
  • To eliminate scratches, simply use a towel soaked in vinegar.
  • Use a mix of vinegar and water to gently wipe away any fingerprints or smudges.

Cleaning Pergo With a Steam Mop

Laminate floors, including those made by Pergo, should not be cleaned with a steam mop. Armstrong Flooring warns that extremes of temperature and humidity can wreak havoc on their flooring products. Although it hasn’t been tried and proven, you can get more details by contacting a local flooring distributor. Cleaning with vinegar and hot water is recommended whenever possible.

Cleaning Techniques to Avoid

To preserve the quality of your Pergo flooring, you should not do the following:

  • Waxing
  • Sanding
  • Refinishing
  • Soaps
  • Detergents

Several of these cleaning products and procedures can also leave a coating behind, in addition to causing surface damage.

Keeping Your Floor Beautiful

Laminate floors, such as those made by Pergo, may be easily wiped down and disinfected. If you start maintaining your floors now, you can keep them looking great for years to come.

FAQs

Can water damaged laminate flooring be repaired?

A laminate floor repair kit can be used to correct minor concerns including water damage, scratches, and laminate boards that lift and buckle. If you have deeper issues with your subfloor, you may want to consider consulting an expert. Repairing laminate flooring is possible by following these steps.

Can Pergo flooring be repaired?

Scratched or damaged Pergo floors can be repaired with kits available from authorized retailers. Make sure the kit you receive corresponds to the model number on your flooring for an exact color match. The flaws can be patched using the kit’s included applicator.

How do you fix wet laminate flooring?

Find the source of the water and shut it off immediately. 2 Look for damaged plans in the locking system. 3. Determine Which Tools Are Necessary For The Job. Getting beyond the Surface Problems Repair or Replace the Damaged Planks The final step is to reinstall the flooring.

Is laminate flooring ruined if it gets wet?

Find the source of the water and shut it off immediately. 2 Look for damaged plans in the locking system. 3. Determine Which Tools Are Necessary For The Job. Getting beyond the Surface Problems Repair or Replace the Damaged Planks The final step is to reinstall the flooring.

Can you fix swollen laminate flooring?

Remember to track down the source of the water problem and fix it. As a second step, check the locking system for any mangled blueprints. Third, get the right tools for the job. Dissecting the Problem Without Prejudice Fix the Rotten Boards or Get New Ones The last step is to put the flooring back down.

Will mold grow under laminate flooring?

There will always be a problem if there is mold or moisture trapped behind the lamination. The mold spores will still be there even if the leak stops (which is not a guarantee). Mold growth can be revived with even a small amount of water if the spores are already present.

How do you reseal a Pergo floor?

Place a silicone tube in a caulk gun, then pull the trigger until you feel resistance. There may be a leak if there is no movement in the silicone. Nail or skewer the seal by inserting the end through the tip.

How do you restore Pergo flooring?

Caulk guns are used by inserting a silicone tube and then pulling the trigger against some sort of resistance. If the silicone doesn’t wiggle around, there could be a leak. Insert the end of the nail or skewer through the seal’s tip.

Repairing Water Damaged Laminate Flooring - Damage Choices

Is Pergo waterproof flooring really waterproof?

A silicone tube can be used in a caulk gun by inserting it and pulling the trigger until resistance is felt. If the silicone doesn’t flex at all, there could be a leak. Drive a nail or skewer through the seal’s tip.

What happens if you spill water on laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring with exposed edges usually stays the same size after being submerged in water for around two hours. After roughly four hours, there is no turning back from the flooring soaking up water.

Is Pergo waterproof?

Technology called WetProtect® is used in Pergo® Waterproof Floors. This innovation offers a lifetime surface and underfloor warranty, making it the only watertight warranty of its kind.

How long does it take for water to damage laminate flooring?

Laminate floors typically dry in 12 to 36 hours when dehumidifiers and high-velocity fans are used. This equation takes into account both the volume of water and the number of affected stories.

Does water under laminate cause mold?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, your home is unsafe and in need of laminate floor installation immediately. Mold grows quickly in the dark and in the presence of moisture, such as when water is trapped between floorboards.

What do you do if you get water under vinyl plank flooring?

In the event of flooding, it is imperative that the subfloor be completely dry before any vinyl restoration can begin. Dehumidifiers and fans can help reduce moisture in the air while you get to the bottom of the problem and repair the leak, wet crawlspace, or standing water.

What causes laminate flooring to buckle up?

Buckles or warping are almost always the result of water or moisture damage. In many ways, water can negatively affect laminate flooring. When there is a lot of moisture in the air, buckling or warping might occur. Too much water on the floor might cause it to bend or distort.

What does water damage look like on laminate flooring?

Symptoms of a Floor Made of Laminate That Needs Repair Here are some warning signs to keep an eye out for: The planks’ ends, in particular, are puffed outwardly. Using cups causes the boards to curve upward from one end to the other, whereas using crowns causes the curve to start in the centre of the board and rise outward past the edges.

How do I know if my laminate floor has water damage?

There are two unmistakable symptoms that water has harmed your laminate flooring: buckles and discolouration. Splitting. Cracking. Discoloration. The mold is plain to see. There is a musty smell in the air.

How do you get rid of black mold on laminate flooring?

Clean Off Your Laminate Floors! Combine equal volumes of vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water in a bucket and use that to clean the floor. Use the spray on the exposed laminate and allow it to dry. To clean gently. When necessary, start over.

Can you replace damaged laminate flooring?

To fix small damage to a laminate floor, you can use a filler substance. If the damage is significant, you may need to replace the plank; thus, you should have kept several substitutes on hand. You may finish the job in under two hours without any help. Have a look at our comprehensive guide on how to install laminate flooring.

Conclusion

Perhaps you’ve wondered, “How can I fix a Pergo plank that has been damaged by water?” If the water damage isn’t too bad, you can fix the minor stuff yourself and call in the pros for the major stuff.