I think I have a leak under the laminate floor in my bathroom?

Just want to know if you do get water under laminate will mold grow there or will it dry by itself? My washer over flowed and water got under the t mold in the doorway. Now there is bubbles running down the seam. I tried to dry it with my blow dryer before my husband put back the t mold but I have a feeling it was still wet.

Sherri
February 2010

you maybe able to get someone who will do small repairs it depends how much water there is,is it an underfloor pipe leaking and can it be traced easy,is it in a heavy traffic area or under bath,radiator,i;ve just done such a repair,cutting click and floor underneath radiator under ply floor plastic tee joint and pipe leaking now repaired,replaced with plyboard then support timber battens underneath,wood glued i had a soft spot in floor pumped building foam thru hole drilled in ply gingerly heavy tool box on spot so as floor can'l lift,click floor cut to fit gap on chopsaw siliconed down,polystyrene paper blobbed both sides correct colour silicone,click cut to fit not clicked in place if floors completely soaked i;d remove click cut ply cure leak replace click floor.

vince m
November 2009

Sue, water tends to run downwards i.e. the water you see on the floor will very probably be coming from above (WC, bath or sink) rather than from pipework or drain underneath - you may indeed need to take up the floor or make some kind of repair or not have to bother at all with the floor - whatever you decide to do it will not stop the water from above.

Look to the source of the water first and fix it. It is not unusual for instance for a WC pan to leak from the joint with the close coupled cistern (an easy fix) - just a small amount every time the loo is flushed - a small puddle forms.

When you've found the source of the water and solved the problem give the floor a chance to dry out and then attend to it.

Bathrooms are often relatively small - a completely new set of laminate boards will not cost a fortune and what fun you can have laying them.

Good luck...

Peccavi
October 2009