How to Fix Water Damaged Laminate Flooring

How to Fix Water Damaged Laminate Flooring

If you’ve got laminate flooring and water’s gotten into it, you’re probably seeing boards lifting, edges curling, or weird bubbles under the surface. It’s frustrating — laminate looks great and is affordable, but once it gets wet, it doesn’t always bounce back.

Here’s what you can do.

Step 1: Find the Problem

Check where the damage is. Look for swollen edges, boards that don’t sit flat anymore, or spots that feel spongy when you walk on them. You might also notice a musty smell if water’s been sitting for a while.

Step 2: Take Out the Damaged Boards

Sadly, swollen laminate can’t be fixed — you’ll have to replace it. The good news is, most laminate floors aren’t glued down. They’re floating, which means you can usually remove the damaged pieces without wrecking the whole floor. Start from the nearest wall and work your way to the bad boards.

Step 3: Let Everything Dry

Before you put new boards in, make sure the floor underneath is totally dry. If there’s still moisture down there, you’ll just end up with the same problem again. A fan or dehumidifier can help. Don’t rush this part — it’s important.

Step 4: Replace with New Boards

If you’ve got spare boards from the original batch, perfect. If not, try to find the same kind — sometimes flooring shops still carry them, or something close enough. Then just click the new ones into place and you’re done.

Preventing It Next Time

If you’ve had more than one water mishap, it might be worth thinking about switching to something more water-resistant, like vinyl or waterproof laminate. Especially in kitchens, bathrooms, or anywhere spills happen often.

As seen in the Manchester Evening News and the Independent.