Wet Subfloor Under Vinyl

Drying subfloor after flood damage can seem like a daunting task.

Wet subfloor under vinyl.

After 72 hours pull the tape off the floor. Concrete subfloor test the floor for moisture. Moisture weakens glue bonds and causes the edges to lift and. If it is easy to pull up your subfloor has too much moisture for vinyl.

In an area such as a kitchen or bathroom sheet vinyl flooring and water are generally a good match. Test the moisture content of your concrete subfloor. Tape a 3 foot square piece of scrap vinyl to the concrete with duct tape sealing the edges tight. Chip off ceramic tiles using a masonry hammer and cold chisel.

It is generally made of inch plywood which is quite strong until water is allowed to sit on it. Remove the tiles over the damaged area of the subfloor. Water damaged vinyl flooring is often unexpected. This will also help the subfloor to dry faster.

The key is to isolate the area to use the dehumidifier followed by circulating air using the fans. Keep this process going until moisture is gone. Seal in the edges so no air can escape. If you remove a few floorboards one every 5 10 feet 1 5 3 0 m should be fine will allow your floorboards to expand without buckling or cracking.

Remove a few boards to let the others expand and dry the subfloor. Another option is to tape a piece of your vinyl flooring to the concrete for 72 hours. Carpet vinyl laminate etc. Vinyl flooring can either be glued to the subfloor or it can float on top of it and either way moisture underneath it causes problems.

When wood floorboards get wet they swell. Leave the vinyl in place for 72 hours. However equipped with a dehumidifier and some fans it is easier than you think. You can do this with a moisture meter ensuring that your reading is no more than three pounds per 1 000 square feet per 24 hours.