Can Engineered Hardwood Get Wet

When wood floorboards get wet they swell.

Can engineered hardwood get wet.

Nails may begin to lift glue may release causing separation between floor pieces and tongue and groove floors often cup or buckle when moisture has been absorbed. It is simply a bad idea to install carpeting in bathrooms and other wet places. Wood can work in a kitchen especially if it s engineered hardwood flooring sometimes called laminate hardwood flooring which has a sturdier more water resistant plywood base a hardwood veneer and usually costs more than laminate. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when cleaning engineered wood floors is cleaning the floor with a wet mop.

Regardless no engineered hardwood floor is meant to withstand flooding. Unlike other solid floors that are cleaned with a bucket of cleaning solution and a wet mop engineered wood floors can get damaged if subjected to this method of cleaning. Yes they can at least once. Floors with a wear layer less than 2 millimeters thick can tolerate a light scuff sanding with a buffer.

M ajor storms like sandy can cause extensive water damage to hardwood floors but panicked homeowners should not rush to replace what appears to be beyond repair. An engineered floor with a 3 millimeter top for instance can handle two refinishings. Thicker top layers can be sanded just like solid wood allowing you to erase deeper scratches and dents. Use fans to move the air around in your home.

A flooded hardwood floor can have up to 40 moisture content and can retain well above the normal amount of moisture for weeks if left to dry on it s own. Once wet carpet dries out very slowly promoting mold and mildew growth. Unlike solid hardwood engineered hardwood can go over concrete under the right conditions like in a condo. And some people say it can also be installed below grade too in a basement for.

While the surface of the engineered hardwood is genuine hardwood the underlying layers are typically made of plywood or high density fiberboard. Never clean engineered wood floors with a wet mop. Further the edges of pre finished hardwood often are beveled which can actually channel water into the seams. Be certain the wood is well coated with a urethane finish to prevent damage from occurring.

The real problem with delamination is it can happen once a floor is dried and appears to have been saved. To prevent an engineered hardwood floor from being permanently scuffed or stained you ll need to clean it regularly. There are obvious reasons why an engineered hardwood floor would delaminate after becoming wet. An engineered hardwood floor as opposed to a traditional hardwood floor made of only wood comprises several layers.