Water Under Vinyl Plank or Laminate Floors: What to Do
Water that gets under vinyl plank or laminate floors gets trapped between the planks and the concrete slab, where it cannot dry on its own. Laminate usually swells and must be replaced. Vinyl plank can often be lifted, the slab and underlayment dried, and the planks reinstalled. Remove standing water fast and have the slab checked with a moisture meter.
Luxury vinyl plank, or LVP, is one of the most common floors in Arizona homes today. It looks like wood, holds up to pets and is sold as waterproof. Laminate looks similar but has a wood-fiber core. Both are "floating" floors that click together over a thin pad on the concrete slab. When water gets under them, it spreads across the slab and stays there. This guide explains what to do.
Reading this with water on the floor? Get help first.
Need Help Now? Tap Here(833) 937-0179If vinyl plank is waterproof, how does water get under it?
The planks are waterproof, but the seams, edges and gaps at the walls are not. Water runs into the gaps along baseboards and under the planks. It can also come up from below. Common sources:
- A burst or leaking supply line under a sink, toilet or fridge.
- A dishwasher, washer or water heater leak.
- A slab leak under the floor.
- Shower or tub water running out the door.
- Monsoon water coming in under a patio door.
What are the signs of water under the floor?
- Planks that feel soft, spongy or squish when you step on them.
- Seams that lift, gap or cup at the edges.
- Laminate that bubbles or swells at the joints.
- A musty smell near the floor, or dark spots along the seams.
- Water that seeps up at the seams when you press down.
If the floor feels warm in one spot, or there is no clear water source, the leak may be under the slab. See our guide to slab leak signs.
What should I do right away?
- Stop the water. Close the fixture valve or the main shut-off valve.
- Remove standing water with a wet vac and towels.
- Take photos and video before anything is moved.
- Pull the baseboards or quarter-round near the wet area so you can see the plank edges.
- Call a restoration crew to check how far the water spread under the floor.
Fans on the surface will not dry the slab under the planks. Trapped water can stay for weeks, and mold can grow on the pad and the underside of the planks.
Can vinyl plank or laminate be saved?
Vinyl plank often can. The crew lifts the planks in the wet area, stacks them to dry, removes wet underlayment, dries the slab with air movers and dehumidifiers, and then reinstalls the planks with new pad. Glue-down vinyl is harder to save. Laminate with a fiberboard core usually swells and must be replaced, even if it looks fine at first. Wet carpet pad nearby is usually removed. More detail is in our guide to what can be saved after water damage.
How long does a slab take to dry?
Concrete holds water. A slab under a small leak may dry in two to four days once the flooring is lifted. A large area, or a slab soaked by a leak that ran for days, can take a week or more. The crew checks the slab with a moisture meter before any flooring goes back down. See how long water damage takes to dry for typical times by material.
Does insurance cover water under the floor?
Sudden leaks, such as a burst supply line, are often covered, including the cost to lift and relay flooring. Long-term slow leaks are often excluded. If only part of a floor is replaced and the planks no longer match, ask your adjuster how your policy handles matching. Keep a few spare planks if you have them. Our insurance guide covers the common terms.
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Get Expert Help 24/7(833) 937-0179Frequently asked questions
Can mold grow under vinyl plank flooring?
Yes. Water trapped between the planks and the slab can grow mold on the pad and the underside of the planks within a few days.
Will fans dry water under laminate?
No. Fans dry the surface only. The flooring in the wet area usually has to be lifted so the slab can dry.
Can I reuse vinyl planks after a leak?
Often yes, if they are click-lock and not damaged. They are lifted, dried and reinstalled with new underlayment.
How do I know the slab is dry?
A restoration tech checks it with a moisture meter. Flooring should not go back down until readings are back to normal.
About the author
Noah Miller founded AZ Water Damage Help in Queen Creek to give Arizona homeowners fast, honest water damage help. He writes and updates these guides using public guidance from the EPA, the IICRC, the National Weather Service and Arizona state agencies. More about Noah.