Floating cork floor bulging upwards

6 years ago

About two years ago a basement bedroom had a leak, I found that the corrugated plastic drain pipe attached to the downspout right out that room had become detached. The carpet was soaked and badly stained, and some of the drywall was damaged. So I removed the carpet and padding, removed the drywall and redid it. I then installed a 4-in-1 vapor barrier/underlayment followed by a click together floating cork floor. It looked great.

Now two years later as we are in the process of trying to sell the house, I discovered that the cork floor is bulging up about an inch in the center of the room. I don'tknow how long it has been like this because we moved out a couple of months ago, and the friends who are renting the place to keep an eye on it, never noticed it. Once I noticed the floor I also discovered that the corrugated plastic drain pipe had become detached again, which explains where the moisture came from, but now I need to figure out what to do.

I have set up a dehumidifier in the room but don't have high hopes that it will fix the problem. Is it possible to remove some of the cork floor pieces and replace them with new pieces? They seem to click together pretty firmly. If so, how would I tell where to stop removing them.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
6 years ago
So you have a few options:
1. Remove the entire floor (I'm going to guess there is more moisture intrusion that JUST the centre of the room), lay it out flat to dry and then see how much can be salvaged after a few days/ a week. Reinstall the floor - making sure you have as much as 25% EXTRA on hand before you start this process.
2. Remove the affected planks (use a flooring professional and pay the price), inspect the areas around the damage for mold, etc and then (assuming all is well) drop in new planks that you have ON HAND. Hope for the best.
3. Using professional grade ventilators in the space for 1-2 weeks. See if the floor will shrink down enough to go "unnoticed" for the sale of the home. Hope against hope that the new owner doesn't find any issues until the "seller" is off the hook for any concerns.
4. Remove the entire floor, remove the vapour barrier, clean up the slab (mold spores, etc), lay a new vapour barrier (the cheap 6mil poly sheeting is just as good as the expensive 4-in-1 products) and then install a new cork floor.
The first 3 require a better than average cork floor. Something out of a big box store or a national liquidator isn't going to "cut it". Those floors will most likely require #4.

The well constructed cork planks have the ability to "dry out". If they are well manufactured with high end European E1 Moisture resistant HDF, then the plank will probably regain their shape and can be reinstalled. If they are basic, entry level cork floors from a questionable source, then you probably don't have much chance in getting them to snap back into shape.

The question becomes, "Who is the manufacturer of your cork and where did you buy it? How many extra boxes do you have ON HAND - in storage?"

And just for fun, it can be very difficult to find "more" flooring if it has been more than a few months. Again, it depends on who made it and where you bought it.
PRO
Johnson Flooring Co Inc
6 years ago
The dehumidifier should work, given some time. Seal off the room while you dehumidify and make sure to empty the bin regularly. Also, check the expansion space at the edge. Perhaps there's no gap. If not, use something like a Fein saw to open up a gap and reinstall the perimeter trim (base or shoemold).
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macmartha
6 years ago
Dehumidifier did not work in a small leak area that we had. Washer hose broke and we had it contained and dry (on the surface) within 10 minutes, and used drying fans, but the bulges remain and now the surface of the planks is chipping off.
SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
I like to see the floor removed (to the damaged part) and laid flat to DRY....remember to flip them occasionally. Use dehumidifier in the space.

If you allow the planks to dry COMPLETELY (say...for 1-2 weeks) you MIGHT be able to relay them. Might. It is possible you can save as much as 75% of the planks that are damaged. You will probably lose 25% of the planks if you remove, dry and then reinstall. This is the same level of loss if you remove and replace an undamaged cork floor.

For this reason alone, I always suggested that clients order an extra 1-2 boxes (depending on the size of install....it could be more for a whole home) so that replacements could be done if needed.

If you DO NOT have the extra boxes to replace the product, then you are probably going to need a new floor. If that is the case, go ahead and run a dehumidifier + fan....and see what you get. It can't hurt.

Which brand is it? I'll tell you if you have a snowball's chance.

Floating cork floor bulging upwards

Comments (4)

Cancork Floor Inc.

Johnson Flooring Co Inc

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