Can Engineered Hardwood Get Wet

To prevent an engineered hardwood floor from being permanently scuffed or stained you ll need to clean it regularly.

Can engineered hardwood get wet.

Yes they can at least once. Be certain the wood is well coated with a urethane finish to prevent damage from occurring. 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. While the surface of the engineered hardwood is genuine hardwood the underlying layers are typically made of plywood or high density fiberboard.

Further the edges of pre finished hardwood often are beveled which can actually channel water into the seams. Use fans to move the air around in your home. 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. 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 hardwood floor as opposed to a traditional hardwood floor made of only wood comprises several layers. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when cleaning engineered wood floors is cleaning the floor with a wet mop. 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. There are obvious reasons why an engineered hardwood floor would delaminate after becoming wet.

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. It is simply a bad idea to install carpeting in bathrooms and other wet places. The real problem with delamination is it can happen once a floor is dried and appears to have been saved. Unlike solid hardwood engineered hardwood can go over concrete under the right conditions like in a condo.

When wood floorboards get wet they swell. An engineered floor with a 3 millimeter top for instance can handle two refinishings. Floors with a wear layer less than 2 millimeters thick can tolerate a light scuff sanding with a buffer. Thicker top layers can be sanded just like solid wood allowing you to erase deeper scratches and dents.

Regardless no engineered hardwood floor is meant to withstand flooding. Sometimes if you let it dry out. Never clean engineered wood floors with a wet mop. Once wet carpet dries out very slowly promoting mold and mildew growth.