Is it a problem to spill water on laminate flooring?

An experiment in which I pour water on laminate flooring and leave it for 48 hours to see if it swells or otherwise damages the planks.
#laminateflooring #diyexperiment #diy

[@Dumythic_Teck]

Hi how’s it going Jake, I hope your day has been excellent. In my house here in Texas we installed laminate flooring about 9 years ago. It has held up extremely well but this past year we had a very heavy rain storm and water managed to make its way into our house in the form of droplets of water coming from a hole in the attic. We were out of the house at the time for about 4-6 hours but no more than that and our boards got completely warped. Even though we completely dried them the damage was already done. Another thing that you have to think about is that there will be mold growth in the area that the water was spilled and beyond. When my dad and I got around to replacing the boards we realized that almost the whole room reeked of mold. For another room that had similar damage we replaced the floor with vinyl instead and it was a little bit more difficult to put in but I think it’s way more beneficial over laminate. It’s waterproof, and stronger so I think we will end up redoing our whole house with that vinyl flooring. As you said in the video all floors aren’t made equal so even though I may have had this experience someone else may have the exact opposite. Have a great day and keep these interesting videos coming!!

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

A very balanced story, Ryan. Thanks!

[@woodysmodellingdiary]

As most laminate flooring is made of MDF and usually not the waterproof variety it is always going to be susceptable to moisture ingression and therefore swelling either through the expansion gap at the walls or the joints between the boards. You can use silicon sealant around the wall joint and there are special sealants such as clic lock (sic) which you apply to the boards as you lay them. These sealants will not stop damage if there is a flood but for everyday spills and accidents they should at least prevent water ingression until mopped up.

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Blimey, some practical sense on KZbin! Be careful! ;-)

[@UnitedSpotlight]

I recently moved house into my parents they have had the same laminate for at least 10 to 15 years. It's still down and is all fine bulge wise and is in thr kitchen so had water on it plenty. I also had new boards put in my old house the real key is making sure that the floor underneath is perfectly flat. On my new house floor it wasn't screed before and you can feel low spots when you walk on it. Were as my old house was screed and used thicker boards and there was no movement at all underfoot. Water wise never had an issue with either warping or bulging

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Thanks for the detailed info

[@cmdrmeldoc59]

One interesting fact is that over the years, flooring that is more exposed to water (the ones under your sink or kitchen towels etc) are more likely to change their appearance, and it will be very easy to distinguish where water will usually fall on your floor. It won’t swell or ruin the flooring, but won’t look as good as when you first put it there, and in most cases, won’t be worth taking your entire floor out just to replace a small portion. It just looks a bit worse/worn.

[@peterpiper6837]

Hi Jake, if the laminate is High-density fibreboard, it can be, ' completely submerged in water without swelling or warping', so I think I will try this in the bathroom.

[@HonkyHorton]

Jake if laminate floor is laid correctly you should never have any problems. Some people forget to leave the gap around the edges of the room to allow expansion due to moisture. If the ends of the cut boards stand a chance of absorbing moisture seal them with a thin layer of paint. 👍

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Cheers for the info Graeme

[@orioleaszme3415]

Once I was in a rental property and the laminate flooring was cheap and badly laid. It swelled up in spots from water spills and it was very temperamental to mop - the mop basically had to be dry.

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

I guess it entirely depends on the laminate

[@msp5616]

vinyl laminate is extremely water resistant so much more than fibre based laminate. So much so I left a plank of vinyl laminate in the bath (covered with water) for 48 hours (I have a separate shower so no stinky puns) and no swelling or any change to the sample. It also seems more easy to fit so winner winner vegan dinner (no chickens were harmed during my chanting)

[@doubledeckercouch6251]

Not sure if this applicable - but on a guitar, to stop moisture (water) swelling the wood, it's recommended to wipe the guitar with a little oil. This ensures the water never gets to the wood (water stays on the surface). Just a tiny amount of lemon oil can do the trick, so it shouldnt change the colour of the wood at all.

[@Jaqaroo]

Jake, you still have your Christmas tree up?

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Ho ho ho? (It came down on Jan 1st.)

[@muhammadrehman6395]

Good point to know about laminate flooring.

[@wilfredoriosmontt]

Good video keep them coming!

[@liamjames8790]

Number 1 😁

[@RobA500]

My laminate floor has suffered a full on flood with a burst water pipe. It took a lot of mopping up and then a dehumidifier to dry the room out but the floor is still down and there is only a slight bump at the joints in places. Over all you'd barely notice.

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

That's fantastic info and very reassuring. Thanks!

[@madgebishop5409]

liking the use of the coca cola glass that mc donalds gave away many moons ago

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Love these glasses.

[@paulpollock3804]

You do get waterproof laminate. I got 2 rooms done. 1 is waterproof, one isn't. I can't remember which is which. So now I no longer get to enjoy kicking over glasses of water. I'll ask my wife. If she remembers then I'm raiding the glass cupboard like that kid in Signs. Sploosh!

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Haha!

[@chazzyb8660]

0:39 You have parties Dr Jake!!! Watch out "The Press" don't catch ya.

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Lol! I'll keep quiet

[@joevictor53]

Ambush him with cake!

[@josephd27]

Try laminate floors next time. They won't absorb any water

[@mattc.1292]

It should only damage it if the liquid stays on the surface for a little bit, I steam my laminate floors and have absolutely no damage. Prior to learning water can damage it (silly, I know!) I used to mop the floor, meaning water would get between the tiles and swell. Luckily that never happened for me, after months of doing it... If water stays between the panels it will swell up though, but I've had all mine 3-4 years now and absolutely no issues.

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely mop up any water that I spill

[@cbrooke879]

Thanks

[@cbrooke879]

Off topic but here's my weekly contribution. Keep up the good work old chap!!

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Extremely kind! Very much appreciated

[@cbrooke879]

@Dr Jake I missed your comment from last week's thanks on your vid I left Didn't know if you missed it or was tied up. Hopefully the small contribution will help your channel.

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

I was completely tied up and didn't even notice :( Sorry! But double thanks for double thanks!!

[@cbrooke879]

@Dr Jake it's all good life happens. I'll carry on hopefully get on to your patrion list even though not a patreon donation. As ever look forward to next week's video

[@beatbonjon1384]

Hello there

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Hello there to you too!

[@johngrant5749]

Yes!

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

That's the abridged version ;-)

[@SeymourClevage]

Quality of flooring is your problem. Decent laminate flooring would cost double what you paid. Buying a Wickes own brand is your mistake. You should be able to mop a good laminate flooring every day for decades without a problem.

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Thanks for your insight

[@philiplindley7384]

Modern laminate flooring has come a long way since its origins, much better quality now (generally). But always stay away from the very cheapest ones.

[@user-jt3dm4mo7i]

Nonono... put a moist rag for 4 weeks and its swells

[@Wall1s_]

JOINT! T T T, not join. joinT

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Wha'?

[@jeffhayes605]

Great video other than the libtard ad presented before the video. The simple minded liberal bias of the exceptionally analytical minded but autistically confined CEOs of these tech companies such as KZbin; will in time prove to be off putting and self destructive. Humans can switch gears and preform 180’s ideologically. The idea needs to form from one kind of brilliance and the economic maintenance of the idea then cared for by a different kind of genius. We are all vastly different in thought, perception, and trade. One mind doing everything is prone to madness. Our society depends on contributions from polar opposites that together create perfection. Too much of anything is toxic; air, water, nutrients. So a natural balance is what nature creates through destructive forces upon the excessive and the unnecessary. ✌️

[@Ninjalette666]

if you bleed your radiators and you have water going EVERYWHERE.... YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!!!! bleeding a radiator is to remove air....NOT WATER....

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

Have you ever bled a radiator? :)

[@Ninjalette666]

@@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews yes, the second water comes out you stop.... you are removing AIR not water.... please go watch a video. you shouldn't have water going everywhere :(

[@Ninjalette666]

@@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews when the annual gas inspection comes round, he bleeds our radiators too (i do happen to do them myself from time to time too) but the engineer doesn't soak my flooring when he bleeds them either. not everything with water has to be a wet mess :D

[@DrJakesVeryBritishReviews]

I might make a video myself on how to bleed a radiator... properly. It is completely impossibly to avoid at least a single drop of water leaking out, and if you don't let a little bit of water dribble out then I guarantee you still have air in your radiators.

[@woodysmodellingdiary]

Hold the bleed key in a dishcloth and make sure the cloth buts up against the radiator around the bleed valve. Water will soak into dishcloth rather than dribble on the floor as you open and close the valve with the key. Alternatively put an empty 2 Lt ice cream container under the radiator in line with the bleed valve. If any water dribbles down it will go into the container.