Everything You Need to Know About Mold Under Laminate Flooring

Everything You Need to Know About Mold Under Laminate Flooring. Laminate flooring can be a cost-effective alternative to many hardwood flooring options, but it does have its drawbacks as well. One issue that some laminate flooring owners run into is mold developing under the planks.

Mold in your home can cause many health problems and should be handled quickly and correctly by professionals who are trained to remove it from your home’s air, flooring, and walls. Before we get into how to treat mold under laminate flooring, let’s first discuss what causes this problem and why it happens in the first place.

Read on – Everything You Need to Know About Mold Under Laminate Flooring:

Why Do Molds Develop Under Laminate Flooring?

Mold under laminate flooring is caused by dampness or excessive moisture buildup. Most laminate floors are installed over a wooden subfloor (though some are laid directly on concrete).

In some cases, there may be an issue with the concrete subfloor, such as water damage or uneven flooring. This can result in moisture building up under the laminate floor and causing mold growth on the underside of the planks. Even if the concrete is properly installed, some laminate floors may contain hidden gaps, which can let moisture leak through.

How To Get Rid Of Mold Under Laminate Flooring?

If you have mold under laminate flooring on your hardwood or vinyl floor, you’ll want to call in a professional who is trained and clear enough to remove it. Cleaning up mold yourself isn’t recommended because you may spread the spores throughout your home. This can be a health concern for everyone who lives there, not just those with allergies.

Mold remediation professionals typically use special equipment and cleaning products designed to dry out and kill mold spores as quickly as possible.

How To Prevent Mold Under Laminate Flooring?

Again, preventing mold under laminate flooring is fairly straightforward. First and foremost, you want to keep the area below your laminate floor dry as possible. Keep any leaks or seepage from spreading further into your home and away from your subfloor by using a tarp or other waterproof barrier to cover the floor.

If there is a crack in your concrete subfloor, you may need to hire a professional to fix it before laying down new laminate flooring. Even if there are no cracks in the subfloor, the area must be completely dry before laying any new flooring down.

How To Clean Mold Under Laminate Flooring

Once you have taken the appropriate steps to protect your laminate flooring and have it fully dry, you may notice mold growing on the underside of the planks. In this case, you’ll want to hire a professional to clean and remove it.

Molds can be very difficult to remove by hand, even if you’re using harsh chemicals and other surfactants like bleach. If they’ve grown deep into the wood grain of your floor, you may also need professional help in removing them without spreading spores throughout your home.

Why Mold Under Laminate Flooring Should Be Trusted To A Professional?

Even in cases where you’ve taken care of the issue yourself, be sure to call in a professional. Numerous home remedies claim to remove mold, but these are not the most effective.

Moreover, if you do it yourself, it can be dangerous for you and your family as well as for the mold growing under your flooring. No matter how careful you might be, mold can spread with wind or simply by spreading spores from one spot to another via airborne dust particles or insulation products like shavings that have been used on concrete subfloors.

The Best Way to Remove Mold Under Laminate Flooring?

1. Use a HEPA filter vacuum

This type of vacuum will remove mold from the surface of your flooring and from the air, too. A HEPA filter vacuum is built to remove even the smallest particles from the air so you can breathe easily again.

2. Apply mold-killing spray

You can take care of mold between the planks with a spray designed to kill it. These sprays are effective at killing the mold and removing it from the flooring. Spray them on, leave them for a few minutes and then wipe them away. Do not use these products on unfinished wood as they may damage it.

3. Vacuum the area

You can remove mold from the flooring with a vacuum. If it’s not in the wood grain, you can use a high-power vacuum to suck it up. Use your vacuum on the floor several times over a few days to completely clean out all of the mold spores from the underlay.

4. Apply an anti-mold coating

Use an anti-mold coating to protect your laminate flooring from getting moldy again in the future. An anti-mold coating provides a barrier between the moisture in your home and your laminate flooring. It’s a good idea to use one of these sprays inside your walls as well to help prevent mold from growing there as well.

5. Encapsulate the mold

If the surface under your laminate is not dry, you can use an encapsulant product to keep it that way until you are ready to install new flooring. This will ensure that the mold stays where it belongs on the subfloor or cracks in it seal out every bit of moisture.

6. Prevent mold underneath laminate flooring by using a moisture alarm

A moisture alarm will detect leaks in your home that lead to visible mold or other serious problems. If you do not have a moisture alarm in your home, you should invest in one as soon as possible.

7. Install a vapor barrier

Installing a vapor barrier bead between the floor and subfloor will help prevent mold from coming up from underneath the flooring later on. A vapor barrier can also help prevent mold from growing on floors that are made of wood since wood is naturally porous and allows for water to flow through it.

Everything You Need to Know About Mold Under Laminate Flooring – Conclusion

Many people think that the moisture from their bathroom is the most likely source of mold in a home. While this may be true, bathroom moisture is not always the source of mold under laminate flooring.

If you are experiencing a persistent odor or you see mold in your home on your wood laminate flooring that does not go away, then it is likely that water is seeping up through the concrete and into your subfloor. In this case, your best course of action will be to call in a professional to clean out any mold growing under laminate flooring and repair any potential damage to your home.