I've been dealing with some leaks around my shower for about 6-12 months, and now we're updating the shower surround right down to the studs because it was originally just old drywall and tile. During this process, I've noticed that part of the laminate flooring has been curling up since we moved in two years ago. Now that we're replacing the laminate, I peeled it back a bit to check for water damage, and it snapped off pretty easily.
The underlayment looks dark in the first picture after I cleaned and dried it. I'm not sure if it's just from the adhesive used for the laminate or if it's actually rotting. It doesn't feel squishy, though. In the other three pictures, you can see the condition of the subfloor underneath the basement. The first one is right under the tub near the faucets, the second one is along the wall by the shower where there's been some drywall bubbling but no stud issues, and the last one shows some darker stains near where the laminate snapped off next to the tub.
So, do you think the underlayment or subfloor needs replacing? If I wait, could it worsen after I swap out the shower surround and clean the basement stains? The studs look fine; I just dealt with some surface mold that cleaned up easily. We're handling all this DIY and while replacing the subfloor outside of the tub shouldn't be too costly, I'm guessing replacing the one under the tub could be expensive. Any advice would be appreciated!
1 Answer
It looks like you've got a mix of materials there—possibly some original subfloor and a layer of linoleum or sheet vinyl on top. My suggestion would be to rip it down to the original subfloor and reinforce it if needed. If you're planning to use sheet vinyl again, keep in mind that testing for asbestos might be necessary for the first layer. And just a heads up, laminate isn't the best choice for bathrooms!
Thanks for the advice! I thought it looked like a subfloor with some kind of waterproof layer. I want to make sure it’s right this time. I appreciate the heads-up about laminate, too!