Hey folks! I just moved to Virginia and recently bought a house with a basement. It's been awesome until after some heavy rain last week when I noticed that the laminate floor in the basement started swelling at the seams. I've attached an example image here: https://imgur.com/a/TqnJuKH. It seems to be happening in about half of the floor, with some areas worse than others. I can't see any obvious leaks, so I'm wondering if this moisture issue might be moisture coming up through the concrete slab. Has anyone else dealt with this before? I'd really appreciate your thoughts!
3 Answers
I get why laminate can be tempting, but it's not great in potentially wet areas like basements. My bet is that your flooring will need to come up so you can find out where the moisture is entering. If it’s high water underneath, you might need interior drainage solutions and possibly seal up any cracks in the foundation with epoxy. Don’t skip on having those gutters extended!
Sounds like you've got a classic basement moisture issue going on. Laminate flooring isn't the best option for basements because it can absorb moisture from the concrete slab—even without visible leaks. You might want to check the grading and ensure your gutters and downspouts are directing water away from the foundation. If it's a high water table, you may need to look into installing perimeter drains or a sump pump. Depending on the source, fixing it might involve some work on the outside of your foundation too.
Is it wood laminate or vinyl plank (LVP)? They both require specific preparations for moisture. Make sure you get dehumidifiers to tackle the dampness quickly—mold is not something you want to deal with! The way the flooring was installed will give clues on how bad the situation is.
Exactly! Plus, if moisture is coming up from below, you'll want to ensure everything is properly sealed to keep that issue at bay.