white liquid oozing from LVP Vinyl Flooring

3 years ago

Hello!

We recently purchased a home which was flipped by an investor. The home is beautiful, however, of course after moving in we found somethings that were done poorly. We expected this to some degree...

We recently started noticing white liquid oozing from our LVP planks in the kitchen. There aren't any indications of a leak...however I'm not sure. We had someone come out to look at with and he said he's never seen anything like it. I've seen some posts about efflorescence however, this is white liquid and not so much a powder. We think its glue but we've been living her almost a year...Has anyone seen anything like this before? Most likely will need to rip the flooring up at some point, we are aware that is a big possibility. Thanks for feedback.

Featured Answer

PRO

DeWayne

3 years ago

Concrete is very porous. Capillary action will ensure that water comes through the slab unless a vapor barrier is under it, or if the vapor barrier is damaged. 1995 required a 6 mil poly, but a lot of companies didn't do it, and didn't get called on it. Or, did it badly and punctured it. The only way to tell is actual mositure testing. Which should always be done before any flooring is put down. Most installers gamble, and skip that requirement. It bites them hard occasionally, but statistically, less hard that trying to convince a homeowner that "the meter says you need thousands in prep". and they lose the job.

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Comments (10)

mytwo cents
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
What are the summer temperatures where you are and what is under your kitchen? Basement? Slab? Crawl space?
Michelle Palley thanked mytwo cents
PRO
Reagan Tucker
3 years ago
It looks like you have a water leak! Is there any way water could have been trapped under the floor?
Michelle Palley thanked Reagan Tucker
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
In a flip anything is possible so start checking underneath the actual space to see what is going on there .
Michelle Palley thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
100% a water leak.
Michelle Palley thanked HALLETT & Co.
deegw
3 years ago
A leak could be dripping behind a wall and pooling under the floor. Did you check behind the fridge?
Michelle Palley thanked deegw
PRO
DeWayne
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
An unsealed crawlspace, with vapor passing through to the home, and the vapor condenses into water, can do the same thing. Same thing with a concrete slab. Slabs are just paths for moisture vapor to travel through. Plastic stops that moisture, and it condenses into liquid. Instant problem with mold and everything else. Peope think vinyl is wonderful. But it is a route for moisture damage in a lot of homes.
Michelle Palley thanked DeWayne
Michelle Palley
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the feedback! Its on a slab, we live in south florida, temperatures in the high 90's LOTS of rain over the summer.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
Leak or water coming up though the slab. If it’s a pre 70’s home there is probably no vapor barrier.
Michelle Palley thanked HALLETT & Co.
Michelle Palley
Original Author
3 years ago
I hope not coming through the slab the home was built in 1995...I'm having a plumber come out tomorrow to check