Swelling and cupping
Timber and laminate absorb water and swell, so boards cup, crown or lift at the edges.
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Flooring Repairs in Edinburgh
Floors take the brunt of most water damage. Boards swell, laminate lifts at the joints and subfloors can stay wet long after the surface looks dry. We work out how far the damage goes, then lift and reinstate the floor so it sits flat and matches the rest of the room.
01 / Damage & causes
Signs of floor damage
Floor damage is not always obvious at first. Some problems show straight away, others only appear as the floor dries.
Wet subfloors
Water that gets beneath a floor covering can soak the boards or chipboard underneath, which may need replacing even when the surface can be saved.
Loose and hollow tiles
Water and movement can break the bond under floor tiles, leaving them loose, hollow or cracked.
Burns and heat damage
Fire can scorch or char flooring, and heat can warp boards some distance from where the fire was.
Leaks under the floor
A slow leak from pipework beneath the floor can soak joists and boards long before anything shows on the surface.
02 / The repair
Repair, relay or replace
Individual boards can sometimes be lifted and replaced, but laminate and engineered floors usually run continuously through a room. A damaged section often means relaying the whole area so the joints and finish stay consistent.
Many older Edinburgh flats have their original timber floorboards. Sound boards can be kept, and replacements chosen to match their width and thickness as closely as possible. Skirting usually has to come off and go back when a floor is relaid, so it is included in the scope.
03 / Your claim
Flooring and your insurance claim
New flooring can't go down until the floor and subfloor are dry, and after a flood any drying is carried out by qualified parties where it's needed. Photograph the floors in each affected room, and note what the coverings are, before anything is lifted.
Some policies treat flooring that runs through several rooms differently when only part of it is damaged, so our scope sets out exactly which areas are affected for your insurer to consider.
Damaged floors in Edinburgh?
Report the damage to your insurer, then request a survey. We'll check how far the damage goes and set out the flooring repair for your insurer to consider.