After a flood, floors tell the truth. Some materials bounce back with drying and disinfecting, while others trap moisture, warp, or turn into a mold factory. This guide shows what survives, what fails, how to test subfloors, and a simple calculator to build a realistic replacement budget before you call a contractor.
Not all water events are equal. Clean rainwater that is removed quickly is very different from muddy creek water that sits for days. Pair the material you have with the water you had and the time it stayed wet to decide whether to salvage or replace, then use the budget tool to avoid surprises.
1What Survives vs What Fails
| Material | Typical outcome after flooding | Notes & caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Solid hardwood | Swells, cups, crowns. Small, fast events may be dried and refinished; standing water or dirty water usually means replacement. | Dry to ≤16% MC before sanding. Expect weeks of controlled drying and spacing. Check subfloor for mold and adhesion. |
| Engineered wood | Layers delaminate. Often fails even in short events. | Edges puff and never lie flat again. Usually replace. |
| Laminate (HDF core) | Core swells quickly and stays deformed. | Replace. Consider upgrading to resilient options. |
| Luxury vinyl plank/tile (LVP/LVT) | Often survives if seams and subfloor are disinfected and dry; click joints can trap silt. | Lift, clean, dry, and relay only if planks are undamaged and locking edges intact. Replace foam underlayment. |
| Sheet vinyl | Surface may be fine but water can be trapped underneath. | Pull edges to disinfect and dry. If glue fails or seams lift, replace. |
| Tile (ceramic/porcelain) | Usually survives. Grout and underlayment may need attention. | Check for hollow-sounding tiles (bond loss). Disinfect grout and verify subfloor integrity. |
| Carpet | Clean water + <48h: possible save; gray water or >48h: replace. | Pad almost always replaced. Hot-water extraction plus antimicrobial if salvaged. |
| Concrete slab (as finish) | Survives. Needs cleaning and moisture testing before coatings or coverings. | Measure slab RH; delay coatings until within spec. |
Water type matters: clean rainwater is easier; river/creek water adds silt and microbes; salt/brackish water speeds corrosion and adhesive failure.
2Subfloor Tests Before You Decide
Wood subfloors (OSB/plywood)
- Use a pin meter and compare to an unaffected area. Target ≤16% moisture content.
- Probe around exterior walls, kitchens, baths, and any known leak paths.
- If readings stay high after a week with dehumidifiers, open more wall base and check insulation.
Concrete slabs
- Use in-situ RH or calcium chloride tests per flooring manufacturer instructions.
- Verify pH if using adhesives; high pH can break down some glues.
- Allow HVAC to run to normal living conditions before testing.
3What to Budget: Typical Cost Ranges
| Scope | What’s included | Typical range (per sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-out & disposal | Remove damaged flooring, pad/underlayment, haul-away | $1.25–$3.00 |
| Dry-out & cleaning | Dehus/fans, antimicrobial, HEPA vacuuming | $1.00–$3.50 |
| Subfloor prep | Patching, leveling, fasteners, sanding high seams | $0.75–$2.50 |
| Carpet + pad | Mid-grade carpet, new pad, install | $3.50–$7.00 |
| LVP/LVT | 20-mil wear layer, click or glue-down | $4.50–$9.50 |
| Engineered wood | 3–6 mm wear layer | $7.00–$14.00 |
| Tile | Porcelain/ceramic with thinset and grout | $9.00–$18.00 |
| Baseboards & repaint | Primed MDF/wood, caulk, paint | $1.50–$3.00 |
Ranges vary by region and access. Stairs, patterns, and furniture moving add cost.
4Quick Decision Matrix
| Situation | Likely path | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Laminates/engineered wood with standing water | Replace | Swollen cores and delamination do not return to flat. |
| LVP on slab, < 24 hours wet, clean water | Lift, clean, dry, relay | Resilient to moisture if subfloor and seams are disinfected and dry. |
| Solid hardwood, quick clean-water spill | Dry, evaluate, then refinish | Controlled drying can save boards if movement is minor and subfloor is dry. |
| Carpet with gray water or > 48 hours wet | Replace carpet and pad | Hygiene risk and odor; pad fails quickly. |
| Tile over wood subfloor, muddy water | Inspect and spot replace | Tile may survive but check for bond loss and subfloor damage. |
5Flooring Budget Planner
Estimate a working budget for tear-out, dry-out, prep, and a new floor. This is a planning tool, not a quote.
Your Estimate
6When Can You Reinstall?
Moisture targets
- Wood subfloors: ≤16% MC and within 2–4% of new flooring MC.
- Slabs: within the manufacturer’s RH limit for your adhesive/system.
- Interior air: ≤60% RH during install and cure.
Sequence
- Tear-out and disposal.
- Dry-out with dehus/fans, HEPA clean, antimicrobial where appropriate.
- Subfloor testing and prep/leveling.
- Flooring install, then baseboards and paint touch-ups.
7Small Details That Change the Price
Patterns & stairs
- Herringbone, borders, and stairs add labor hours.
- Plan transitions at doorways to reduce waste.
Furniture & appliances
- Moving and resetting appliances is often a separate line item.
- Allow time for dishwasher and fridge reconnections.
Baseboards & doors
- Flood cuts mean new baseboards, caulk, and paint.
- Thicker floors may require trimming doors.
Aim for a dry, disinfected subfloor first, then pick finishes that match how the space is used and how it might flood again. LVP and tile tend to be resilient, carpet is the most sensitive, and wood can work when events are short and testing says the structure is truly dry. Use written quotes with product brands and moisture specs so everyone is working to the same targets.
