Honestly, it depends on how much water got under the floor and what type of flooring you’ve got. Sometimes pros can use those big drying mats and inject air underneath, but if the water’s soaked into wood or laminate, you’re risking mold if you don’t pull it up. I’ve seen jobs where people tried to save the floor and ended up paying double later because of hidden damage. It’s not always necessary to rip everything out, but skipping that step can backfire fast.
Yeah, I’ve seen folks try to “just dry it out” with fans and hope for the best, but nine times outta ten, if water’s gotten under laminate or hardwood, you’re asking for trouble down the line. I once pulled up a kitchen floor that looked fine on top, but underneath? Black mold city. Sometimes you get lucky, but honestly, if you don’t at least pull a few boards and check, you’re rolling the dice. Those drying mats help, but they’re not magic.
I get what you’re saying, but I’ve actually had one time where I thought I’d caught it early enough—just a little puddle from a fridge line leak. Pulled up two boards, everything looked dry, so I left it. Six months later, the boards started cupping and there was this weird smell. Ended up costing way more to fix because I didn’t go far enough the first time. Honestly, I’d rather pay a bit more upfront than risk hidden damage. Those drying mats are decent, but they’re not a miracle cure if water’s already seeped deep.
I hear you on the hidden damage—water’s sneaky like that. I’ve had tenants swear they “just mopped it up” after a dishwasher leak, only for me to find warped baseboards and a musty smell months later. It’s wild how fast things can go south under the surface. I’m with you: if there’s even a hint of water getting under the boards, I’d rather pull up more than I think I need to, just to be safe. Those drying mats are fine for surface stuff, but once the subfloor gets wet, you’re basically rolling the dice.
Funny thing is, the one time I tried to save money by not calling in pros right away, it ended up costing double. Insurance adjuster even said, “If you’d called sooner, this would’ve been a $500 fix.” Live and learn, I guess. Sometimes being cheap upfront just means paying more down the line... and dealing with that lovely eau de mildew.
Yeah, I’m starting to get that “better safe than sorry” mindset too. It’s wild how water just finds its way into every crack. I thought a fan and some towels would do the trick when my laundry room flooded—nope, ended up with a soft spot in the floor a month later. Now I just bite the bullet and call someone in if there’s any doubt. Cheaper than ripping up half the house down the road.
