Water damage this quick... from a little water?

[manlymatt83]

I moved into an apartment back in January, and I have a cat. I started putting her water dish on top of a towel on a hard wood floor by the entrance to my kitchen. Every once in a while, I would come home to it spilled, and would clean it up. Eventually, I moved it to the kitchen.

Fast forward -- I'm walking over my floor today and notice that some of the boards are warped where her water dish used to be. And I mean really warped. I'm not sure if it was like that before I moved in (perhaps it was), or if this is a really cheap hardwood floor (after all, it's a run of the mill apartment in an apartment building - nothing special).

Could this be done by me? If so, could it go back, or am I totally screwed? I really didn't think THAT much water had spilled over time...

 

[Vette73]

Yea water gets below the wood and sits under it. Does not take much to warp a board.

 

[dfuze]

From what you described I don't think that type of damage would have been caused by your cat's spilled water. From watching home shows if it's not installed right can be a cause of it (improper underlayment). But if there is no documentation of it before you moved in, they may try to get you to pay for it.

 

[deadlyapp]

Also, a towel can sometimes hasten the water damage because it retains the moisture.

 

[edro]

Pics of floor?

Hardwood or laminate?
Laminate flooring is particle board with a thin sheet of wood colored plastic on top.
If water sits on laminate and leaks between the cracks, it will swell and be ruined.

If the joints are glued on laminate, it is less susceptible to water intrusion.

 

[rivan]

Also, a towel can sometimes hasten the water damage because it retains the moisture.

I'd think this. And it really doesn't take much water. Just a little water and time for it to absorb.

 

[Squisher]

It happens so much with laminate there are many tutorials about replacing sections online.

EDIT: if you are putting laminate in baths they even want you to apply sealant to every tongue before you set it.