When most people think of vinyl floor stains, they imagine stains from dropped food or many years of dirt and grime, despite the protective finish over the flooring. However, it is possible for vinyl flooring to become discolored from underneath, or the bottom up. Flooring inspectors and customers alike will be able to assess how to repair an issue when they are able to identify exactly where the stain is originating.
Here are three of the most common reasons why vinyl floors discolor from the bottom up.
Vinyl Floors and Moisture
When the substrate is improperly installed or treated without a moisture barrier, it’s possible for moisture to seep into the lower layers of the vinyl. The moisture can affect the layers, causing discoloration between where it collects and where it remains dry.
Vinyl Floors and Mold or Mildew
Mold and mildew grow easily in moist spaces, so under vinyl flooring and baseboards is ideal. The mold and mildew can quickly discolor the vinyl flooring, requiring decontamination and replacement for a mold-free home.
Vinyl Floors and Adhesive Issues
When adhesive is improperly applied or an adhesive not recommended by the manufacturer is used to attach the vinyl, there can be discoloration issues on the bottom layers. As the oils or other substances migrate up through the lowest layers, discoloration can take place permanently.
While there are many issues that can cause vinyl flooring to discolor from the bottom up, these three are some of the biggest offenders. When people notice the discoloration, they may mistakenly believe that it is from the top down, and work hard to remove the “stains” by applying tough cleaning solutions, scrubbing very hard with non-approved cleaning tools and otherwise making many attempts to get rid of what they see. However, the only solution for discoloration under vinyl from the bottom up is to replace the section with clean, dry and untainted vinyl.
I have light colored sheet vinyl on an laundry room, basement floor, that shows stain from bottom up . If i put another layer on top of this one , will the stain again come through?
Thanks Bruce
It’s certainly possible. It’s always best to strip off the old floor covering.
I have this problem. Before laying a new surface, do I need to treat the concrete with some form of sealant? Or how do I prevent it happening again?
Thank you
My vinyl floor has just come up with a couple of light blue patches near the glass door. It’s usually light oak colour. Why would this happen?
Direct sunlight can damage vinyl flooring.
After being away from home for three weeks during especially heavy rains I became aware of heavy yellow stains in odd areas of my home. I first noticed very dark yellow stains on my bathmat after a shower. After washing my floor two days later I realized a yellow stain was coming from my floor. Its being transferred from my socks (a no shoe home) onto my feet. It’s now on sheets, towels etc. I live in a very old rental with vinyl flooring over cement. Any advice is appreciated but, my initial concern is can this be dangerous. Thank you.
You should a get a floor inspection performed.
Had a tag rug highly dyed it was red but spilled large amount of water and it had left s pink stain. Tried bleach and this stuff called pink stuff. Nothing is working. Any suggestions? Please help. Thank you
You should hire a certified carpet cleaning technician to spot it properly.