Reasons Why Vinyl Floors Discolor From Underneath

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.