Care and Maintenance

What Should You Do Before Repairing or Removing Failed Flooring?

Before repairing or removing failed flooring, photograph, sample, moisture test, inspect independently, notify the manufacturer and insurance, preserve samples with a chain of custody, and prevent further damage. Removing evidence too early makes diagnosis and claims difficult.

What Should You Do Before Repairing or Removing Failed Flooring?

Before repairing or removing failed flooring, certain steps are essential to preserve evidence and protect the homeowner's ability to diagnose the cause and pursue a warranty or insurance claim. After decades of helping Oklahoma homeowners, we explain what to do first.

Step-by-Step Process

Document — photograph and document the problem before touching anything.
Contact — contact the retailer or manufacturer.
Moisture test — arrange moisture testing before removal.
Independent inspection — consider an independent inspection.
Manufacturer notice — notify the manufacturer before removal.
Insurance — notify the insurance company if applicable.
Preserve samples — preserve samples with a chain of custody.
Prevent further damage — take steps to prevent further damage.

Photographs

Before removal — photograph the flooring in place before any removal.
Wide shots — take wide shots showing the room and problem area.
Close-ups — take close-ups of the specific problem.
Different angles — photograph from different angles and lighting.
During removal — photograph during removal to show conditions beneath.
Subfloor — photograph the subfloor after flooring is lifted.

Samples

Preserve — preserve samples of failed flooring.
Representative — collect representative samples from affected and unaffected areas.
Labeling — label samples with date, location, and product information.
Do not clean — do not clean samples; they may contain evidence.
Storage — store samples in a dry, safe location.
Chain of custody — maintain a chain of custody for samples.

Moisture Testing

Before removal — perform moisture testing before flooring is removed.
Flooring — test the moisture content of the flooring.
Subfloor — test the moisture content of the subfloor.
Documentation — document all moisture readings.
Professional — consider a professional moisture test.
Critical — moisture testing after removal is less reliable.

Independent Inspection

Before removal — an independent inspection should be performed before removal.
Neutral — the inspector is neutral and provides documentation.
Report — the inspector provides a report for warranty or insurance claims.
Cost — the homeowner typically pays for the independent inspector.
After removal — inspection after removal is less reliable and may not support a claim.

Manufacturer Notice

Before removal — notify the manufacturer before removing flooring.
Opportunity — the manufacturer may want to inspect before removal.
Warranty — removing flooring without notice may void warranty rights.
Written — notice should be in writing.
Timeline — provide a reasonable timeline for the manufacturer to respond.

Insurance Requirements

Before removal — notify the insurance company before removing flooring.
Inspection — the insurance company may want to inspect before removal.
Documentation — the insurance company requires documentation.
Mitigation — the homeowner has a duty to mitigate further damage.
Claim — removing flooring without notice may affect the claim.

Destructive Testing

What it is — testing that involves removing or cutting into flooring or subfloor.
Professional — destructive testing should be performed by a professional.
Documentation — photograph and document before, during, and after.
Samples — preserve samples from destructive testing.
Authorization — obtain authorization before destructive testing.

Chain of Custody

What it is — a documented record of who handled samples and when.
Why it matters — chain of custody supports the validity of samples for claims.
Documentation — document the date, time, and person for each transfer.
Labels — label samples with date, location, and product.
Storage — store samples securely.

Preventing Further Damage

Source — identify and repair the source of moisture before replacing flooring.
Containment — contain the damage to prevent spread.
Drying — dry the area to prevent mold.
Protection — protect surrounding areas from damage.
Health — address health and safety issues like mold.

Health and Safety Issues

Mold — mold may require professional remediation.
Asbestos — suspected asbestos requires testing and professional abatement.
Structural — structural damage requires professional evaluation.
Electrical — electrical hazards near water require a professional.
Gas — gas leaks require a professional.

Why Removing Evidence Too Early Is Harmful

Diagnosis — removing flooring destroys evidence needed for diagnosis.
Warranty — manufacturers may deny claims if evidence is removed.
Insurance — insurance may deny claims if evidence is removed.
Disputes — disputes cannot be resolved without evidence.
Cause — the root cause may remain unidentified.

Key Takeaways

Document the problem with photos before removing anything.
Contact the retailer, manufacturer, and insurance company before removal.
Perform moisture testing before removal — testing after is less reliable.
Consider an independent inspection before removal.
Preserve samples with a chain of custody.
Prevent further damage and address health and safety issues.

Documentation Checklist

☐ Photos before, during, and after removal
☐ Moisture test results
☐ Independent inspection report (if performed)
☐ Manufacturer notice and response
☐ Insurance notice and response
☐ Samples with chain of custody
☐ Source repair documentation

Normal Versus Concerning Conditions

Normal — the homeowner documents, contacts parties, tests, and inspects before removal.
Concerning — the homeowner removes flooring without documentation, notice, or inspection.

Common Homeowner Mistakes

Removing flooring without photographing first.
Not contacting the manufacturer or insurance before removal.
Not performing moisture testing before removal.
Cleaning or discarding samples.
Not maintaining a chain of custody for samples.
Replacing flooring before repairing the source.

Questions to Ask

Who should I contact before removing flooring?
What documentation do I need?
Should I hire an independent inspector?
How do I preserve samples?
What health and safety issues should I address?

When Independent Expertise May Be Appropriate

Before removal — an independent inspection can document conditions.
If the cause is unclear or disputed.
If documentation is needed for a warranty or insurance claim.
If health and safety issues like mold or asbestos are present.

Bottom Line

Before repairing or removing failed flooring, document with photos, contact the retailer, manufacturer, and insurance company, perform moisture testing, consider an independent inspection, preserve samples with a chain of custody, and prevent further damage. Removing evidence too early can make diagnosis or a warranty or insurance claim far more difficult or impossible.

This article provides general educational information and is not legal advice, engineering advice, or a prediction of warranty or insurance outcomes. Still have questions? Visit your nearest Premier Carpet & Tile showroom to speak with an experienced professional.

Key considerations

Document the problem with photos before removing anything — before, during, and after removal
Contact the retailer, manufacturer, and insurance company before removing flooring
Perform moisture testing before removal — testing after is less reliable
Consider an independent inspection before removal and preserve samples with a chain of custody
Removing evidence too early can make diagnosis or a warranty or insurance claim far more difficult or impossible

A common misconception

Many homeowners rush to remove or repair failed flooring as soon as a problem appears. In reality, removing evidence too early can make diagnosis or a warranty or insurance claim far more difficult — or impossible.

Ask an Expert

What Should You Do Before Repairing or Removing Failed Flooring?