My floor has swollen after a leak. What should I do?

My first question is whether the water source has actually stopped. A leaking appliance, a plumbing fault and floodwater need different responses. Keep away from an unsafe or electrically affected area and arrange the appropriate help first. A flooring repair comes after the immediate water and safety problems are under control.

If it is safe to do so, take photos of the whole affected area, the board edges and nearby walls before anything is changed. Note when you noticed the water and whether the floor feels raised or soft. Keep the product details and tell your insurer about a potential claim before authorising major removal.

I would not decide that the floor is dry just because its surface looks better. Water can remain underneath, and the condition of the substrate matters as much as the boards. The assessment needs to consider the flooring type, fixing method, extent of exposure and condition of the surrounding structure.

Sanding a swollen timber floor immediately is not a reliable shortcut. I want the cause addressed and the moisture condition assessed before planning the finish. Some floors may be repairable after suitable drying and assessment; others need affected boards, underlay or substrate replaced. Swollen laminate or separated engineered layers cannot simply be sanded back to new.

Send me the photos, the approximate affected area and your Melbourne suburb. I can explain what a flooring inspection needs to check and which other trades may need to be involved. I will discuss the repair scope after assessment, rather than promise that a particular floor can be saved from a photograph.