Originally Posted By: Walt Hoffman This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Does anyone know what causes discoloration ( typically a pale blue) in linoleum in moisture prone areas such as around toilets and next to tubs? I have heard mold, mildew, and sheet vinyl adhesive reactions. I am specifically wondering about any negative consequences such as mold spreading to other areas, etc. Thank you for any feedback
Originally Posted By: bemelander This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I have seen this in the past. What I found on mine was the toilet leaked and the blue cube they put in the tank to keep it clean is what caused the stain.
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
i asked our sub. contracted flooring guys and did some of my own reserch and found that what most people don’t uderstand is that “lenoleum” today is actualy vynal. and that layer is very very thin. it’s bonded to a material with a special glue, the 2 products together is what adds up to the 1/8th inch of material we see. when it get wet and dries the vynal seperates from the base material and the byproduct of the wet glue and base material turns either a gray, or blue-ish color. alot like a water stain, but the base material is sometimes recycled paper and has some remains of inks that were the original paper use. actual lenoleum will handle water much better, but more likely to crack when it dries. hope that help. in any case if you see that discoloring you can bet that the floor has been wet or flooded at one point.
Originally Posted By: troberts1 This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
This will be mostly around the toilet where a wax ring is leaking, in all the cases that I have found when tested with a moisture meter it will have levels of moisture in the sub floor. It will not dry out on it’s own because it can not get air exposure and the vynal will need to be removed. Some times the sub floor can be dryed out if it is not been leaking long but in most cases that I have been involved in as a contractor the vynal and sub floor will need to be replaced.
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
John.
that's correct. water can not get threw vinyl. Vinyl is water proof, but anytime you have a seem or any cutout in the vinyl, water can get threw. you can still get real lenolium, it's beautiful inlays go threw the entire thickness and are rather pricey now that vinyl has flooded the market. but then again vinyl took over about 20 years ago, but still was called leno' for about 15 years after. even floor co. didn't want you to know it was a cheap "laminate" imitation of a previosly "cheap" floor. oh well. 
