Buckling parquet floor - is there a fix?

[GAKnothead]

Here's a pic of a relative's buckling basement level parquet floor over concrete.  They've lived in this 30 or 40+ year old southern home for several years with no floor trouble until June.  Date of installation is unknown.  There appears to be a foam layer below and the buckling is in a high traffic area.  The space is air conditioned and there has been no evidence of moisture penetration before now.

Suggestions appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[attachthumb=#]

 

[peter halle]

Is there a refrigerator anywhere with an ice maker?  If so, check to make sure the ice maker line isn't leaking.  That is exactly what I am going thru right now.  The line leaking and water went under the floor causing the surface to expand and buckle.

Peter

 

[Holzhacker]

That's not moisture, that's water.
On a new install you could attribute it to premature installation and high moisture. An old floor like that doesn't care so much about changing humidity, it's basically been through it all. That type of buckling is water based. There's a leak somewhere, a fridge line like Peter said, a dripping supply line, a bad drain seal, something.
If you can stop the water soon enough and get a couple fans in there the floor might lay back down once it dries out. The problem tends to be getting the moisture out from under the floor quickly rather than over a long period of time. If you can take up some pieces that will really help.

 

[GAKnothead]

Thank you!  Son-in-law did find a leak in the ice machine but I was unaware until a few minutes ago.

Consider this a quiz.  You both passed with flying colors.

 

[Alan m]

thats quiet a coinsidence. almost suspicious. check for fingerprints on the ice maker.

i think the only way to fix that is to take out the two sections(or more) where they are raised up (they will probably need a bit of tlc anyway. then slid in some 1/4 inch flat wood or metal under the floor to allow air to circulate . cover the top of the floor with a plastic to stop the floor drying too quickly)then run a dehumidifier  in short bursts to remove the dampness under the floor. when the floor is dry underneeth ( or nearly) take off the plastic and run for a while longer untill everything is dry enough. remove spacers then refit the removed section

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

Water damage, she's gone, sorry.

 

[kfitzsimons]

We also had an ice maker leak, but it was a power outage that caused it. Our Oak hardwood floor buckled a bit in front of the fridge. It's slowly going back down to flat. Drying out I guess after about a month. I'd let it dry for weeks before I'd take any of it up. It might just go back on it's own as ours is.

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

We also had an ice maker leak, but it was a power outage that caused it. Our Oak hardwood floor buckled a bit in front of the fridge. It's slowly going back down to flat. Drying out I guess after about a month. I'd let it dry for weeks before I'd take any of it up. It might just go back on it's own as ours is.

Was your floor solid wood? The reason I ask is most parquet is 3/8ths thick not 3/4".
IMHO that floor from original poster is history. Foam underlayment? Floating floor maybe? Either way it should come up to air out underneath.

 

[peter halle]

From experience I just want to let any one who has this happen, you probably have mold growing underneath.  Different people have different comfort factors, but just wanted to let you know. 

Peter