It’s no secret that many families across the Gold Coast have experienced issues within their homes from moisture and mould due to the rain and high humidity levels we have experienced over the past couple of years. With moisture issues becoming more prevalent in Gold Coast homes, it’s more important than ever to make sure your home and flooring is prepared for wet weather.

In this resource, we cover what you need to do if you find moisture or mould in your existing flooring, plus which products are best if you have a moisture-bound Gold Coast property that’s in need of new flooring (whether it be carpet or hard flooring).

Quick Tips to Prevent Moisture in your Home

  • Ensure you had adequate ventilation in your home
  • Ensure your home drainage is adequate
  • Use your air-conditioner to manage airflow and reduce humidity
  • Use moisture reducers in small spaces
  • Dry your clothes outdoors, not inside
  • Invest in a dehumidifier if required
  • Make use of exhaust fans in your bathroom & kitchen
  • Ensure any unnecessary openings into your home are sealed

What to do if you find moisture or mould in your Gold Coast flooring.

CARPET

Heavy rain and humidity can cause moisture and mould issues within some carpets—usually presenting first as an odour from your carpet. If you suspect there’s moisture damage within your carpet and/or carpet underlay, we suggest identifying the location and source (such as a leak) as soon as possible. If the moisture is extensive and mediating it is beyond your own capabilities, we suggest contacting a dry cleaning company to assist. Also try and get ventilation into the space ASAP.

Dry cleaners use specialised equipment to remove moisture and can give you some great tips to try and save your carpet. If the carpet is irreparable, the next steps are to contact your insurance company to have new carpet and underlay installed within your home by professional carpet installers (like One Source Flooring!). 

If you do need to remove your existing carpets due to mould, we recommend leaving this to the experts as mould spurs can be dangerous if you’re not wearing the correct PPE during removal. Once your new carpet is installed, managing moisture in the future is the number one thing you can do to avoid replacing your new carpet in the future (check out our tips above).

DID YOU KNOW that carpets with higher concentrations of dust were more likely to grow mould than those with lower dust concentrations? Regular vacuuming is key!

HYBRID PLANKS

Most modern hybrid planks claim to be waterproof, when they only have a waterproof surface. So what happens what if you experience rising damp/moisture from your slab, or your space floods, effecting your hybrid planks? Unfortunately, in most cases, the only thing you can do is replace the hybrid planks in the areas where moisture has hit. 

Due to their click-installation method, most hybrid planks can not be easily individually replaced, so we recommend that you speak with your insurance company prior to pulling up your floors to inspect the damage. If you’re advised that new flooring is required, then contact a professional hybrid flooring installer (like us) who will need to inspect your subfloors prior to the installation of your new floors.

 

WHAT IS RISING DAMP? Rising damp occurs when ambient temperatures rise, drawing moisture up from the ground and through the concrete. It can be hindered by installing a waterproof membrane and/or plastic sheeting underneath your new planks.

ENGINEERED TIMBER, OAK OR HICKORY FLOORING

While beautiful and eco-friendly, engineered timber flooring does not tolerate moisture well and if present, can result in cupping, swelling, shrinking and/or lifting in humid and damp conditions. Early diagnosis is crucial in addressing moisture damage of any engineered timber, oak or hickory floors. 

If you experience issues with your timber flooring (or any flooring, really), we recommend checking and managing the humidity levels in your home. Consider using a dehumidifier in warmer months or when humidity levels start peaking. We also recommend that you have sufficient ventilation within your home – running ceiling fans, ventilation fans and keep windows open where appropriate. If damage occurs, we recommend having your floors professionally inspected by your insurance company to see what can be repaired or salvaged.

VINYL PLANKS

Vinyl flooring is one of the best flooring options for humid conditions. While the planks themselves usually hold up fine, did you know that you can actually experience moisture issues under the planks? When moisture rises from your concrete slab mould can grow on the bottom of the planks and you can even experience listing. That’s why we recommend moisture testing your slab prior to installation, especially in homes that have experienced moisture issues in the past.

Most vinyl planks can be individually replaced, so our vinyl flooring ranges are certainly a good option if you have previously experienced moisture issues in your home.

WHY IS VINYL GOOD WITH MOISTURE? Being constructed from PVC, Vinyl flooring holds up to moisture from top to bottom.

Flooring Recommendations for Gold Coast Homes with Known Moisture Issues

Generally speaking, if you have experienced severe moisture issues within your Gold Coast property, we would typically recommend vinyl flooring as a replacement—even in bedrooms. We’ve included some of our top picks below.

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Aaron’s Top Vinyl Flooring Pick

ULTIMO VINYL by PREFERENCE FLOORS

Ultimo vinyl planks are 100% waterproof, robust & are dimensional stable. Available in a range of modern and stylish colours, Ultimo vinyl flooring is available with two different thicknesses, 2.5mm for general residential use & 4.5mm for residential, multi-residential & light commercial use. 

We recommend performing a moisture test prior to installation and potentially laying a moisture barrier to ensure that mould does not affect your new vinyl planks.

Preference Floors Vinyl Ultimo, Salamanca
Pulse Hybrid Hero
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Aaron’s Top Hybrid Plank Pick

PULSE by QUICK-STEP

Quick-Step Pulse hybrid planks feature an ultra-strong core and unique top layer that protects against stains, scratches and impact damage, while the innovative click system ensures a fully waterproof floor. 

Like with our vinyl flooring, we recommend moisture testing and (if high moisture is evident) laying a moisture barrier prior to installation.

Carpet in Humid Gold Coast Homes

Studies show that the biggest factor that contributes to fungal growth in carpets, as well as allergen levels, is elevated moisture followed by the presence of house dust. When managed efficiently, most carpets will be appropriate for your project.

If you experience humidity in your home, wool carpet could be a good option. Bremworth (NZ’s leading wool carpet manufacturer) claims that wool carpet helps regulate humidity by naturally absorbing and releasing moisture. It’s important to note that prolonged or excessive moisture isn’t covered under warranties, so if this is applicable to your home, go with vinyl flooring.

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Aaron’s Top Wool Carpet Pick

AVIEMORE by BREMWORTH

Aviemore is a wool loop pile carpet with relaxed forms that maintains simplicity with a heathered yarn composition. It is also naturally hypoallergenic & fire-resistant, made in New Zealand with 100% NZ wool.

Bremworth Aviemore Aurora
Belgotex Westminster Data Home Office
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Aaron’s Top Nylon Carpet Pick

WESTMINSTER by BELGOTEX

For the absolute in performance and style, Westminster will endure both high traffic areas and family living without compromising on a luxurious finish. Westminster really is your all-round performer, in the home or the commercial space.

  • Resistant to Mould & Mildew.
  • Stain and Fade Proof.
  • Will not Shed or Pill.

Other Important Ways to Prevent or Reduce Moisture

  • If you experience moisture within your home, we recommend checking that you have sufficient drainage around your home (i.e. no excess water going to your slab).
  • Ensure any external holes/openings are sealed so that water isn’t going to your slab or sub-floor.
  • Regularly check and clean out your gutters.
  • Make sure there aren’t any opportunities for leaks in new renovations or extensions.
  • If you’re having trouble identifying the problem, engage a plumber to; ensure there isn’t any external water or moisture going into your slab and that your home’s external drainage is adequate (gutters clear, downpipes damage-free, external holes/openings are sealed, garden beds not causing additional moisture near your slab, windows are sealed properly, weather strips below doors are installed). Also check your internal plumbing in all rooms and that your fridge/s are free from leaks.

If you have identified any leaks and suspect there is serious damage, engage a qualified builder to inspect your space. Once any internal or external leaks are remedied,  One Source Flooring can seal your slab and supply and install new flooring.

It’s important to note that this advice is general and recommendations on flooring are made on a range of factors, not just moisture. We always recommend dropping into our showroom first to view all of our products, followed by an in-home appointment with our team who will make a recommendation that’s perfectly suited to your needs.

To find out more or to book a free consultation for the installation of new flooring, visit the link below.

FOOTNOTES & RESOURCES: 1. In this study olefin carpet fibers appear to be the best choice for minimizing fungal and A. alternata growth compared to nylon and wool fibers. All fiber materials showed little to no growth in samples containing no dust. Based on the similar fungal DNA quantities observed with dust only (no carpet) and vacuumed dust (from carpet), it may show that the synthetic carpet fibers do not contribute to fungal growth but act as a reservoir for the dust to settle and remain in the home. This highlights the importance of adequate dust removal in carpet to minimize potential fungal growth in flooring. Allergen sensitive individuals may consider solid floors over carpet since dust removal is easier and more effective, and resuspension rates for dust are lower. 2. Study: Morphology and quantification of fungal growth in residential dust and carpets