Before

After

Water Ruins this Floor

Real hardwood flooring can usually be salvaged when it becomes wet or flooded. However, manufactured or engineered flooring can not usually be saved when it become wet. These manufactured floors can withstand a moderate amount of washing, but a bucket full of water spilled on these floor can ruin them because the "man-made" wood floors have layer of real wood and man made materials that swell at different rates. They often contain layers that include plastic too. The swelling and warping does not return to normal after drying. 

By contrast a real wood floor will swell and warp and then return to normal when drying techniques remove the excess moisture. Sometimes after being dried all these real floors require is a light sanding and application of varnish/wax. 

Manufactured/engineered floor have to be replaced. Good info to know when it comes time to install a floor.