How can I use vinyl planks saved from flood damage?

This is just my opinion, but I'd be extremely wary of reusing any kind of material that was in a flood-damaged home due to the mold/mildew. You can't see it, but it could be hidden inside somewhere. A friend of mine just learned she has to move out of her home due to extensive mold damage underneath; she'd been sick for years and couldn't figure out why. Now she knows. Anyway, again it's just my opinion.

I agree a bit with Nicki about the mold/mildew and health issues but my other thought is that after this length of time if you can't see any mold, smell any mold, and there is little to no deterioration it might still be possible to use them to replace old carpeting. I know the mold can be hiding in cracks and crevices and it still may present itself somewhere down the line if you reuse the flooring. I would wash each piece, front and back, several times with products made to alleviate mold, and then I would let them dry in the sun, turning them front and back, for several days before I even considered using them. You don't mention if this flooring was underwater for any amount of time or it was replaced by the insurance company because of other damage in your home--windows and doors breaking, water coming in through windows & doors but not seeping in or flooding in from water rising. Sometimes some things/everything is just replaced in situations like this even though the product may not have been that severely damaged. I would think that had this flooring been underwater for days it would be completely ruined and you couldn't even consider reusing it. It's a lot to consider--good luck!

https://www.wikihow.life/Remove-Mold-and-Mildew

It's solid vinyl..nothing can get inside! no mold on it and is 2 yrs after flood.

Solid vinyil with cork backing. Vinyl nor cork will mold. You can use them as flooring, how about an accent wall. Some have used them on countertops.

Would make a nice looking headboard for your bed or back splash in the kitchen. Also could dress some plain looking planters.

I wouldn't use it for outdoor use. Wouldn't hold up from weather.

Thanks William. That's what I sort of thought. I have lots of decking I have to replace, and storm destroyed gazebo/spa too. I've decided not to replace expensive spa but to add a simple pre-built gazebo. I wondered if I could use it on an elevated floor on top of PT GC plywood. Still, I wondered if winter and sun temps may ruin it quickly...so your thoughts are similar. I'll probably use it upstairs. I don't have any place to put it on the walls, but suggestions for wall use are good idea for left overs. Perfect for man-cave or boys room. If anything else comes to mind, let me know. Thanks again.

GK...just so you know....mold needs moisture to grow. And mold does not grow on everything. Also, vinyl is a petroleum product. If it isn't solid vinyl and has a core substance inside, then there would be a concern....but not for solid vinyl.

I had vinyl flooring installed on my screened in patio. I'm in Houston too and went thru Harvey. My floors made it through just fine. However, you do have to use an extra heavy duty glue for outside (humid) installation. The first time the floors were installed, they started peeling up in less than a year. The company came back and installed new planks with better glue and they have been fine ever since --- several years (including several floods).

Wow...thank you Bett. Is your patio air-conditioned and was the vinyl put on concrete or plywood? Is there anything between concrete/wood and the vinyl? Also, to clarify...the "better glue" held the vinyl fine during/after Harvey with no problems? No need to take up? Sure wish I knew what that "better glue" was!! The humidity this summer has been insane!! Thank you so much!!

I'm not a master at this, but I guess you could reuse these vinyl planks only before you have to make sure their quality has remained as good and if they are not rotten. It has passed already been 2 years, and you have to take care of it. I say that because I've been through the floods in my house. I hope not to go through such situations again. And the same thing happened when we only moved, and everything was new, and not everything was built. The good thing was that we quickly asked for the help of a company that deals with water damage restoration. It made everything look new quickly—and even more, suggested what to do with different parts of the furniture that we did not use. I recommend you to seek the help of specialists.

You could use it in a workroom or craftroom if you have one, or maybe line a closet, shelving.