watermarks on wood floor

I have a living room/dining room combination that has beautiful oak floors. In the living room, I had put down an area rug and underneath it I had a open "waffle" foam pad. When I took the rug up, the pad left black marks over the entire area. It looks like a "wet" stain. Somebody told me that when it was humid out, the pad absorbed the moisture and stained the floor.

Is this ruined? Do I need to call in the big boys and have the floor completely re-done?

I plan on getting another area rug but I didn't want one as large as the old one (8x12)

Also, why didn't the carpet man tell me this pad was not good for the floor? I explained to him when I bought the carpet and he recommended this for me. Thanks!

 

A quality pad protects your rug from humidity from the floor and from wear due to movement on the floor. Periodic inspection of the pad is recommended as well as rotation of the rug every 6-12 months. Periodic professional cleaning of the rug is also recommended. Many hardwood manufacturers recommend periodic removal of the rug so that the wood beneath the rug be exposed to the light so the color changes in the wood due to the light will be consistent. This prevents the area under the rug from being a different color from the rest of the room. It sounds like you need to call a professional to assess the extent of the damage and to make recommendations.

 

Debra,
I doubt that the stain has penetrated through the polyurethane, if that is the finish. What probably occurred is that there was a slight chemical reaction, and the padding has literally stuck to the floor finish. Try wiping it up with some mineral spirits or some other stain remover.
Don't you agree Patricia?(12pole)
fred

 

Hey, Fred, I was hesitant to comment on the finish, as we don't know what kind it is. A chemical reaction is very possible, causing the finish to soften and discolor. My first thought was that it is a varnish finish. If so, perhaps some denatured alcohol and fine steel wool might remove the stain. If the damage has penetrated the finish through to the wood, then it's more serious. Mineral spirits and fine steel wool tested in a small area will tell you quickly if the stain has penetrated the finish and whether more drastic measures need to be taken. I also wondered about the length of time the pad and rug had been down without being moved as well as the quality of the pad. In addition, I wondered about why so much humidity, such as if the room is over a crawl space and if there is a vapor barrier in the crawl space.