Wood flooring is increasing its popularity to many homeowners because of the versatility of styles and affordability. However, wood’s natural fibers readily absorb water, and therefore, it is not resistant to humidity, spills, and standing liquids. Wood floor water damage is annoying and a common problem that can damage the structure of your home permanently. Thus, it is important to act fast and restore your water damaged wood floor.
Protect your wood floor from water damage and seek professional help immediately, especially if the damage is extensive.
Water Damaged Wood Floor
Water-damaged wood flooring can cause the wood to sag, making it warped and not even. You can easily notice even hardwood floor water damage due to cupping and curving of the floorboards creating raised bumpy appearance.
The longer your wood floor is left untreated, the bigger damage it will have. The damage is irreversible and may require a full restoration, even changing of the affected areas of flooring. Water and wood never mix so it is very important to act fast and deal with it as soon as possible to salvage wood, prevent mold growth, and further damage.
How to Restore your Water Damaged Wood Floor
Excess moisture can damage your hardwood floors because the material is naturally porous. So you have to begin cleaning and drying the affected areas as soon as possible.
1. Identify and stop the source of water before drying anything out.
Check for leaks or burst pipes that could be the cause of water damage to your wood floor. Then, repair the damage before cleaning up.
2. Move all furniture out of water-damaged areas
To hasten the drying process, move all the affected materials into a dry and safe place. Open doors and windows to increase air circulation if it is not too cold outside.
3. Use a large wet vacuum to extract water from the floor and do this twice.
This is to prevent buckling wood floors and warped boards from becoming loose due to moisture.
4. Gently scrub the floor to remove dirt, grease, and oily compounds that can damage the hardwood floor’s finish.
Use a non-lathery detergent that is specially formulated for cleaning and disinfecting wood floors.
5. Completely dry the area
It will take at least 24 hours to complete the drying process of hardwood floors. Put as many fans as you can so they can create multiple cross-currents of air. Moreover, run a dehumidifier as well and it should be in the center of the room. Others may dry out completely for several days. A moisture meter will check to ensure that the floors are completely dried.
6. Use a moisture meter to check the wood flooring every day.
Preventing mold after extensive water damage to your home is crucial. With a moisture meter, you can check the condition of your flooring. Look for signs of mold or mildew and scrub with a mixture of water and baking soda.
You can’t always save a laminate floor
Laminate flooring is constructed with a fiber core which makes the material absorb water and swell easily. In addition, ensure that the subflooring is totally clean and dry. Any replacement flooring will continue to absorb moisture and lead to extensive damage.
Get Help From Our Professionals at Superior Restoration
Wooden floors can be saved from water damage once addressed immediately. If there is a small amount of water damage to your wood floor, you may be able to treat it without the help of the experts. Nevertheless, if there is excess water that leads to significant water damage, then it is time to seek help from trained professionals.
It can be very expensive to repair water-damaged wood floors so hiring a restoration specialist can save the expense of changing your floors. The experienced restoration contractor from Superior Restoration can help you with the claims process of your insurance company since it covers most water damage.
If you are not sure how to deal with your wood floor water damage, please contact the experts at Water Damage Murrieta. We offer 24/7 water damage restoration services.
