As in all water-related property damage, time is crucial. Floors are at a higher risk for permanent water damage and mold expansion in case you don’t take care of moisture instantly. Hardwood floors will absorb moisture quickly because of their porosity. Besides answer time, effective hardwood flooring water damage repair depends on the sort of floors, wood, and finish, method of installation, amount of moisture, and replacement value.
For hardwood floor water damage restoration, consider hiring this water damage company. They have the necessary knowledge and experience and use specialized equipment for drying. But if you want to fix hardwood flooring water damage yourself, check out the tips below.
The best way to Fix hardwood flooring water damage
- Wear protective gear such as gloves, rubber boots, and a mask.
- Stop the flow of water when the flooding occurred due to a burst pipe, washing machine collapse, or water heater failure.
- Turn off the power to the affected room until the water was removed.
- Assess the damages before you begin the restoration to find out whether to clean up or replace the ground. Take photos, list damaged items, and reveal them to your insurance carrier.
- Eliminate any items (carpet, furniture, etc.) in the ground and take them to a sterile location.
- Open windows and doors to allow moisture to evaporate faster.
- Start removing the excess water with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner or with mops and old fabric. If the water level is heavy, use a pump to drain water. Ask someone to assist so you can complete the task quicker and prevent additional damage. Set them along with an elevated surface in the flooded area and shut the windows. Direct the lovers towards the floor’s surface.
- Clean any debris and sand from the floor using a non-abrasive detergent and brush while the heaters, fans, and dehumidifiers are running. Scrub the floor with clean water and keep washing the floor.
When dealing with flooded hardwood flooring, act fast to save your flooring from permanent damage and mold expansion. Speak to a professional flood remediation company, such as PuroClean of Stuart, that can quickly mitigate the harm and implement the best course of action. Additionally, learn how to avoid hardwood flooring water damage later on.
How Professionals Revive Hardwood Floor Water Damage
Deciding the Sort of flooring and installation
Inspection is always crucial when starting to fix hardwood floor water damage. Hardwood flooring comes in many different species, such as walnut, cherry, pine, maple, and cherry. A growing number of exotic species are being used in flooring. Every type poses different challenges in the drying process because of the varying levels of moisture absorption.
Additionally, there are varieties of floors that look like wood but aren’t. These floors will occasionally have a laminate onto the surface along with a particle board substructure. When moisture seeps under these floors, drying is extremely hard. The inability to dry these surfaces is due to moisture being trapped beneath the laminate, which acts as a vapor barrier. For more help, call a PuroClean disaster cleanup professional to help you evaluate your flooring’s type and condition.
Pros will also assess the initial installation method of the hardwood flooring. The first installation might be nailed, glued, or installed in a floating method.
- When nailed floors have suffered from water damage, the nails can lift.
- When the floor was glued onto the substrate, then the moisture can release the glue.
- In the instance of a floating type floor, it may not be authentic wood and maybe a laminated product.
Drying the hardwood floor (patience is key)
Once the technicians determine the wood floor type and installation method, drying can start. Using surface or subsurface drying techniques and proper dehumidification, technicians can induce heat beneath the surface of the ground (in a positive or negative way) to eliminate this moisture. It may also be required to access the floor from below for faster drying.
Powerful drying of a hardwood floor is a gradual process. It will occasionally take seven to 10 days for the ground to release sufficient water to stop the forced drying process. Eliminating all the consumed water from the floor is pricey and nature must be permitted to help in the process.
Now, nature will get rid of the remaining water, although gradually — anywhere from three to six months. Education in this method is essential for a successful occupation. Let the restorations professionals of PuroClean allow you to wash your hardwood floors properly.
Fixing the end
When the hardwood flooring is sterile, there may nevertheless be damage to the floor finish. Finishes, such as waxes and polyurethane, can inhibit the evaporation of the absorbed moisture. They will sometimes be removed in the drying procedure to allow for moisture removal.
If the hardwood floor cups slightly, the finish may crack and check due to the motion of the timber product. This is a standard part of the drying process. Once the floor is completely dry, the floor can be refinished.
Hardwood floor drying is a specialty. PuroClean restoration professionals possess the knowledge to correctly evaluate the many types of floors and have specialized equipment to fix hardwood floor water damage.
To summarize, here’s how to repair hardwood flooring water damage:
- Drain the excess water.
- Evaluate and record the damage.
- Apparent the inland region.
- Clean the dirt and wash the floor using air blowing equipment and dehumidifiers.
- After the process, if the floor reveals signs of self-indulgence and crowning, consult a hardwood floor installer to find the floor back in shape.
- Alternatively, call a professional restoration firm to perform all this hard work.