CAN FLOODED HARDWOOD FLOORS BE SAVED?
hardwoodfloorscharlotte.com
WATER-RELATED PROPERTY DAMAGE
When it comes to water-related property damage, all types of wood are vulnerable to damage, and time is crucial to avoid irreversible losses. Indeed, if you do not take measures when hardwood floors are in contact with water, they will absorb moisture quickly, leading to harmful consequences such as cupping and fading.
FAST RESPONSE When your house is experiencing a kind of water intrusion, leakage, and flood that affect your floors, the first 24 hours are critical. Since its porosity, the longer the wood has been in contact with water, the worse the damage will be. For this reason, it is essential to remove the water from any wooden surface as soon as possible.
THE POROSITY OF WOOD
The porosity of wood is because it is a hygroscopic material. In this context, all hygroscopic substances attract water from their surroundings, and they are prone to get wet (or moist) in several ways. Therefore, hardwood floors are at risk when a flood occurs from outside plumbing leakage, and, toilet overflow, and other water-related accidents. Hygroscopic substances also include other cellulose fibers such as paper and cotton.
CAN WET HARDWOOD FLOORS BE REPAIRED?
When dealing with a flooded hardwood floor, the best way to save it is by taking urgent measures. Otherwise, they will be permanently damaged and will be attacked by mold growth. If your home is severely flooded, call a professional on water damage remediation to mitigate the harmful effects of damp.
INSPECTION
After water intrusion or any water-related accident, inspection is required before repairing a humid hardwood floor. Some species are more resistant to water than others that pose more challenges in the drying process. On the other hand, some hardwood floors have board substructures that can be affected by water.
DRYING PROCESS
First, the drying process is crucial to saving your floors. Therefore, it is important to use surface and subfloor drying methods, as well as proper dehumidification. These methods are slow, and drying a flooded hardwood takes 10 days until removed the moisture. Finally, if you have installed a beautiful and costly hardwood floor, contact an insurance company to cover possible future water damage and mitigate other associated issues such as mold mitigation.
h a r d w o o d f l o o r s c h a r l o t t e . c o m