How to Deal With Water Damage to Your Wood Floors? | Hardwood Floors | Charlotte NC

HOW TO DEAL WITH WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR WOOD FLOORS?

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STANDING WATER

As we all know, standing water is the worst enemy of hardwood flooring. Therefore, when any water intrusion occurs, the best is to tackle the problem as soon as possible.

And when large floods happen, your wooden floor will never be quite the same as new again.

REMOVING WATER FROM HARDWOOD FLOORS

First, the sooner you dry your wet floors, the better. Wood is made of organic components. And one of these materials is wood cellulose fibers that rapidly absorb water but release it more slowly. Therefore, the first step is to dry out the floor surface and the sub-floor urgently.

DRYING FLOORS

When water intrusion is not severe, you can start the drying process by placing large fans, aiming them directly at the affected flooring. On the other hand, turn on the air conditioning unit (if you have one) and leave all windows open near the flooded floor.

REMOVING SURFACE WATER Remove the standing water on the surface with a shop vacuum turned on wet mode. You can incorporate a wide flooring attachment on the vacuum hose to better suck it up. On the other hand, clean your hardwood floor with a specialized disinfectant to prevent mildew build-up. Likewise, you can employ chlorine bleach (1 cup) mixed with a gallon of water. If you have carpets soaked by contaminated water, discard or sanitize them.

SUBFLOORS

Depending on the size of water damage, you must assess whether your floors must be replaced or can be repaired. Avoid covering your flooring with carpeting if it is damaged beyond repair. If your subfloors are experiencing bucking because of moisture, replace the damaged sections. Also, in this case, drive nails in these areas to prevent further damage.

Remove some boards to let the others expand. In this way, you can dry the subfloor better and, and these boards will expand without giving way or cracking.

Remove all items (rugs, furniture, etc.) from the floor and place them in a dry area. Wear protective gear such as gloves, rubber boots, and a mask.

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