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How To Fix Hardwood Floor Damage
Article by David Selter
Whether it’s from flooding rains, tropical storms, plumbing problems, or malfunctioning ice makers, flooded wood floors are a common occurrence. When hardwood floors are flooded you will begin to see signs of damage such as cupping, which is when the edges of each wood plank become higher than the center of the plank. Even after you have seen signs of such water damage, with the right equipment and expertise, most hardwood floors can be fully restored, but time is of the essence.
To properly dry hardwood floors, once the standing water is removed and dehumidifiers have been set up, specialty floor mats that form a seal against the floor are placed on the affected areas. These floor mats are attached by vacuum hose to the negative side of high pressure blowers that pull up the trapped water vapor from the subsurface of the floor. While the water vapor is being removed, it is simultaneously being replaced by the dryer air in the room that is being produced by the dehumidification equipment. So the moist air from the evaporating water is continually being drawn out from beneath the floor while the dry warm air produced by the dehumidifiers is being drawn in. Just removing the surface water, setting up dehumidification equipment and blowing dry air across wet hardwood floors will not dry them. Even if they are dry to the touch, the subsurface remains wet and is the ideal condition for microbial growth as the wood continues to deteriorate.
Water damage can affect everything from flooring, walls and wall cavities, ceiling and ceiling cavities, cabinets, and even air quality. Excessive moisture in the air from evaporating water can cause secondary damage such as peeling paint, warping drywall, swelling cabinets, and mold. To fix it, a comprehensive clean up is needed. And that means drying the affected areas and preventing further damage. Professional specialists are trained to dry a structure quickly while controlling moisture levels in the air to prevent secondary damage to areas that were not originally damaged.
Remember that although fast water removal services help you clean up quickly, a good remediation company will have the expertise to completely restore and dry your home or business. To prevent serious problems from water damage it’s important to dry it thoroughly and dry it fast! Choose a water damage restoration company that:
- Is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating – better yet, a BBB Award for Excellence winner to make sure you have a reputable restoration company.
- Has you speak directly to a supervisor any time of the day or night – not an answering service.
- Is available any time of the day or night with emergency response teams ready to respond quickly to any water damage problem and begin the clean up immediately.
- Is certified by the IICRC, the certifying body of the restoration industry.
The right restoration company can help you get back to a safe healthy environment as quickly as possible.
