Call: (707) 570-0555 | Email: info@cleancrawlspace.com

restoration clean up

Tag Archives: Hard Wood

hardwood water damage SR

Can Wood Floors Be Saved After Water Damage?

Leave a reply

There is no beauty like the beauty of a well-kept hardwood floor. When that beauty is marred by water damage, all of that hard work and effort feels like it has been washed away in a flood. Can wood floors be saved after water damage? Usually, the answer is yes. Step number one should be to call a professional as soon as possible after you find the damage. Here are some other damage control tips that can help save that beautiful floor.

1. Assess the Damage, Remove the Excess

How much of your floor has been affected by water damage? Depending on the size of the damaged area, you should immediately towel up or water vacuum the excess water to minimize the amount of seepage that occurs. The sooner you get up the excess water, the more likely it is that your floor can be saved. 

2. Check for Mold

Unchecked water damage to hardwood flooring provides the perfect environment for mold spores to take hold and reproduce. Black mold not only devalues your house and destroys your flooring, it also affects the air quality of your home. Check your flooring and subflooring if you can for signs of mold growth, especially when your hardwood floor has been water damaged for an extended period of time. You will need to make sure that the mold is eliminated when your floor is dried or repaired.

3. Check the Subfloor

Most people only check the top of flooring for dryness, but neglect to check the subfloor underneath for water or water damage. There are special considerations and drying procedures that need to be taken into account if the subfloor has been damaged in addition to your hardwood floor. Hire an expert to give it a once over before you do any repair or resurfacing.

4. Have a Professional Check Your Floor Before Refinishing

Many homeowners rent or buy poly-vinyl floor drying mats and dryers to dry out damaged flooring themselves. However, it is absolutely essential to have an expert do an assessment of your floor to make certain it is completely dry before deciding to refinish  damaged hardwood. If the floor or subfloor is refinished before it is completely dry, it can actually make the water damage worse in the long run.

Water damage to a hardwood floor can seem disheartening and overwhelming at first, but with the right post-damage assessments and drying procedures, your beautiful hardwood floor can be saved and renewed. Consider hiring an expert to guide you through the process, and help you preserve and protect your investment for years to come.  
 

Wood Floor Water Damage Sonoma

How to Dry a Hardwood Floor that has Water Damage

Leave a reply

Water damage from a flood can be a frustrating problem to deal with. It can be especially maddening when an expensive hardwood floor is the victim of the damage. Unfortunately, doing nothing does not make the problem go away, in fact, it can even make the problem worse. However, it is possible to save a hardwood floor that has been damaged by floodwaters.

Identifying water damage on a hardwood floor

The first step is solving the problem of water damage on a hardwood floor is identifying it. There are some telltale signs that a floor has been damaged by water.

  • Noticing a white stain on the hardwood is an indication that there has been minor water damage.
  • If the center of the board is dipping and the edges are raised, it is a sign that there is more water near the top of the board than at the bottom.
  • If the boards are crowning, which means the center of the board is raised and the edges are dipping, that means there is more moisture near the bottom than there is near the top of the boards.
  • If the boards are buckling or pulling away from the subfloor, it means the boards are completely saturated. It is unlikely a floor can be saved if it has reached this state.

Immediate action

It is important that immediate action to remove the water from the boards be taken as soon as it is discovered that there is water damage to a hardwood floor. The sooner action is taken the less likely it will be for mold to grow or for warping to occur.

Fresh air

Opening the doors and windows to allow fresh air to flow through the house is a good way to start the drying process.

Clear the area

Make sure the damaged area of the floor is clear of debris, dirt, and mud. It may be necessary to wear protective gloves, eye shields and a mask to be protected from mold and bacteria that might have begun to grow.

Clean the area

Clean the water-damaged area with a non-abrasive brush and a cleanser that won’t create suds.

Rinse

Rinse the entire area with clean, clear water.

Dry air

As soon as the power can be on in the house (if it’s been turned off), turn on the furnace and any type of portable heaters that are available and bring the indoor temperature of the house to between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Let it be

Leave the area alone until it flattens back out to its original state.

Following these steps should dry out a wood floor. However, if the damage is too extensive, the only solution might be to bring in a professional to assess the damage and determine the best course of action.

 

[Image Credit: Gene Han]