After a flood or excessive water damage accident, one of your many concerns may be how to save your beautiful hardwood floors from being permanently ruined and in need of replacement. Hardwood floors are an investment that add value and beauty to your home, so the last thing you’ll want to do is pay to have them ripped out and replaced.
Is It Possible To Save Your Hardwood Floors After Water Damage Has Occurred?
There are several factors that influence whether your hardwood floors can be saved. With proper care, however, there is a good chance yours can be restored to their original condition. Check out the factors below to help you provide the care your floor needs after a flood incident.
Amount of Moisture
According to Hardwood Floors Magazine from the National Wood Flooring Association, wood floors are produced with a moisture content of 6-9%. When flooding occurs, wood floors soak up excess water, leading to higher moisture content. When left to dry without assistance, wood floors can take weeks to dry out (if they ever do). As a result, they can start to show damage by way of cupping or raised edges, separation between panels, and buckling or lifting out of the floor.
Response Time
Although some types of wood absorb water more slowly than others, all wood is extremely susceptible to water damage. The longer you let water sit on your wood floors, the less likely it will be that professionals can save them.
Mold is also a factor when your floors sustain water damage. FEMA states that mold can begin growing on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. Immediately calling in a professional to restore your floors after water damage is extremely important to avoid mold. Time is working against you and your wood floors where water is concerned.
Drying Methods
Drying out wood floors after water damage can be difficult and time consuming, especially if moisture has reached your subfloor. Whichever particular drying method your water damage restoration company chooses to use determines how long your floors will be out of commission. With CLEAR Restoration’s advanced “drying in place” method, however, your floors can often be restored in less than a week.
Water on wood floors is no joking matter. As there are a lot of factors that play into the possibility of restoring your floors, it’s critical that you take proper action after the incident. Calling water damage restoration experts like CLEAR Restoration can mean the difference between having your floors restored back to their original condition and having to replace them. Call CLEAR Restoration today to restore your wood floors back to normal. Your home sustaining water damage can put a lot of stress on you, and you may feel lost but we are always ready and willing to help you restore your home and life.
