Water has the potential to wreak havoc on various elements within your home, including hardwood floors. Despite applying wax and treatments to hardwood floors, water can penetrate the porous wood, reaching beneath the floorboards and even the subfloors. While wood naturally undergoes expansion and contraction, water damage is abnormal.
If your hardwood floors have recently encountered water damage, it’s crucial to assess whether they can be salvaged or if replacement is the more prudent option.
Assessing Your Wood Floor Water Damage
As soon as you notice water on your hardwood floors, try to dry them as quickly as possible to reduce the amount of permanent damage. Be sure that you remove any wet or damp rugs or carpets and soak up as much surface water as possible using mops and rags. A wet vacuum can be used to get any water that is between the seams in the floorboards. Rather than using heaters to try to dry out the wood, just a dehumidifier instead to trap any moisture. You’ll probably want to call a water remediation company like 1-800 Water Damage of NE Sacramento-Folsom immediately to come and assess the situation for further steps. The restoration company uses special meters and technology including thermal imaging cameras to determine how extensive the water damage is in the wood floor. Please note that the longer you wait to call a professional, the more damage can occur.
If your hardwood floors have water damage, it will probably show up in one of three ways: warped/cupped floorboards, discolored floorboards, or mold and mildew growth.
Warping Floorboards
Hardwood tends to absorb water, leading to expansion and pushing against adjacent floorboards, ultimately causing warping or cupping. Elevated temperatures and humidity levels can further contribute to the occurrence of warping. Warped floorboards create gaps where dirt and other debris can become trapped. Although some natural expansion and contraction are expected in natural fiber flooring, severe warping or cupping prevents a return to a flat surface. In most instances, once floorboards have warped, replacement is often necessary.
Water Stain or Discoloration
When wood absorbs and subsequently releases water, or when water is allowed to linger on hardwood floors and eventually evaporates, it can result in discolored patches. The minerals and salts present in the wood react with the water, giving rise to stains. In cases of stained hardwood floors, refinishing may be a viable option to address water damage spots, or if refinishing is not feasible, individual planks can be replaced.
For solid hardwood flooring in good condition, multiple sanding sessions can restore the finish. When water damage is predominantly superficial, refinishing becomes a suitable choice. However, if the damage is more extensive, opting for replacement might be a more prudent decision. Seeking the evaluation of a water damage professional can provide insights into the condition of your hardwood floors, aiding in making the best decision for restoration or replacement.
Mold and Mildew Growth
When there is water beneath hardwood flooring, it creates conditions conducive to the growth of mold and mildew. Detecting mold and mildew can be challenging initially, and manifestations may become apparent only a few days later.
Visible signs may include black spots of mold or patches of white furry mold. Additionally, a musty odor emanating from the floor and a damp feeling in the room could indicate the presence of mold. If these issues arise after addressing water damage to a hardwood floor, it suggests that complete water removal may not have been achieved from the floorboards. Furthermore, the observed signs and odors could point to a more extensive mold problem beneath the floorboards, potentially affecting the subfloor. In such cases, seeking the expertise of a professional mold remediation service is advisable.
When it comes to water damage, time is of the essence in helping to prevent any damage or further complications. Mold can develop within 24-48 hours or water might have seeped through cracks and crevices of the wood floor. Unfortunately, the area underneath the floorboards creates a dark and damp location, which is perfect for mold growth. The sooner you know what you’re dealing with, the more options you have for saving your hardwood floors.
If you have a similar issue, give 1-800 WATER DAMAGE of NE Sacramento-Folsom a call! We are a resource for you in any kind of water damage or mold remediation situation and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
