What to Know About Repairing Water Damaged Wood Flooring

 

With all the rain we’ve been getting recently in Maryland, we’ve been getting a lot of calls from people with water damaged wood floors. Water damaged wood floors are a first for many people, which is bound to give rise to questions as well as misconceptions about fixing the damage. So in this week’s blog, we’re going to talk about what you need to know about repair water damaged wood flooring.

What you need to know about repairing water damaged wood flooring!

What to Know About Repairing Water Damaged Wood Flooring

In many cases, the damage can be fixed.

When you see your wood floors covered in water, it’s easy to assume the worst. And it is true that there are some cases where the floor is just not salvageable.

But there are also plenty of cases where the wood can be repaired. It’s a time consuming process, and involves a lot of waiting for the wood to dry out so it can be sanded and refinished. But rest assured that water damage likely isn’t the end of your wood floors.

Why do I have to wait until the wood is dry?

You have to wait until the wood is dry because the excess moisture has caused the wood to swell. If you sanded and refinished the wood before it was dry, you’d see the wood continue to shrink back to its normal size, which would mess up all the work that was done.

How do I know when the wood is dry?

A wood floor contractor uses an electronic moisture meter to measure the moisture content of dry wood in another part of the house. The contractor will measure the moisture content of the damaged floor and will wait until it reaches equilibrium moisture content (EMC) before they start repair work.

What should I do in the immediate aftermath?

The first thing to do is start the drying process. This involves buying/renting large fans and pointing them down at the floor and keeping them on continuously. Turn on the air conditioning too, as this will also help dehumidify the air in your home, which will draw water out of the wood. It’s also a good idea to point fans up at the floor from the basement or crawl space below, if possible. Ventilate the basement as well, and use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.

Should I worry about mold?

Mold is certainly a concern in this situation. If you do the drying process right, then you can minimize the risk of mold becoming an issue. Depending on the extent of the damage, your insurance company might want you to remove the entire floor and replace it with a new one.

Should I hire a wood floor contractor to repair my wood damaged floor?

Absolutely! Signature Hardwood Floors is a professional wood floor contractor who can help you repair your wood floors. Contact us today at 410.415.0755!