Hardwood Floor Drying San Diego
Tips On Saving Your Hardwood Floors From Water Damage
Wood and water. No, that combination is the best there is. Water has undoubtedly entered your home and is currently sitting on the lovely hardwood floor you once adored if there has lately been flooding where you live.
Water can completely damage hardwood flooring since the substance readily absorbs moisture, warping and discolouring it.
To stop further damage, it’s essential to dry your hardwood floor and remove any remaining water quickly.
Saving Hardwood Floor from Water Damage
The first 24 hours are critical since the wood will get worse with each hour that passes the longer it is soaked in water. If you act swiftly and completely to remove the water and thoroughly dry it, you can save the hardwood floor from suffering significant damage.
To ensure that all of the water has been completely dried out, you will need a reliable water pumping machine and a strong drier, which makes doing all of this work challenging. Your hardwood floor still has to be sanded and refinished to look new.
Here are some of our top recommendations for getting rid of moisture and water from hardwood floors even though Home Pro Plumbing will take care of everything for you if you have the necessary equipment and knowledge and want to handle it yourself.
What Happens When Hardwood Floor Absorbs Water?
During floods, when your hardwood is wet with water, it will start to gently absorb it. Other sources of water damage include roof leaks, pipe bursts, toilet overflows, and so forth.
When wood absorbs water, it expands and cups or warps. This happens when the flooring swells and rises higher on the sides than in the center, creating an uneven surface. Even if the water is only present for a brief while, it will seep through the tiny gaps between the boards or be absorbed by the plywood subfloor beneath the hardwood floor. It will eventually cause the adhesive underneath it to become free, raising the floor.
When there is water damage, it is crucial to dry the floors as soon as possible and remove the water as soon as feasible. In addition to preserving the hardwood flooring, this will also stop mold growth, a more significant issue that will be very expensive to resolve. Mold development can start within 48 to 72 hours of water damage, and it can spread swiftly, according to the US EPA.
Does Your Insurance Company Cover Water Damaged Flooring?
Homeowners frequently ask us if their insurance carrier will cover the damage. The type of damage and your insurance policy both have a big impact. 20% of homeowners in the US have flood insurance. Therefore, if the damage was caused by flooding, which implies that water entered from the outside, your insurance provider is unlikely to pay out.
If the damage was caused by a pipe leak, a water heater explosion, a toilet overflow, or even structural damage to the home, such a roof leak, your insurance company may be able to cover the costs.
For more information, you should get in touch with your insurance company.
Your insurance company may be obligated to pay for additional losses connected with the claim if they have already agreed to pay for the loss. Paintings and floors can be excluded, but other services like repairing water damage and replacing broken furniture are all covered.
What To Do After A Hurricane Or Major Storm
Getting in touch with an established water or flood damage restoration firm, like us, is the best course of action in times of significant water damage. We are experts in this field and have all the tools necessary to restore your item to its initial state. We are aware that every homeowner will contact a restoration company after a flood. Don’t stress over it! Our certified staff members are readily ready to assist you with your loss twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week.
If you recently experienced flooding, we strongly suggest you to contact us. The sooner you contact, the less damage there is to your property.
Keep these safety measures in mind while you wait for us to arrive to protect your hardwood floor and other priceless items:
1: Find & Stop The Source Of Water
Your top goal should be to locate the water’s source and immediately shut it off. You won’t be able to save the hardwood floor if water keeps seeping through. The best course of action is to recognize the issue and make the necessary efforts to address it before it worsens.
2: Remove Other Wet Items Out Of The Area
All wet furniture and other belongings should be moved as quickly as you can, preferably outside or to a dry location. If you’re moving the goods to a different room or location, make sure the new space has a waterproof floor or a layer of plastic between the furniture and the floor.
Remove any padding and carpet covering the hardwood flooring as soon as you can. Wood absorbs water considerably more slowly than carpets do. They smell and develop mold first as a result. As conducting the repair job oneself could result in an injury from their sharp edges, remove any tack strips as well.
3: Use A Wet Vacuum To Suck Up All The Standing Water
You shouldn’t allow water to pool on your home and cause damage. It is preferable to use a wet vacuum in order to rapidly and effectively absorb as much water as possible. This operation should be handled by an experienced mitigation business like ours because we have specialized water extraction equipment that can quickly absorb the water. Important: Depending on the degree of the water damage, you might also need to remove some drywall and the baseboards. This process may appear difficult due to the fact that drywall absorbs water like a sponge and can gather too much moisture, but it is necessary to stop mold growth. To guarantee that the entire area is entirely dry, flood damage restoration companies often remove drywall 18 inches above the highest point where the water has reached.
4: Cleaning The Surface With A Disinfectant
The most crucial thing is to keep mold away from your hardwood flooring. A non-sudsy disinfectant can also be used for cleaning. When you’re done, use a wet vacuum to get rid of any leftover water.
5: Using A Dehumidifier
Your home almost certainly contains a dehumidifier. It’s time to seize the opportunity. Just put it in the middle of the area. You can put all of your dehumidifiers in one area if you have a lot of them. Make sure the water is cleaned every few hours until assistance arrives. The dehumidifier should operate for three days, or at least 24 hours, if necessary. It is recommended that you utilize it for several weeks. While the floors are healing, keep the area uncrowded.
6: Use Large Fans
Utilizing strong fans will speed up the drying process. Make sure the fans are directed toward the ground and leave the windows open for the maximum ventilation. Fans will aid in the necessary ventilation as well as the surplus moisture’s evaporation. Keep the windows closed if it is heavily raining or humid outside. Only leave the room doors ajar and leave the dehumidifier on all the time. Make sure the fans are operating loudly and at full power. An oscillating quality is beneficial.
You can use air conditioning in addition to fans, but not heat. Unwanted cracking and cupping are brought on by heat, and an increase in localized moisture promotes the development of mildew.
Finally, before utilizing the fans, make sure they are dust-free and clean. Any of the cords or plugs shouldn’t be exposed to water.
7: If There Is A Level Below The Water Damage Area, Reduce The Moisture In The Sub-floors As Well
The leaks and holes in the hardwood floor would almost probably have allowed water to seep through and reach the subfloor below. Additionally, you should dry this area. If there is a room below the damaged area with an unfinished ceiling, it will be very helpful. To hasten the process, use fans and a dehumidifier in this area.
Make a tiny square hole in the ceiling if the ceiling is finished so that the subfloor may dry out more quickly.
8: What If Boards Start To Pop-up?
Once the floor has completely dry, look for any evidence of mold or mildew. If you smell mold growing or see any indications of it, clean the floors right away using a mix of baking soda and water. You can hire a mold/remediation business if the mold has already spread too far. When you hire Home Pro Plumbing to handle your flood damage restoration, mold and mildew removal are also covered.
9: Check For Signs Of Mold Or Mildew
Examine the floor for any signs of mold or mildew once it has completely dried. Scrub the floors immediately with a solution of baking soda and water if you smell or spot signs of growth. If the mold has already become too widespread, you can engage a mold/remediation company. Mold and mildew removal is included when you contact Home Pro Plumbing to handle your flood damage restoration.
10: Using Moisture Meter
The floors can take up to 6 weeks to dry completely on average. It is essential that you give the flooring enough time to completely dry before attempting to sand it. The results of your actions will hit you hard if you act impatiently.
Use a moisture meter to gauge the material’s moisture level to make sure the wood has dried completely. You may easily find these reasonably priced devices online. Use the moisture meter to check for moisture multiple times before sanding the floor. The floor probably has some sections that are moister than others. Before installation or sanding, the hardwood’s moisture content should be between 6 and 9%.
It’s possible that your insurance provider is rushing to resolve the claim. Allow it to happen; if not, it will cause you trouble in the future.
11: Sand & Refinish The Hardwood Floors
You should sand and refinish your flooring here to give it a tidy and beautiful appearance once more. Water would have deteriorated the polyurethane, necessitating possible complete replacement of some parts or sections. If there is any remaining polyurethane on the floor, it will be considerably thinner and damaged, indicating that it won’t last for very long. Refinishing the floors is the greatest option in this situation.
Usually, water-damaged floors may be repaired and sanded. Light cupping will be used during the procedure. It depends on how much water was absorbed and how effectively the floor was dried, but in most cases, only the damaged areas of the floor need to be replaced. In this situation, consulting professionals is the best line of action.
Notes On Finding Contractors
You are not compelled to choose any of the contractors that your insurance provider recommends, and you are completely free to select the ones you want. By doing this, they are breaking the law. You should get in touch with the person who makes you feel most at ease. We take great satisfaction in the quality of our work as a respectable organization, and we fervently implore you to utilize us in an emergency. You can read reviews of our services from previous clients.
Final Words
Any moment could bring up a crisis. Flooding could damage your hardwood, therefore the best approach to keep the splendor of your amazing floor is to remove the water as soon as possible. The aforementioned advice will be useful, but only one person can put it into practice rapidly. If you need restoration services, get in touch with Home Pro Plumbing.
So don’t be reluctant to use our experts. Call us right away to receive a free quote. For all of your plumbing and leak detection needs, call Home Pro Plumbing.