How do I Save My Water-Damaged Wood Floor?

1/17/2023 (Permalink)

If there's one thing you should take away from this article, it's that the first 24 hours are critical.

Water damage is a serious problem. It can happen to anyone, at any time, and it's not limited to just homes and businesses. The truth is that water damage can occur in any setting where there's a high probability of moisture exposure: homes, businesses, cars, and elsewhere. If you've sustained water damage in your Sanibel, FL home or business, then this article will walk you through what steps you should take right away to save your wood flooring from further deterioration.

Can I save my water-damaged wood floor?

So, you're looking for ways to repair your water-damaged wood floor. You've come to the right place. Water damage is fixable in many cases, but you need to know that the extent of the damage will dictate how much time and effort will go into repairing it.

So, what do you do? Don't panic! The next step is figuring out whether your floor can be saved by taking steps during those crucial 24 hours following a spill or flood.

What's the first step to saving my wood floor?

The first step to saving your wood floor is to get the water out. If you don't, you could end up with permanent damage on your floor that will be costly to remove.

This can be done with either a wet/dry vacuum or by using a shop vac with a special nozzle attachment (like this one) that sucks water from carpets, upholstery, and other fabric surfaces without taking off any of the fibers in them.

Once you've drained as much of the water from your floor as possible, dry it thoroughly before moving on to cleaning and restoring the finish on top of it.

If the floor is not immediately dried, what can happen?

If the wood floor is not dried immediately, it will continue to warp and swell. This can cause permanent damage to the floor. If you do not act quickly enough, your wood floor may become more difficult to repair or even need to be replaced altogether.

How long will it take to save my hardwood floor?

The drying process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on how much water was on the floor and how long it sat there before drying off. If you're lucky, your hardwood floor will be warped only slightly after drying — but if it's been flooded for a long time, your floors might be unsavable.

To save your wet wood floors from warping, they'll need to be dried out as quickly as possible. The longer they stay wet and cool, the more likely they are to warp over time; once they're dry enough that they won't warp anymore, then you can start working on repairing any damage done by the moisture content of their environment over time.

The first 24 hours are critical.

If you have water damage, call your preferred water damage restoration team right away. Water damage can cause mold growth and the harmful effects of this may become irreversible in as little as 48 hours following a flood or leak.

If there's one thing you should take away from this article, it's that the first 24 hours are critical. If you have water damage, call SERVPRO of Sanibel/Ft Myers Beach right away. It may seem like an inconvenience at first, but if ignored long enough it can lead to more serious issues in your Sanibel, FL home or business.