We’re here to help, so give as a call. Leaky roofs, busted pipes, overflowed toilets, and other sources of sudden floods can turn gorgeous wood planking into a warped, mold-prone mess in just days. If you don’t have a professional-grade dehumidifier on hand, some home repair stores offer equipment to rent. If they are wet too, set them outside in the sun to dry. When it comes time to wet-clean your floor (every four to six weeks depending on foot traffic) work on small areas at a time and use only a damp cloth or mop. If you remove the water from your hardwood floors quickly and properly dry them, you may be able to save the wood (or most of it). Take note: small, personal-use dehumidifiers won’t be up to the task. According to the EPA, mold can grow in as little as 48 – 72 hours on almost all household material if they have a moisture level of 16% or higher. We take immediate action to minimize the damage to your wood floors. Drying Hardwood Floors, flood damage, Water Damage. At wet/dry vacuum will suction up standing water, but don’t stop once the floor appears to be dry. Professional floor drying is much less expensive than replacing wood flooring, and you get the added benefit of peace of mind that the job is done right. M ajor storms like Sandy can cause extensive water damage to hardwood floors, but panicked homeowners should not rush to replace what appears to be beyond repair. Following these steps immediately after experiencing water damage will help ensure your hardwood floors dry properly and maintain their look and functionality. According to the EPA, mold is capable of growing on most materials with a moisture level of 16% or higher in as little as 48-72 hours. First, you need to recognize the four key factors that play into properly achieving a dry hardwood floor: Water damage can increase drastically if not taken care of properly, professionally, and in a timely manner. Moisture can still linger deep within the water damaged wood, so you’ll need to crank up a dehumidifier to full power in the center of the room and leave it running for at least a full 24 hours. This can be caused by changes in temperature and the issue often occurs during a seasonal transition. A proper dry out starts with identifying the source of the excess water, and shutting it off when possible. Once the cupping process is underway, which is when the sides of the floorboards swell and rise higher than the center, there’s only one thing left to do: rip out the flood-damaged floor and replace it. The experts at Certified Restoration have saved hundreds of hardwood floors by using advanced drying equipment and over 20 years experience. What causes a wood floor to warp? If floors have cupped, popped, or cracked, it may be an indication that the sub-floor has experienced water damage as well. Within the first 24 hours, irreversible damage can happen, leaving you with no choice but to rip up and replace. Water damage can be greatly decreased depending on the restoration company’s response time to the problem. Unfortunately for your hardwood floors that... Would you know what to do if emergency water damage like a burst pipe or heavy rain intrusion happened... 4 Sneaky Causes of Water Damage We often associate home water damage with large-scale causes like flooding or other... How to Treat Hardwood Floors for Mold After Water Damage, Preparing for Water Damage Disaster for Properties. Water, as with just about any household issue, is almost always the cause of hardwood floor warping. Time is of the essence when it comes to water damaged hardwood floors – the moisture, temperature, and dust layer beneath a flooded wood floor can provide an ideal environment for mold and many other problems. My hardwood floors are very dry and the planks are pulling away from each other is there anyway I can rehydrate them. Commercial property restoration services. Many homeowners are opting for hardwood floors due to style, value, and convenience- increasing their popularity. When water disasters take place, speed is crucial when dealing with hardwood floors. This type of flooring is most often replaced in the event of a flood and is hard to salvage because they have a low tolerance for moisture. The first 24 hours are critical, and the longer the wood is in contact with water, the worse the damage will be. Nails may begin to lift, glue may release causing separation between floor pieces, and tongue and groove floors often cup or buckle when moisture has been absorbed. Point the fans toward the floor, and if you have air conditioning, run that as well. “Normal” wood floor moisture varies from 6-12%, which means it doesn’t take much “missed” moisture to do some serious damage. “Normal” moisture content for wood floor can fluctuate between 6% and 12%. If you see any suspicious spots, immediately scrub the entire floor. A very common question we receive at Certified Restoration is, “Can I dry hardwood floor after water damage?” Many homeowners are opting for hardwood floors due to style, value, and convenience- increasing their popularity. Call a water damage restoration expert as soon as you notice the flooding. 24/7 Water Damage Restoration and Flood Clean-Up, Containment, Removal, Disposal, Deodorization, About the company, our mission, team & partners, Capabilities, government codes, & license info. This can be done with a simple mixture of baking soda and water. I have three cats and 2 children less often is not an option. They were sealed at one point, but are very old and not sealed very well at this time.