Can Hardwood Floors Be Restored After Water Damage?

1/19/2021 (Permalink)

Any time water saturates hardwood, that wood will absorb the water through its pores and this causes warping and discoloration. If your hardwood floors have undergone a flood of some kind, you may be wondering if they can be restored. The answer is yes, and here are the steps to follow to do just that:

Remove Water. Soak up all standing water as quickly as possible. The first 24 hours are critical and if you can remove the water and dry your floors completely, you may be able to avoid serious and irreversible damage. 

Refinish. You will need to refinish the wood, beginning with sanding. This repair can bring your floors back to pre-flood condition and will save you all the time and money involved in having your damaged flooring removed and new flooring installed. 

Preventive Measures.

• The first thing you can do yourself is to find the source of water and take the necessary steps to stop the flow if this is related to a pipe or appliance on your premises.
• If you have carpeting on top of your hardwood floor, remove the carpet and the padding immediately, as well as any other soaked items that may be in contact with your wood surfaces. 
• You can use a shop-vac to extract as much water as you can; if you don’t have one on your premises they are readily available for rent at any hardware store. You should rely on the professionals if the amount of water is really extensive, however. 
• Prevent mold and preserve your hardwood floors by using a non-sudsy disinfectant, and then vacuum again to remove standing water. 
• Run your heater, air conditioner, or dehumidifier constantly to keep the air dry in the affected areas. This will help to prevent unpleasant odors and may provide a deterrent to mold, too. 

Professional Help. Contact a professional water damage restoration service if you have experienced extensive water damage. They are experts in this area and will have the personnel and equipment necessary to get your water damage managed both quickly and properly. Remember that your restoration professionals can help you with carpet-cleaning after a water damage event, too. If your area has suffered a weather disaster, these companies will probably have a waitlist, so be sure to reach out as soon as you can in this situation.

The team here at SERVPRO of North Nashville has the skills and equipment necessary to get your floors back to pre-damage condition, and we are always here to help with repairs and renovations to any area of your property if they have been affected by water damage. We also handle fire damage, and we are mold remediation experts, too. We can get your home or business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned. Ask us how!