Flooded Hardwood Floors

Standing water and hardwood flooring don t mix.

Flooded hardwood floors.

Leaky roofs busted pipes overflowed toilets and other sources of sudden floods can turn gorgeous wood planking into a warped. To dry beneath wood floors which have been flooded first you should remove any wet floor coverings such as rugs or carpet. Causes of buckled hardwood floors. If major amounts of water flood related or not have come into contact with your wood floor your floors will never be quite the same as new again but you can take steps toward saving them from the junkyard.

Speed is the key. Hotel stay if refinishing hardwood floors sometimes. If you are refinishing the hardwood floors you can not walk on these areas for several days. Moisture primarily is the main cause of buckling.

For example we had two employees with strip oak floors that flooded with 4 or 5 inches of water during harvey. These strip floors were installed in a way that seems unique to houston i think it might be because of our petrochemical industry. This can happen after the wood floor suddenly gets flooded with large amounts of water and when moisture content builds up over time. Hardwood floors are a classic design choice with several practical benefits but despite the aesthetic appeal wood flooring is incredibly vulnerable to water damage.

So if you have a flood or water damage or even just a spill on your hardwood flooring you ll want to remove the water and dry your floors as quickly as possible. If this blocks your way to the bedrooms and or bathrooms and or the smell is over powering you are usually entitled to a stay at a hotel. 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. Hardwood floors add a beautiful touch to just about any room but there s some debate about the best way to clean them.

Once the root cause of peaking is identified the hardwood floor peaking problem can be fixed. Even waxed or sealed floors cannot withstand excessive water and if the wax or sealer is wearing. 50 thoughts on flooded floors. Next dry the floors completely by pumping out standing water then mop and towel the surface dry.

The first 24 hours are critical and the longer the wood is in contact with water the worse the damage will be. Use fans to circulate the air in your home and have patience as your floors dry. After a flood or spill it is imperative to extract as much water from your wood floor as possible. For anyone who lives in hurricane and flood prone areas that have historic homes this comes as no surprise.