November 08 2012 12 00 am 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.
Water on hardwood floors damage.
The truth is water is really harmful for any kind of wood flooring that isn t water resistant.
This is certain that you ll have to replace the planks that.
Here s how to repair the damage.
One of the first signs that water has damaged your floor is cupping of individual planks or crowning of several planks creating a hump in the floor.
After severe water damage it is likely that wood floors will have to be replaced.
Protecting your floor from water isn t very hard however there are times when an event happens that you didn t plan for.
Deal with mold on wood under paint.
Best tips for water removal and drying your hardwood floors after a flood 1.
Warning sand water damaged wood flooring.
Identify which planks need to be replaced.
Some signs that your wood flooring is water damaged include.
Laminate flooring can have a.
Staining and discoloration cupping and moisture causing it to buckle lifting nails lifting floorboards mold growth.
Wood and water just don t mix.
If floors have cupped popped or cracked it may be an indication that the sub floor has experienced water damage as well.
In fact most people avoid buying solid hardwood flooring for fear that they will have to deal with repairing or replacing a water damaged floor.
Identify the source of the water.
This leads to the edges of the board being higher than the center.
One of the most telltale signs of hardwood floor water damage is known as cupping.
If water or moisture continues to penetrate the wood.
By the time you notice a change in your wood floor the water has already hurt the floor.
Heavy sanding with a drum or orbital sander can actually take down some minor high.
This is what happens when moisture causes the wood to expand pushing the boards together and deforming them in the center.
Mold growth under paint on a painted floor is a trickier issue.
Maybe your house flooded or maybe a pipe breaks.
Remove all of the other wet items out of the area ideally move furniture and all other such items.
Wood is specifically susceptible to mold growth so it is important that you ensure that the floor and the sub floor are completely dry.
No homeowner wants to hear the two dreaded words.
Fixing the water damaged floor by replacing damaged flooring step 1.
Sealed and waxed floors may become stained if water sits on their surface for more than a few minutes.