Whether it was a malfunctioning dishwasher, an overflowing toilet, or a washing machine hose that split, water can get to your hard wood floor. Unfortunately, water and wood do not play well together. When wood floors are exposed to water, damage is inevitable. But there are some things you can do to minimize the damage. If you act quickly, you can prevent further damage. The first thing you need to do is to soak up or remove as much water as possible. If caught quickly enough, water damaged floors can simply be refinished to restore them to their original condition. At SVB Wood Floors, we will always refinish your floors if possible rather than replacing them because restoration can save you thousands over total replacement.
Signs of Hardwood Floor Water Damage to Look for:
Is the damage bad enough to call in hardwood floor experts, or will the floor recover on its own. It’s hard to tell sometimes. Depending on the type of hardwood floor you have, damage and repair will be different. Here are some signs to look for:
Cracking and Peeling – if it only affects the finish, this damage may be repairable by simply sanding and refinishing the surface.
Cupping – when the edges of each plank rise. Cupping means that the hardwood floor still has a lot of moisture in it.
Crowning – when the floor has dried completely, it will usually crown or rise in the middle of each plank. This gives it a rounded, pillowed appearance. Crowning will require sanding and refinishing to repair.
Buckling – buckling is the worst sign of water damage and usually occurs when the moisture has totally permeated the wood. If the leak isn’t immediately discovered and the water is allowed to sit on the wood for an extended period of time and seep in slowly, buckling will occur. Buckling is the wood plank itself warping and twisting. If your planks are twisted or bent upward, the floor will have to be removed and replaced.
The Experts at SVB Will Minimize Hardwood Floor Repair Time and Costs
At SVB Wood Floors, we are experts at hardwood floor water damage repair and restoration. Our goal is to repair what we can and replace what we have to. We will do our best to minimize the replacement costs and time. Many times, we can replace only the damaged area and weave the new planks seamlessly into the existing wood floor. Then we can sand and refinish the entire floor so everything matches perfectly. Whether we repair or replace your wood floor, it will look brand new when we’re done.
If you suspect water damage, call SVB Wood Floors at (913) 213-5187 and one of our hardwood water damage repair experts can help assess the situation and give you an estimate on repairing or replacing your water damaged wood floors.
