In 2024, over 14 million U.S. homes were at risk of flooding, with water damage costing homeowners an average of $11,650 per incident, according to the Insurance Information Institute. While water intrusion can harm any part of a home, hardwood flooring is especially vulnerable, often warping, staining, or buckling when exposed to moisture.
Serious repairs may be needed if your hardwood floors are affected by water and not addressed promptly and effectively.
If you understand how water affects hardwood floors and how to repair the resulting damage, you can save your floor from lasting harm and help maintain its beauty. You need to act quickly and seek help from water damage restoration professionals in Salt Lake City to get it fixed, whether it’s a formal leak or a huge flood.
In this blog, we will explore how water damage affects hardwood flooring and discuss the process of fixing it.
How Water Affects Hardwood Flooring- Its Severity & Impact!
While hardwood floors are often viewed as the most durable type of flooring system, they can still be damaged by water. Once water comes in contact with wood, it causes several different reactions with the wood. Here are the common ones:
- Swelling & Warping
Wood being classified as hygroscopic means it will absorb moisture from its environment. When water penetrates hardwood floors, it is absorbed into the wood fibers, causing them to swell. The wood will swell and lead to the visible change known as warping or buckling, meaning the floorboard may lift or curve upwards.
- Cupping
Cupping is when the edges of the floorboards are higher than the center, creating a “bowl” shape. It occurs when one side of the piece of wood absorbs more moisture than the opposite side, causing the wood to expand unevenly, more on one side than the other. Most of the time, cupping can be attributed to water left standing on the hardwood for a long time or to moisture caused by humidity.
- Cracking & Splitting
When leaving water to sit on the hardwood floor for a long period, the hardwood begins to dry out. As the water evaporates, the hardwood loses its moisture content and begins to shrink. This evaporated moisture causes it to split. These splits are not unattractive and compromise the structural integrity of the flooring.
- Mold & Mildew
If water damage is not taken care of promptly, you will soon discover mold and/or mildew growth on the hardwood flooring. Mold and mildew on hardwood floors are both unsightly/unattractive and can cause health issues. When you see any signs of water damage, act quickly and call a water damage restoration company in Salt Lake City.
Common Ways Hardwood Floors Get Damaged Due to Water
Water can cause damage to hardwood floors in many ways. Here are some examples of how most hardwood floors get damaged:
- Leaks: When pipes or appliances leak water, they can cause damage to your hardwood floors. A lot of slow leaks are not evident until (over time) they cause damage.
- Flooding: Severe weather, burst pipes, or any plumbing disaster can cause flooding. Floodwater can quickly damage hardwood floors, and within hours, it may be beyond repair.
- Spills: Accidental water spills or other liquids (like drinks or cleaning solutions) can seep into the floorboards if they are not cleaned up fast enough. Repeated spills can damage the integrity of the wood over time.
- Humidity: Even without any physical water contact, high levels of humidity can expand and contract the hardwood floors. Eventually, they may weaken and become warped or damaged.
- Improper Installation: If hardwood floors are installed in an area with too much moisture, or if they weren’t sealed correctly, they will be more likely to get damaged.
How to Repair Water-Damaged Hardwood Floors?
Water-damaged hardwood floors can be a serious matter, but depending on the amount of damage, they can often be repaired. The following are some actions you can take to repair water-damaged hardwood flooring:
- Assess the Damage
The first step is to assess the damage to see how extensive it was to the floors. Look for signs of swelling, buckling, and discoloration. If the water damage is light, you can fix the floor by drying the floor out and then repairing the finish. If the damage is more than light, you may have to sand and refinish the floor by calling local water damage restoration service in Salt Lake City.
- Dry the Area
If the floor is still wet, you must dry it as quickly as possible. You need to dry the area with towels, fans, and dehumidifiers to get as much moisture out of the area as you can so that it doesn’t get deep into the wood or develop mold.
- Sand and Refinish
If your hardwood floor has experienced mild to moderate water damage, you may need to sand and refinish it. Sanding the hardwood floor will remove the top layer of the wood, which should remove any surface discoloration or stains. You should then be able to apply the finish so it will look good again and prevent future damage.
- Replace Damaged Boards
If the water damage is extensive, you may have to replace the floorboards. In cases where boards are warped or have cracks that cannot be repaired, you will have to remove the boards and install new ones.
- Treat for Mold and Mildew
If there is evidence of mold or mildew growth, treating the area to stop the spread is critical. Mold is hazardous to health, so your best bet is to have a professional to remove it. If you treat the area that is affected by mold with bleach or other cleaning solutions, then you should disinfect the area right away.
- Install Moisture Barriers
If you want to prevent water damage from occurring again, then you could consider moisture barriers or vapor barriers under the flooring. These barriers reduce the humidity and moist conditions, making it more difficult for any moisture to impact your hardwood flooring.
When to Call Professionals for Water Damage Restoration in Salt Lake City?
Water damage can impact the look and integrity of your hardwood floors, but with all these tips and quick action processes, you can help restore this damage and get the floors looking beautiful again. If your floors exhibit signs of water damage, it is important to take action either yourself or call a professional who may be able to assist you.
A water damage restoration company in Salt Lake City can address all of your water-related problems while reducing the chance of further damage. Experts have the tools, training, and expertise needed to restore the area, dry it out, and repair the floors.
Superior Disaster Cleanup offers reliable residential water damage restoration and commercial water damage restoration to Salt Lake City customers. Our experts will handle your water removal and mold remediation needs to restore your floors.
Don’t wait until the water damage is worse—call us today to address all of your water damage restoration needs! Let us help get your home or business back on its feet, and restore your hardwood floors’ beauty.
