The last thing any homeowner wants to happen is for their home to be flooded. Flooding is an obvious threat to the structural integrity of your home and can lead to serious health problems (especially if you have an infant or elderly family member). But what about floors? Can flooding affect them? And if so, what kind of damage might your wood floors incur during a major flood?
What Kind of Damage Do Floods Cause
Flood waters are known to cause several issues with wood floors. Here's what you need to know about the damage that can be caused by flooding:
- Mold and mildew. Though it's not as common, water can cause mold and mildew on your flooring, leading to significant damage if left untreated. If you spot mold or mildew growing on your wood flooring after a flood, contact a professional immediately so they can take care of the problem before it gets worse.
- Staining due to discoloration in the wood finish, more commonly referred to as "floor rot" or "ring-rot" because of how it looks when exposed by pulling up old layers of finish. This is most seen after heavy traffic areas where people walk through wet places with their shoes still on
How To Clean Up After a Flood
If you've been through a flood and are worried about whether or not it's ruined your wood floors, there are some steps you can take to clean them up.
- Remove wet materials: If any water in your home remains, use buckets and towels to mop up as much as possible. Removing all wet materials before drying out the area is important since this will help prevent mold growth.
- Remove standing water: Standing water can remain on your flooring and cause mold to grow. If you have standing water, try using a dehumidifier or an air conditioner set on its coldest setting overnight to drain any remaining moisture from the room and dry out your floors faster.
- Dry out the area: Once all the moisture has been removed from your home, use fans or an A/C unit set on low speed for several days until all areas feel dry (you'll know if they're still too damp when standing on them). To help keep their integrity during this period, make sure no one walks across them without shoes—even if that means putting down cardboard as walkways between rooms until everything dries out completely!
When To Get Rid of The Flooring
Anytime your flooring is warped, damaged beyond repair, or contaminated with mold or other contaminants, it should be replaced. If your wood floor has been severely damaged by flood waters and requires replacement, the next step would be to contact a professional for help.
Replacing Flooring
If your flooring is ruined, you should replace it with the same type. While you can replace it with higher or lower quality, it will still be in the same category. Consider replacing it with something completely different.
Conclusion
It's important to know that not all wood floors are created equal. Some types of wood may be more susceptible to water damage than others, so it's important to know what kind of wood you have before trying any DIY solutions.
The key is to clean up as much water as possible and let the floor dry before doing anything else. If there are still spots or streaks after drying out for a few days, you should consider replacing the boards with new ones or refinishing them.
Premier Wood Floors is a company specializing in wood floor restoration. We provide services that can assist you in repairing flood damage to your wooden floors. The finest aspect about their services is that experts handle everything. All you have to do is phone and tell us what occurred, and we'll handle the rest.