Uneven floors are a pain to live with, and an even bigger pain to pay for. Damage to hardwood floors can be diminished if taken care of early enough to spot ruminating issues such as buckling, warping, and loose nails. Floors impact the layout of a house structurally, not just in achieving decor goals or a certain aesthetic. Picture a house with white walls and water-soaked floors. At Pure Dry Restoration, our wish for you is to live in that picturesque house without the possibility of water damage. We can protect, repair, and restore your water-damaged hardwood floors anywhere in the Seattle area.
How Long Does it Take for Water to Damage Hardwood Floors?
In the same way, mold has a fast-acting, initially damaging power, water can instantly soak above and below your hardwood floors. Damages like this aren’t necessarily irreversible, but they are costly when lying dormant. At PureDry, we recommend giving us a call the second you suscept internally deteriorating water damage to your residential or commercial hardwood floors.
Water can take less than an hour to seep into your floors, stripping them of durability. Soon, your floors will be virtually unusable. No standing, sitting, or placing furniture in between slanted floor panels. At PureDry, our water damage restoration services match the speed at which water can create permanent damage.
Signs of Water Damage on Hardwood Floors
Water damage to floors is thankfully unavoidable. Because the symptoms are all-encompassing, they are virtually impossible to let lie. PureDry specializes in identifying and eradicating symptoms of water damage to hardwood floors. Allow us to utilize our highly-specified, irrefutable, extraction techniques to remove symptoms of water damage like the ones below:
- Staining and discoloration of wood: When the wood your floors are constructed of becomes stained or oddly colored, this is a surefire sign that water has entered the floors. Stains appear in either a white ring or a dark, puddle-like mark.
- Hardwood floor buckling: ‘Buckling’ in this sense means to submerge out of place so much that the floors will appear to be rising off of their foundation. Cupping is similar to buckling, but buckling only occurs when there is an excess amount of water directly underneath the wood panels.
- Lifting nails and floorboard: When nails begin to fly off the hinges, this is an obvious sign of water piling underneath the floorboard. The foundation of the floors is rising in this scenario, whereas buckling occurs under the panels themselves.
- Mold: An illness-bearing symptom of water damage, mold compiles under water-exposed hardwood floors 24-48 hours after exposure.
Does Water Ruin Hardwood Floors?
In short, yes, water does ruin hardwood floors. The effects may be slow to show their true colors, but they are developing nonetheless. Moisture buildup in floors can cause pockets of moisture to build up randomly, causing a higher elevation to only select areas. This creates inaccessible flooring that will not revive itself.
PowerDry addresses water damage to hardwood floors with knowledge, techniques, and equipment that cannot be refuted by water, even in its most complex form.
How to Fix Water-Damaged Swollen Wood Floor
Hardwood Floors experiencing swelling are similar to floors experiencing cupping, buckling, or warping, yet they hold the weight of their peers. Swelling is when floors appear to be gradually collecting water upwards, poking out in the same way a sting makes skin swell, prevalent but not taken over. PureDry utilizes classic dehumidifying techniques with updated tools to strip hardwood floors of excess moisture, ideally pushing them back down to their base. For a quick, at-home fix, place dense towels over the impacted panels enough to soak up some water. Then, utilize a humidifier to extract whatever moisture is left over. At PureDry, we can provide the humidifying equipment needed to firmly remove water from your hardwood floors.
How to Repair and Minimize Hardwood Floor Water Damage
At PureDry, we prioritize prevention. Most of the hits your hardwood floors will take are 100% preventable. All it takes is the proper knowledge of how to care for your floors’ longevity, one move at a time. Hardwood floors can be repaired after the fact by utilizing PowerDry’s assessment and repair processes. After identifying the level of damage your floors have taken on, we will repair either foundationally or simply on the surface. If the water has reached the subfloor, we will need to fully replace it. Let us gauge whether or not your floors need of a repair or a total replacement.
Find the Water Source
A key step in saving your floors from further, costly water damage is identifying the genesis of the exposure. Leaking from sinks, pipes, or appliances can all contribute to the flooding of your floors.
Remove Wet Objects And Dry Floors
For our technicians to have full range around your compromised hardwood floors, we need to remove wet objects. Any drying service will emphasize how important it is to be able to cover each crevice of flooring imploded with water for full-service cleaning.
Clean Your Floors
Water exposure in flooring can manifest eroded materials lying dormant underneath the panels, such as dirt or mud. Fully clean your floors using a scrubbing technique to guarantee a clean slate for restoration.
Dry As Much As You Can
Creating ventilation in a moist environment allows for wet areas to dry at a quicker rate. We recommend drying every surface area, even your cabinets and drawers, to promote a quicker drying process for your hardwood floors.
Look For Mold
Because mold is so closely related to water damage, it is imperative to check every moist surface for signs of mold. Check under the panels, subflooring, and other surrounding surfaces for any presence of mold.
Use a Water Vacuum
Another forceful method of water removal for hardwood floors is using a water vacuum. These machines are specifically designed to latch onto water hiding in the lifted areas of water-doused floors, removing minuscule drops of water without fail. Water vacuums utilized by Power Dry have top-tier extraction qualities that allow for effortless gathering of water.
How to Protect Wood Floors from Water Damage
If you find that too much time has passed to fully restore your hardwood floors from water damage, consider what can be done to prevent water-pooling in the future. Place precautions in every area that could potentially hold a leak, like a shower or under a sink. Stay prepared by implementing the precautions below:
Rugs and Mats
Seems simple enough, but rugs and mats truly can collect those small, unthinkable water droplets that contribute to gradual water exposure. Put one by your shower, bathroom faucet, by the door. Small but powerful outdoor materials like dirt can also accumulate and contribute to damaging your floors.
Inspect Your Home
Regularly scan your home or business for broken, leaky, or frozen pipes that could be spilling water onto your floors unnoticed. If you would like a professional inspection, contact us at Power Dry to investigate.
Maintenance
Place a protective seal on your floors exponentially to promote durability. Similar to the way your car requires maintenance to guarantee safety, your floors need a longevity check. Have a professional put a preventative seal on your floors today.
RELIABLE HARDWOOD FLOOR WATER DAMAGE REPAIR SERVICE
Don’t wait for a mini pool to appear in your living room, taking down your furniture and personal belongings. It is imperative to obtain quick, professional water damage extraction so you can reclaim the integrity of your floors. PureDry is available locally, servicing Seattle and its surrounding areas like a top-notch, reliable neighbor. Seattle residents trust PureDry as their leading hardwood floor restoration and repair services because we are:
- Superior in execution: We are the leading Seattle area hardwood restoration service for a reason, and we intend to continue this legacy in restoring your hardwood floors.
- Available around-the-clock: Operating 24/7 for emergencies, PureDry allows Seattle residents to take solace in the uncertain.
- Modern: We utilize only the best and the latest technology at PureDry, so you can expect superior, advanced restoration procedures.
- Trustworthy: Our reputable services are here for you, and we hope that you leave your time with us feeling satisfied with the condition of your hardwood floors.