Your home can suffer significant damage from standing water. When your house has hardwood floors the damage can be even more extensive. They definitely do not mix well. If you live in a flood-prone or hurricane-prone area, you might need to consider methods for preventing water damage.
Professional skill is required for effective floor restoration and flood cleanup. However, it is important to minimize the effect that these types of damage can inflict on your floors. Contacting a professional flood cleanup and waterproofing company is the best thing you can do to deal with hardwood floors and water. You also can consider the following tips that can help prevent water damage to your floors and home.
1. Respond Quickly
Since hardwood floors and water do not mix well, the longer you wait, the more extensive the damage can be. Whenever you notice a burst pipe or flooding in your house, it is critical to act quickly. The cellulose fibers in wood soak water up, which can make it impossible to repair the damage.
Even when you have well-polished floors, if any water is allowed to sand, then the polish will start to wear off and your hardwood floor will be damaged. make sure to check any water spills on your hardwood floors.
2. Stop The Source Of The Flood
If you have a burst pipe or water spill, the very first thing you must do is stop the source of water from flooding your home. You can then mop your floor up and minimize the amount of damage to your hardwood. Anything you will be useless if water continues to seep in.
So whenever you detect a leak, make sure to have it repaired. Make sure to call an emergency plumber if your house has a burst pipe to get it fixed right away. After you deal with the leaking water source or burst pipe, you can then move onto the third step.
3. Get Rid Of Any Wet Items
If the room has any wet items, such as carpet, electrical appliances, or furniture, get rid of them. It is important to do this because items such as furniture and carpet can stagnate the water. The items can also make it hard to clean up and eliminate water from the floor.
4. Mop Your Floor
Getting the water off your floor is the next step. If it is a very low level of water, it can be mopped up. However, if you have a flood of water, use a bucket to pick up the water and get rid of it. After the level of water is low, a dry mop can be used to mop it up.
5. Clean Using A Disinfectant
The final step is to ensure that no fungus or mold grows on your floor. After you mop, use a disinfectant to clean your floors. Trying using a non-sudsy and non-sticky disinfectant. After you have finished, vacuum or mop up the excess water.
6. Use A Dehumidifier
After you have cleaned your floor, you also need to ensure that the room does not have any residual humidity. To achieve this, use a dehumidifier in your room for 24 hours. That will reduce the amount of moisture in the air.
Also, avoid walking on your floor until it has completely dried. That will help to prevent your floor from becoming damaged and make it easier to repair it.
7. Reduce Moisture Within The Sub-Floor Level
Moisture content also needs to be reduced in the level under the floor. That way, water will not seep through and damage your hardwood floor. Part of a finished ceiling can also be cut out to help it dry more quickly.
8. Use A Moisture Meter
It can take 4-6 weeks for a hardwood floor to completely dry, based on the amount of moisture exposure. So it is important to carefully monitor the moisture level in the wood. Using a moisture meter is the best way to do that. Monitor on a regular basis to keep track of the condition of your floor.
Now that you have learned how to dry out a wood floor following a water leak, now it’s time for you to get o work. Be sure to get professional advice on your wooden floor’s condition. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call us!