Water and hardwood floors simply don’t mix. Homeowners with hardwood floors that live in areas that often suffer severe weather conditions, will know the nuisances this involves. 

When a considerable amount of water has come into contact with a wood floor, it’s unlikely for the wood to go back to its original form. Still, there are ways in which you can save your beautiful hardwood flooring, but you will need a professional for it to work out properly.

In order to give you a good idea of this process, here are some steps you can take to restore your hardwood flooring after it takes on some water damage.

Determine the Type of Flooring and Installation

When it comes to hardwood floor water damage, inspection is essential, as there are various types of hardwood flooring, each with its own nuances. Every type of hardwood flooring presents various challenges in the drying process because they absorb moisture differently. 

You will also find that there is some flooring that looks like wood but actually isn’t real hardwood. One example of this would be laminated wood, which when moisture seeps beneath the surface, becomes impossible to dry, as the laminate acts as a vapor barrier. 

Drying the Floor

When you have identified the type of flooring, it’s time to start the drying process. Professionals will use both surface and subsurface drying methods, and utilizing proper dehumidification as well. They can also force airflow beneath the surface of the floor to remove moisture. In some cases, professionals may need to access the floor from below to allow for a faster drying process. 

Keep in mind that drying hardwood floors following water damage will take some time; in fact,  it can take between seven to ten days for the floor to release enough water for the drying process to stop. 

Removing the absorbed water from the floor can be an expensive, but necessary, part of the process. Despite how thorough your team can work in doing so, part of the process is letting nature take its course, which will remove the remaining water from three to six months. 

Restoring Hardwood Floors

When the hardwood floor is completely dry, there will likely be some damage to the floor finish—at this point, the floor can be buffed and refurbished. Keep in mind that hardwood drying requires expertise and doing it yourself may not be an excellent idea. As such, you will need to call a professional in the event that your hardwood floors suffer water damage, as they are the only ones who will know exactly what to do. 

Conclusion

Drying hardwood floors is not an easy job; as mentioned, it requires expertise. So, before you try to DIY it, take a step back, as it can be more complicated than just that. The best thing to do is to call a professional and educate yourself about the process. 

Restoration professionals can help you with your hardwood flooring following water damage. All you need to do is find a reliable one that will suit your needs. Make sure to choose a professional that has an excellent reputation, license, certifications, and accreditations to ensure that you’re working with a reliable company when it comes to hardwood flooring restoration. 

When it comes to the cost, you will find reasonably-priced ones that can guarantee you excellent quality of work. All you do need to do is research so you can find the right company that can restore your hardwood flooring back to life. 

Are you looking for disaster and restoration services in Brooklyn? Yellow Restoration can help restore floors damaged by flood. We are one of the leading restoration companies here in Brooklyn. Contact us today!