Will I Need New Hardwood Floors After A Flood

9/27/2021 (Permalink)

Can hardwood floors be dried?

When water enters your Charlotte, NC, home, whether, through a burst pipe or flooding, you are likely worried about the damage that the water will cause.  If you have hardwood floods you know the cost to replace them can be astronomical, so you might be worried that those beautiful oak floors will have to be torn out. So how can you tell if your hardwood floors can be saved after a water disaster? Keep reading to find out. 

How Much Water Is There?

When your hardwood floors get wet, one major factor determining whether or not they can be saved is how much water there is. Generally, hardwood floors should have a moisture content around 10%, but that number quickly begins to rise when water is present. If the floors are completely covered in water, that number can rise quickly. Once hardwood floors reach 12% moisture content they will likely begin to buckle. Once floors begin to buckle it becomes more and more unlikely that they can be saved. If only a few boards are affected, it may be possible to sand them down or replace a few boards instead of replacing the entire area. 

How Long Have They Been Wet?

When water enters your Pineville, NC, home you may think it can easily be dried with a few towels and a fan, but that will likely lead to long dry times, staining, and even irreversible damage to your hardwood floors. The longer water has sat on the floors, the more water the wood will absorb, potentially leading to the subfloor becoming soaked. Once the subfloor becomes soaked, it becomes much more difficult to dry, leading to potential mold growth and other problems. 

How To Save Hardwood Floors

Just because your hardwood floors got wet doesn’t mean they are ruined. The best way to save floors is to call your local Matthews, NC, water restoration specialists. Here is what they will do to help save your flooring:

• Rapid removal of any water using wet vacs and other water removal tools 
• Fully scrub and sanitize floors before drying to prevent mold growth 
• Dehumidifiers and air movers are brought in to remove moisture from the air and floors
• Consistently check humidity to prevent overdrying which can lead to cracking

Substantial loss incidents require a water removal service as soon as possible. Our SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County team is ready 24/7 to respond “Faster to Any Size Disaster.” Give us a call (704) 840-6112 day or night.

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