Saving Your Hardwood Floors From Water Damage Cleanup

Hardwood floors are a big investment in your room. They are aesthetically pleasing and very durable, making them a popular flooring choice. However, hardwood flooring and water damage do not mix. When your Idaho Falls home suffers from water damage, the sooner you can get it cleaned  up from your hardwood floors, the better! Wood is a very porous material, so it’s cellulose fibers will rapidly soak up water once exposed, so the best thing you can do to save your floors from water damage is to begin cleanup right away. Water can soak through the wood planks themselves, and will also find its way between seams, under baseboards, and through breaks in the coating, making proper and thorough water damage cleanup quite the task. Don’t worry though, the professionals at Restore Rite have tons of experience dealing with water damaged wood floors, and we are going to share some tips with you on how you can save your hardwood from significant water damage.

Water Damage Cleanup In Idaho Falls

First, you have to remove the standing water so that the wood will not be able to continue to absorb it. If you have a shop vacuum, turn it on to wet mode, remove the bag, use a wide flooring attachment, and then attempt to remove as much water as possible form the surface of your flooring. You can use a shop broom or even a squeegee to help gather the water toward the hose so you can get as much of the standing water as possible. 

Once the standing water has been removed, you want to be sure to disinfect your floors to prevent any type of mold or mildew growth. Using a mild detergent and a compatible disinfectant, you should scrub the entire floor and baseboards in the affected area. BE sure to rinse your cleaning brush frequently so you are not spreading around materials but removing them. It is important to use a cleaner that is safe for your floors! If you aren’t sure what to use, you can always call in for professional help and advice, after all, that is what we are here for!

This next step is one of the most important and should not be overlooked or cut short–dry out the floors. You need to optimize air flow through the area, so using heavy duty fans will help you achieve just that. If you can create cross-ventilation through the area with doors and windows, you will be more effective at removing all the moisture. This process should be slow and steady. While wood floors absorb water very quickly, they take much longer to release it. Using heat to speed up the process can cause wood to crack and warp, resulting in splitting, cupping, and other irreversible problems. The single best way to ensure that your hardwood floors and thoroughly and completely dried is to call in professional help. With the use of commercial-grade air movers and industry approved moisture detections equipment, the technicians at Restore Rite can monitor the entire drying process and ensure that all excess moisture is removed with the least amount of damage done to your floors. 

If the thought of having to replace your beloved hardwood floors because of water damage is just too much, then let us help. Restore Rite can handle water damage cleanup in any and every area of your home, and can provide the best possible results for your floors.