Smooth and gleaming hardwood floors are a point of pride for many homeowners. Those floors that you painstakingly clean every week provide a beautiful focal point of any room, not to mention they add significant value to your home. So when a water damage event occurs in your house – whether from a leaking roof, a burst pipe, or a septic mishap – the last thing you want is for those floors to become damaged. By acting quickly, you can protect your hardwood floors.
If the water is coming from a burst pipe, shut off the main water supply to your home immediately. Then, get started on protecting your floors.
First, remove any wet items from the floor immediately. Get rugs off of the floor and outside to dry. Move any other items, such as furniture and appliances, to allow air flow so that the floors can dry quickly.
Remove standing water by pumping it out, or drying it up with towels if it’s not extensive. Open doors and windows, and place fans in the room to circulate air.
Consult with a water restoration company (that’s us) for a few reasons. First, we have specialized equipment that can be set up to dry and remove water from underneath the flooring. Second, we can determine if mold and mildew could now become an issue in your home. In order to protect both your health and your hardwood floors, you must address not only the damage, but also the long term effects of the damage, if any. And finally, if repairs are needed, we can help you communicate with your insurance company in a way that gets you the maximum coverage for your loss.
Finally, remember to clean your hardwood floors only with products specifically intended for use on this type of flooring.
Once the damage is cleaned and repaired, remember to clean your hardwood floors only with products specifically intended for use on this type of flooring and reseal your floors periodically. Wax sealants should be reinforced every year, whereas polyurethane sealants tend to last several years. Maintain your flooring adequately, and in many cases you can prevent serious damage from occurring due to water or other mishaps.
If you experience a water damage event in your home, give us a call right away. With fast and professional action, we can often prevent or reduce the amount of damage to important structures in your home.