What Should You Do If Water Damages Your Wooden Floor?

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

What Should You Do If Your Wooden Floor Is Damaged by Water?

You may think that a bit of water on your property’s wood floor is no big deal. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Because wood is so porous, it absorbs water quickly. Even a small spill can therefore cause stains to develop. Larger flooding to your commercial building could also lead to floor buckling.

While waxing and sealing your floors can help block moisture, this does not completely prevent the absorption of water. If your property suffers a pipe burst that wets your hardwood floors, you should thus clean those floors as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. Here are some other steps to take when you discover water on a wooden floor.

1. Remove Objects From the Wet Floor
Any wet furniture or rugs should be removed from the hardwood floors for drying. If not properly dried, those items could encourage the growth of mold or mildew. The moisture from the furnishings could also drop onto the wood if they are left on the floor.

2. Soak up the Water
You can try to use mops or towels to soak up the excess liquid. However, if there are large puddles from a pipe burst, you may need a wet vacuum to remove the water. Cleanup and restoration professionals should have this tool available. You should thus hire them for any major water damage remediation projects.

3. Clean the Wood
The job is not done once the water is gone. The water may have still left behind dirt in the pores of the wood. Be sure the restoration experts you hire scrub away this debris.

4. Dry the Wood
Drying the wood should be the final step. The cleanup experts should use fans and dehumidifiers to expedite this process.

If a pipe burst or flood causes a buildup of water on your wooden floors, you need to remove the liquid as soon as possible. Remediation experts in La Crosse, WI, can ensure that the floor is completely dry.