Can Your Water-Damaged Hardwood Floor be Saved?

12/1/2022 (Permalink)

If your flooring is damaged by water damage call SERVPRO of Lacey.

Can Your Water-Damaged Hardwood Floor be Saved?

Water is one of the most common causes of damage to hardwood floors. However, it’s not always easy to tell if a water-damaged hardwood floor can be saved. The good news is that there are plenty of factors that will help you determine if your floor can be saved or not. In this blog post, we'll discuss where the water damage came from and what kind of floors might have been damaged by it so you can figure out your next steps for getting your home back in shape after a flood or leak!

Can You Save Your Laminate Flooring?

If your laminate flooring has been damaged by water, don't worry! It's not too late to repair it.

If you have a small amount of damage, simply wipe up any standing water and then use a mop to dry the area. If there is more extensive damage, you may need to remove the damaged pieces and replace them with new ones.

When replacing a piece of laminate flooring, make sure that you use a similar-sized piece from a similar brand and color. To match up the old pieces with their replacements, use an awl or other thin metal tool as a guide for your new pieces.

What About Your Engineered Wood Floors?

If your engineered wood floors are made from MDF or medium-density fiberboard, then they should be saved. These floors are extremely durable and can be sanded many times over. This is one of the reasons why they're so popular among homeowners who want to do-it-yourself flooring projects.

However, unlike hardwood floors that can be refinished with polyurethane and continue to look good for years afterwards, engineered wood flooring cannot take repeated coats of polyurethane. Instead, you'll need to apply a stain or finish that will penetrate into the fibers of the board itself and resist wearing away through friction.

How to Refinish Your Solid Hardwood Floor

If your hardwood floor is damaged beyond repair, you’ll need to remove the damaged wood and then refinish the entire floor.

To prepare for a refinishing project, you will have to remove all furniture and other items from the room. After removing all debris from the room, sweep up any remaining dust with an old broom handle or push broom attachment on your vacuum cleaner before beginning work on removing old finish from your solid hardwood flooring

Call A Professional

It’s often impossible to tell how much damage has been done until the water has been removed and the floor has dried. A professional will be able to assess your situation, determine what course of action is required, and recommend the best way for you to move forward.

In addition, a professional will know how best to remove all of the water from your flooring before it can cause any further damage. For example, if you try to use a vacuum or steam mop on your own—which are generally not recommended methods—you could risk scratching or damaging your hardwood floors instead of drying them properly. A professional will also be trained on how long they should wait between removing excess moisture from their floors and refinishing them so that they don’t warp because too much time has gone by between these steps.

Don’t be scared off by the thought of water damage to your flooring. With a little education and some expert help, you can save your floors and get them looking like new again.